It is sport event season in the Middle East and one event that we’re super excited to see roll into Abu Dhabi for its second edition is The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open which is taking place 3-11 February at the International Tennis Center, Zayed Sports City. 

In today’s episode, we speak to one of the unsung heroines of the event, Vickie Gunnarss, Senior Director, Global Partnerships and Business Development for IMG Tennis Events.

Our Vickie  provides many lessons and learnings for any of our listeners who want to work in sport and perhaps is very relatable to those who do work in sport. We also cover: 

 🎾 Vickie’s own path into sport which started in childhood in Sweden

🎾 Tennis School and how she became a scholarship athlete in the USA 

🎾 Representation in Tennis, 

🎾 How Tennis is moving towards pay equity,  

🎾 The role of Tennis great Billie Jean King and what it means to all women in sport 

🎾 How she made the transition from athlete to sports management. 

Last but certainly not least, we chat through all the anticipated action of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open and why you must go. We get a little explainer on what it means for this event to be a WTA 500 event, we talk about the stars of the event, which this year will include World No 6, Tunisia’s own Ons Jabeur, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu just to name a few. Buy your tickets here: https://www.mubadalaabudhabiopen.com/tickets/

Another cool event that Vickie played a key role in bringing to life is the Jasmin Open in Tunisia which you can read all about HERE. 

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Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore. 

We hope you enjoy the episode! 

Dawn & Afshan