#343: From New Zealand to Designing for the Australian Open with Caitlin Hildyard

Want a job in sport? Start here: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

Meet Caitlin Hildyard, the Lead Experience Designer at Tennis Australia.

In this episode, we follow Caitlin’s journey from New Zealand to Melbourne and how she was able to overcome adversity to now have worked at the last two Australian Opens.

We breakdown her role leading the end-to-end experience and delivery of the Elite Player App across digital and on-site services. We also discuss her independent agency she started during COVID and her involvement with SportsGrad as a member and mentor.

We also take a deep dive into her impact on the golf scene in Wellington as a representative player, manager of the Women’s representative team and board member of Golf Wellington.

If you want to maximise your time and overcome the challenges working abroad in the sports industry, this is the episode for you!

We cover:

(03:38): Interview begins

(05:09): Quickfire questions

(17:11): Caitlin’s love for travel and sport

(19:55): Caitlin’s role at Tennis Australia

(22:22): What is the Elite Player App?

(26:14): The importance of stakeholder management and relationships

(27:31): How Caitlin started her own independent design agency, Lemon Tart

(33:10): Caitlin’s journey with golf

(39:42): Caitlin’s biggest takeaway from being on the board at Golf Wellington

(41:32): The challenges of moving abroad

(44:10): Why is finding a job in sport so difficult?

(47:23): The key role of mentors

(50:14): Why did Caitlin joined SportsGrad as a member?

(53:20): Caitlin’s involvement as a SportsGrad mentor

(55:44): Caitlin’s sliding doors moment

(56:45): How would you approach getting a job in sport within 30 days?

(59:03): Caitlin’s pinch me moment

(59:45): What would Caitlin’s life look like if she didn’t pursue a career in sport?

(01:00:04): Caitlin’s question for the next guest

If you like this ep, give these a go next:

#341: Meet the new host of the SportsGrad Podcast!

#339: How to land your first job in sport with Josh Marton, GM of Public Affairs & Marketing in Golf

#227: How to be a Performance Analyst for Pro Tennis Players with Shane Liyanage

Thanks for listening, much love!

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