Will you kindly tell us what you do in your current career?

I run an independent consultancy that solves brand, marketing, and communications issues for business clients. My clients range from start-up not-for-profits to multi-million dollar businesses.

I also head up the Sports Marketing and Sponsorship Unit at Australia’s biggest university – Monash University in Melbourne. My honorary roles currently involve my work in tennis as President of the Women’s Tennis Foundation.

What were you passionate about when you started your career?

I was passionate about the power of sport to transform people’s lives and wanted to pursue a career where I could combine my passion for sport and develop my knowledge and skills in business.

The sports industry, while being big business, also promotes health, fun, and bringing people and communities together – a positive industry.

And where did you start?

I had played a lot of tennis as a junior and had begun coaching while at university where I was studying business. I was selected in the Australian University team and really enjoyed meeting people through coaching.

During my university studies, I was very enthusiastic and was prepared to roll up my sleeves and give opportunities a go. I was working as a coach across various clubs and centers, organizing events, gaining experience, and without realizing it, developing my network in the sports industry.

This period was well before social media, so you built your reputation on your work, personal connections, and word of mouth recommendations.

What was involved in getting your first job?

I was incredibly lucky that I ran into my first tennis coach Craig Tyzzer (now World Number One Ash Barty’s coach), who told me that his brother was the State Coach of South Australia and they were looking for someone for a State Development Officer role. He asked me what I was doing and suggested that I apply.

It meant leaving my family for the first time, my home state of Victoria so there was a big risk involved – I would be on my own.

I remember coaching a group of senior businesswomen who took me out for dinner after our lesson and grilled me with questions to prepare me for the job interview.

I flew to Adelaide the next day for the interview, feeling that I was going to give this opportunity my best shot. I won the role, and it set me on a path of combining my passion for sport and assisted in developing my business skills for the first two years of my career.

What did you do there?

The State coach was a man named Roger Tyzzer, who set up arguably Australia’s best high performance tennis program in the last thirty years. Roger saw my enthusiasm and recognized my skills, and he gave me the responsibility to take on many varied roles across administration, marketing, sponsorship, and media in addition to coaching and athlete development.

The culture was of high performance – we encouraged each other, and we wanted our colleagues and athletes to be the best they could be. Over a two year period, I managed a team of fifteen tennis coaches who took tennis to over 20,000 primary school aged children.

What was your next job?

I returned to Melbourne where I started a tennis coaching business with a friend and fellow coach, contracted to a sports marketing company, and was then offered a national role with Tennis Australia.

My work at Tennis Australia involved developing national inclusion programs for people with disabilities and for women in tennis. The best part of the role was being the tournament director for the Ford Australian Wheelchair Tennis Open at the age of 23 – the tennis players were inspirational. I learnt the importance of multi-tasking, being organized, and working with others.

And then what happened?

After 18 months or so, I became Network Sports Sales Executive for the Nine Television Network, selling sponsorships for their suite of sporting telecasts.

 This was a competitive, male dominated, dynamic industry. It reminded me of playing sport because the revenue that you brought into the telecast was similar to competing in sport – there was a score board, and you were rewarded accordingly.

I married, had my two sons, and then left full time employment to begin my consultancy. With children aged 2 1/2 and six months, I went back to University to do my Masters in Marketing degree.

In my first semester, a lecturer started to talk about Integrated Marketing Communications theory and the business modeling involved. I had a “light bulb” moment where all my work experience made sense.

Six months after that lecture, I sold the second biggest Australian Open sponsorship at that time to French beauty company Garnier and so began a five-year sponsorship that generated a multimillion-dollar sponsorship for the Australian Open and millions of dollars of sales of Garnier product. I consulted to the US Open in the lead up to the 2008 tournament.

Ultimately I returned to Tennis Australia when I won the role from over 100 people as Marketing Director of Tennis Australia and the Australian Open.

What were the factors that enabled you to get to the top of the tennis world?

A major factor was my initiative to go back to University and upskill. Continuing to extend myself, my knowledge, and striving for continued personal development and growth.

What was the best thing that happened as you started your career?

That I took a chance to gain experience across a wide range of fields within the one role, the breadth and depth enabled me to gain experience over a short period of time. This was because I had a boss who believed in me.

What was the worst or most disappointing?

That not everyone shares the same level of passion, motivation or sense of urgency to get the job done. Thankfully, I’ve become more patient and learnt to let this frustration go!

What is the most fulfilling part of what you do now?

That I’m independently self-employed – that I have the privilege of working with people who value my skills and expertise.

What advice would you give a young woman beginning a career in today’s world?

Believe in yourself, get your education and qualifications, do internships, play sport, all experience is worthwhile, seek feedback, learn what you love doing, take a chance, and opportunities will come your way.

Where are you headed next/what is your ultimate dream?

I’m interested in working with likeminded people to make a positive global impact.

Brigette invigorates her life with tennis, exercise, and daily connection with family and friends. She loves playing tennis with her husband and two sons and walking their chocolate Labrador, Maggie. Check out Brigette’s passion, The Women’s Tennis Foundation.