Job Shadow Program Provides Chance to Connect
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: March 7th 2024
Miranda McGregor - 2023 Celebrating Women in Sport Job Shadow Program participant and current TNSE employee
The opportunity to participate in the Celebrating Women in Sport Job Shadow Program was very important and meaningful to me as someone who entered post-secondary with the hope of one day working in sports, particularly in hockey.
Networking with industry professionals and learning about what goes on behind the scenes of an AHL game is something I will never forget. Every person we interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and encouraging. Seeing professionals in action and hearing firsthand what their day-to-day looks like was educational and interesting. It opened my eyes to all the possibilities of potential career opportunities.
My favourite part of the program was the opportunity to read PA announcements on game day. My dad has worked as an in-stadium announcer longer than I’ve been alive and getting to do what he does, even just for two reads, was really fun! As a hockey fan, touring the dressing room was another highlight. We were able to take photos in the lockers which was very special. Sharing this experience with women who work for the Manitoba Moose and women aspiring to be sport professionals was wonderful. Regardless of our educational backgrounds or experiences, we already had something in common the minute we walked in the door: we were all women interested in working in sports. That shared interest bonded us and gave us something to relate to one another.
Now that I’ve been working for a year, and adjacent to hockey, I wish I could go back and tell myself that I do belong here. As an arts kid who didn’t really play sports, and as a woman, I doubted myself a lot in internships and part-time jobs related to sports. I felt like a fraud who had to keep their head down and mold to fit into the hockey world. I know now that I do belong here. As a woman, I have a different point of view, and as a non-athlete, I have a valuable fan perspective. My ideas, my knowledge, my perspectives, and my passion are all equally as valuable as my male counterparts and I, along with all other women, belong in the world of sports.
The application deadline for the 2024 Celebrating Women in Sport Job Shadow Program is March 11 for your chance to participate in this year's program.
