Gemma Smallfield grew up on the Sunshine Coast and went to Matthew Flinders Anglican College after primary at Buderim Mountain State School. At 11, she started playing club soccer at Buderim United Churches Soccer Club in a boys & girls mixed team. After Year 12, Gemma grabbed a scholarship opportunity to play for William Carey University in Mississippi USA while studying for four years. Gemma returned home to Buderim after graduating in 2013 with a degree in management and marketing and landed a role with Empyrean Lighting. After 6 years with Empyrean, starting as client services manager and ending as general manager, she has just changed jobs into an exciting new role that completes the trilogy of football.  Gemma plays in the Brisbane Women’s Premier League, has established a side business to coach goalkeepers and now she works in football too as the Commercial Manager at Football Brisbane.

Gemma, tell us about the different areas that you have worked and what makes you tick?

Client services with Empyrean Lighting was filled with admin tasks, marketing, graphic design and project management. As time went on, my day also became filled with generating business, client liaison, sales activities, logistics and inventory management. Now at Football Brisbane, I’m working with sponsors and partners, handling all aspects of communication, events and our media team. I love that each day is different and there’s always plenty going on. I’m a busy person so working in a high paced environment suits me well.

You are now working for Football Brisbane, combining your talents as a football player and work – how did this all come about and what strengths do you bring to the corporate role through already being a player?

The position was created and advertised and although I didn’t think much of it at first, I decided to chat further with the General Manager who I knew. This started the ball rolling and things moved along quickly! Football in Brisbane is massive – we are the largest football zone in Australia (and across any sporting code). With more than 28,000 players across 77 clubs, having a background in football with knowledge of the competition structures has been a big plus. My connections from playing as well as coaching have been a great start to expanding my football network. I walk the talk when it comes to what players and clubs want from Football Brisbane.

What traits do you think are important as a leader, in business and also when leading a sporting team?

Actions speak louder than words and being able to communicate is key. These define my leadership style both on and off the field. Leaders are motivators that can read situations and encourage people to work towards the best outcome. Learning how to lead a sporting team closely correlates to teams within a working environment so building these skills and understanding how they transfer is extremely valuable.

Why is exercise so important and what are the benefits of participating in a team sport?

Physical activity produces endorphins making us feel good which in turn, ensures well-being and healthy living. Even after an extremely stressful day when we could continue working for hours on end – getting out and doing something to regenerate and recharge can be the best decision we make. Being involved in team sports teaches people about commitment, loyalty, hard work, perseverance and the kind of person they are when the pressure is on.

And what’s next on the agenda for Gemma Smallfield?

I’ve dived right into the deep end at Football Brisbane so I’ll spend a good amount of time building my knowledge and further developing my skills and experience.I love engaging with the football family and building the strength of the game from the inside out.

Favourite movie and why?

Don’t really have one – however my favourite food is Mexican!

Coast or City?

Bit of both. I’m not a massive fan of the beach or inner city.

Who would you most like to meet and why?

Janine Allis. She’s a powerhouse on Shark Tank and a real survivor.

To find out more about Gemma head to:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmalayfield/