Jean Bley D’20, part owner of IK Start, a Norwegian football club from the city of Kristiansand, recently spoke to a Sport Management class at Robert Morris.

Jean graduated from RMU with a Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Management and Leadership. Over the last two decades, he has held numerous leadership roles at financial institutions and other corporations such as BNY Mellon, Rolls Royce, PNC Bank, CRH, and WSFS Bank. Jean now works as an independent investor and serves on the board of directors advisory to various organizations.

The RMU alum, alongside IK Start’s two other co-owners, David Grim and Roger Loughney, shared their business knowledge with Sport Management students at RMU over a virtual call. Some key takeaways from the discussion were embracing risk, sustainability over quick wins, community engagement, and navigating cultural and business challenges.

The three owners of IK Start met in Sewickley, PA. They were featured in an article by the Pittsburgh Trib in August 2024.

SPMG 3401: Principles of Management in Sport Management is taught by Dr. Armand Buzzelli. The course provides a comprehensive look at managerial principles and their application within the sports industry. It focuses on the key functions of planning, organizing, controlling, staffing, and evaluation in sport organizations.