Nancy Christiaens (left) and Hebert Camargo Lima (right) are sitting and networking with another Rising Stars participant and Arthur Ayres, the chief financial officer for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and a member of STHM’s Board of Visitors.
In preparation, Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the host committee in charge of planning and executing the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia, held its first-ever Rising Stars Academy in October. Three students from Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) were selected to attend.
The professional development program offered the chosen applicants an assortment of enriching experiential learning opportunities, as well as creating and developing invaluable industry connections.
Participants were involved in a handful of offerings over the course of six sessions, which were held on Tuesdays and Thursdays over three consecutive weeks in October. The students attended executive panels and gained strategic insights from leaders within the soccer industry as well as city representatives.
They also had the chance to engage in off-site visits to locations including Lincoln Financial Field, Xfinity Mobile Arena and City Hall, and hear from Philadelphia Soccer 2026 partners, such as the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Eagles, Comcast Spectacor and Independence Blue Cross
Following completion of the program, all students will be paired with a mentor for six months. This will allow them to further develop their skills, connections and insights far beyond the end of the program.
The in-session experience ended with a collaborative group project, where each student developed a final presentation for a panel of Philadelphia Soccer 2026 judges.
Two graduate students, Nancy Christiaens (NC) and Hebert Camargo Lima (HCL), and one undergraduate student, Leah Stein (LS), were all selected to take part in this three-week program. Read on to learn more about the program and their experience!
What motivated you to join the Rising Stars Academy, and how did you prepare yourself before the program officially started?
NC: Growing up in Belgium, I was always passionate about soccer and fascinated by how it brings people from diverse communities together. My main motivation for joining the Rising Stars Academy was to gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of the various elements involved in organizing a world-class sporting event. The program featured panel discussions and on-site visits, covering everything from operations and communications to government affairs and social impact. Before the interview process began, I prepared by learning as much as possible about Philadelphia Soccer 2026 and reflecting on how this program would support my professional development.
During your time in the program, what has been the most memorable event/activity/interaction, and why?
HCL: Honestly, since it was only six meetings, every moment felt memorable because each day featured high-level panels and engaging activities. Throughout the program, we had the chance to hear from and network with CEOs and senior executives from organizations such as Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Philadelphia Flyers, Wawa Welcome America and the Philadelphia Eagles. We also participated in site visits to City Hall, Xfinity Live and Lincoln Financial Field.
The most memorable part for me was the final day, when we presented our project in a Shark Tank–style format. It was an incredible opportunity to apply what we learned, gain deeper insights into World Cup operations and deliver a professional-level presentation in front of industry leaders. Overall, the entire experience was both inspiring and extremely valuable for my career development.
How has participating in the Rising Stars Academy helped you grow personally or professionally at this stage in your academic journey?
LS: Rising Stars Academy helped me grow professionally at this point in my academic journey by offering me a glimpse into what a career in planning and executing global sporting events could look like. The program also helped me grow by connecting me with peers and industry professionals from all over the citywhich widened my network and pushed me out of my comfort zone.
What insights or lessons from the program do you believe will have the biggest impact on how you approach your future studies and early career opportunities?
LS: The biggest lesson I learned from the program was the importance of creating long-lasting and meaningful connections with peers, coworkers, bosses and mentors. The importance of creating connections and networking was a lesson brought up in a different way during each session and that is a lesson I plan to carry with me through my last years of college and into my professional career.
From your perspective, what unique value does the Rising Stars Academy offer to graduate students compared to more traditional career-development pathways?
HL: What sets this program apart from more traditional career-development pathways is the level of engagement and exclusivity it provides. At typical career fairs, many people are competing for the opportunity to speak with employers, but in this program, there were only 24 of us. This allowed for meaningful conversations, personalized feedback and genuine connections with executives.
Most of the panelists held senior leadership roles in their organizations, so being able to learn directly from their experiences and share our own career journeys created a unique, high-impact learning environment. It was truly an exceptional opportunity to develop both professionally and personally.
Looking ahead, how do you plan to leverage your Rising Stars Academy experience and the connections you’ve made into the next phase of your career?
NC: Besides learning about how various departments intersect with each other and how important communication is, one of the key lessons I have learned during the program is the importance of networking, making genuine connections and following through. I had the pleasure of connecting with wonderful peers and speakers throughout the program and am excited to stay in touch with them. Part of the program includes a six-month mentorship component and I am looking forward to connecting with my mentor soon. I will also keep in touch with the Philadelphia Soccer 2026 team and I hope that there will be ways I can support them in delivering the biggest sporting event of 2026.