From Sports Management Student to Sea Eagles Staffer

An ICMS internship at professional rugby league club Manly Warringah Sea Eagles was a career game changer for current sports management student Tenahya Dennis.

The internship, organised by the ICMS Work Integrated Learning (WIL) professional placement team, led to Tenahya being offered the role of Front Office Coordinator at the Sea Eagles. She is also currently completing her ICMS Bachelor of Business (Sports Management), having just finished the second year of her degree.

All ICMS degrees offer internships as WIL subjects, meaning students are placed in tailored industry training outside of the college during their studies.

“I chose ICMS because it gave me the most opportunities for what I wanted to do with my career, especially the placement opportunities as well,” Tenahya said.

“Ever since I was little, I always wanted to work with the NRL. I never had any clear path to where I wanted to be, but with the internship and now working at the Warringahs, I’ve got a foot in the door and I’m learning what I want to do with my future.”

From Intern to Front Office Co-ordinator

As an intern at the Sea Eagles, based in Northern Beaches, Tenahya spent her time working in the hospitality and corporate section of the club, helping to find local sponsors, collecting emails and phone numbers, and promoting suites for home games.

She fit in so well with the team that following her internship, Tenahya was offered a part-time job as Front Office Coordinator.

In this role, she greets visitors, ensures that meeting rooms are ready for meetings and events, and generally helps to keep the office running smoothly.

Balancing work and studies have not been easy, but with good time management, Tenahya is successfully juggling both.

Learning and Networking

For Tenahya, working with the Sea Eagles has been an incredible experience, both personally and professionally. She has learned about every aspect of the club, from the admin staff to the football staff, and has made many connections along the way.

“Working with Manly Sea Eagles has created an expectation of what it means to work in such an amazing office environment where I have learned what everyone does and worked with everyone,” Tenahya said.

“Not only has it been a work experience, but it’s also been a personal experience. I have met so many amazing people along the way and made so many great connections both staff admin, football staff, players, sponsors.”

Turning a passion for sports into a career

Choosing to study a business degree with a sports management specialisation, such as the ICMS Bachelor of Business (Sports Management), was a way for Tenahya to combine her passion for sports and her interest in the business side of the industry.

“I’ve loved sports growing up and participated in every sport possible. I used to be a sports captain in primary school and high school, so sport has been a massive passion for me, and I wanted to make that into a career,” she said.

“My degree is preparing me for a sports industry career because of subjects like Business Law for Managers (LAW201A). This was my favourite subject so far; we learned about contracts and what makes them legally binding etc. Down the line, if I want to become an athlete or team manager, subjects like this helps me learn about what it all entails.”

Watch and be inspired

Be inspired by Tenahya’s story, filmed on location at the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles home ground, the 4 Pines Park in Brookvale.

Tenahya’s Top Advice

To anyone thinking of kickstarting their career in the sports industry like Tenahya has, she offers the following easy to follow advice:

“Just go for it. If you have a dream, just do it. Don’t waste any time, get straight into it,” she said.

“You only live once, you’ve got to grab opportunities while you can. And study at ICMS!”

For more information about the ICMS Bachelor of Business (Sports Management), click here.

To connect with Tenahya Dennis, click here.