HELENA

BOWMAN

Helena Bowman - Chief Operating Officer

3 WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME

Determined. Calm. Ambitious.

TEA OR COFFEE?

Tea. I hate coffee!

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

Honestly, I had no idea!

WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AT SCHOOL?

I was rule-abiding and always playing sport.

WHAT DID YOU FIND DIFFICULT?

Friendship groups could be difficult. I had lots of friends, but there are always issues. As you grow up, you find your way.

MY CAREER

I’ve had plenty of moments where I’ve doubted myself — all the time, actually! What keeps me going is knowing I’ll get through it and having faith in myself.

WHAT DO I ACTUALLY DO?

My job is very varied because it spans lots of different areas. One day I might be writing a proposal, meeting a member of staff or partner organisation, and another day I could be watching a match.

That’s one of the things I love most about my job — there’s always lots to do and lots to learn.

Something that surprises people is that they sometimes assume I must play football to do my job. I definitely don’t! Netball is my sport.

MY ADVICE

YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE IT FIGURED OUT

It’s okay not to know what you want to do when you grow up. You’ll figure it out as you learn more about what you enjoy.

FIND SOMETHING YOU ENJOY

Try to find something you enjoy doing. Work shouldn’t feel like a chore.

BUILD YOUR RESILIENCE

It’s okay to try something and fail, as long as you learn from it. Resilience is an important skill to develop.

INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN FOOTBALL?

EXPLORE THE DIFFERENT ROLES

There are lots of different jobs at football clubs, so look beyond what happens on the pitch and find out what goes on behind the scenes.

BUILD YOUR RESILIENCE

Try things, make mistakes and learn from them. Being able to bounce back and keep going will help you in any career.

THE MYTH?

You have to like or play football to work in football. You don’t! There are loads of different roles and opportunities within football clubs.

REMEMBER:

“It’s okay not to know what you want to do. You will figure it out as you learn more about what you enjoy.”