Benjamin studied BA (Hons) Business Management with Marketing, followed by MSc Strategic Sport Marketing at Leeds Beckett University, graduating in June 2021 and October 2022, respectively.

Since then, he's worked in live broadcasting operations at StreamAMG and has now secured a role as Junior Product Manager with the company. Here, Benjamin shares what led him to Leeds and how studying at Leeds Beckett got him to where he is today.

Course: BA (Hons) Business Management with Marketing and MSc Strategic Sport Marketing

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Growing up in an active household, I’ve always been sports mad. It's always been about cricket and football for me, and more recently I’ve gotten into running and golf too. If I’m not involved in sport, I enjoy my free time with family or catching up with friends over a flat white.

When I left Leeds Beckett, I began a role in live broadcasting operations at StreamAMG – based at MediaCityUK, in Manchester – monitoring live sport events that are broadcast all around the world. After eight months, I transitioned to a Junior Product Manager role in the Technical Services Team, specifically focusing on improving and maintaining our product stack.

What have been the highlights and challenges of your career so far?

My main highlight has been working on the National League streaming service, having researched the project for a year at LBU before it was launched. I had no idea StreamAMG were providing that service, so when my dissertation concluded that the League should live stream it’s games, it was a really satisfying moment to see it all in action in my first role since graduating.

In terms of challenges, working in digital products and tech has been a challenge, with no day ever the same. Despite this, it has been rewarding when a concept or technical theory just ‘clicks’.

Tell us about your job, what does this entail and is it related to the course you studied?

In my role as Junior Product Manager, I collaborate with cross-functional teams, including commercial, client services, engineers, and developers to plan and execute new features or enhancements for our OTT (over-the-top) streaming platform, to help define the product roadmap.

I gather requirements and conduct market research to stay informed about industry trends to ensure the product meets user expectations. I also assist in prioritising features and improvements based on user feedback, technical feasibility and if it all aligns with our overall business strategy.

My Masters degree in Strategic Sport Marketing provided me with a foundation of knowledge in sport business of financial trends, sponsorship, global marketing and fan consumption habits.

How has your experience studying at Leeds Beckett influenced you and your career?

Studying at LBU provided me with the best four years of my life. I made lifelong friends and have some unforgettable memories from my time in Leeds, including being part of the Leeds / Bradford MCCU (Marylebone Cricket Club) scheme and winning the BUCS Cricket Championship two years in a row, captaining one season.

Away trips to Southampton, Edinburgh and St Anne's were particularly memorable. In terms of opportunities, being provided with the opportunity to start a research project on traditional broadcasting vs OTT live streaming as part of a professional development module, allowed me to build a close relationship with an industry mentor and create some valuable contacts.

Without this offering from the LBU, I’m certain I wouldn’t have landed my original role with StreamAMG and be in the position I am now, navigating the tech space.

What attracted you to study your course?

Being a Leeds United fan, it was amazing to live, study and watch football all in one space. Originally, I wanted to pursue cricket more seriously, so the MCCU scheme attracted me to Leeds with it not being a million miles from home.

The facilities at LBU are amazing. I saw them on an open day and I eventually spent a lot of time at the new Carnegie School of Sport building. Having the opportunity to study at Headingley Campus, after being based in the city for three years attracted me to pursue my Masters degree in Strategic Sport Marketing. Combining my love for sport with study is something I hadn’t done before either.

I had also heard the night life and opportunities LBU brings from a sporting perspective were amazing, and they certainly did not disappoint.

What did you enjoy about your course and what advice would you give to someone thinking about studying this course?

On reflection, I was a bit shy during my undergraduate from a study perspective, which wasn’t helped by the COVID pandemic right in the middle of my degree.

However, in my final year I threw myself in, engaged with the work, tried to get to know lecturers better and spent a lot of time at the Carnegie School of Sport talking to my peers’ face to face.

This massively helped and I would say to anyone just go to everything and talk to everyone, it’s a lot of fun studying at LBU.

What's next for you?

The aim is to learn every day in my current role and keep taking an awful lot of information on board. I love working in a busy city like Manchester, there’s so much going on for young people in general.

I would also be open to working abroad one day to see another way of life. For now, though, I am looking to learn every day and navigate my way up in the tech/ OTT broadcasting world.