Staff Spotlight: Iya Brocklehurst, Business Development Manager

In our latest staff Q&A, we find out about Iya Brocklehurst, Business Development Manager

1. How does your current role align with your professional interests?

I really enjoy the mix of communication, data and growth. I’ve always been interested in applied linguistics, which actually translates surprisingly well into business development.

At the end of the day, even in a very data-driven industry, partnerships still come down to trust, communication and understanding people properly. Fancy technology helps, of course, but so does replying to emails on time.

2. What element of your job makes you feel most connected to live events and audiences?

One of the best parts is meeting brilliant people across the industry, both colleagues and clients. There is always a real buzz around major racing events, and I love experiencing that atmosphere in person.

Working in racing also means I usually know exactly when it is time to prepare the fascinator!

3. How do you think data and analytics are reshaping the way fans interact with sport?

Over the past three months at Podium, I’ve seen how quickly fans engage when complex data is turned into smart tips and clean visuals that make sense instantly.

Clients love that they do not need a spreadsheet and a maths degree to understand what is happening anymore! Good analytics should feel effortless. If people can understand it at first glance, they stay engaged for much longer, and Racing Clarity is living proof of that!

4. What role do you think live data plays in enhancing the fan experience?

Live data keeps fans engaged because the story changes every second. A good visual or smart insight can instantly make sport feel more immersive and far easier to follow.

Commercially, it also changes the relationship with audiences. Brands are no longer just talking at fans, they are interacting with them in real time. Much more engaging, and definitely more fun than staring at a static league table from 2007.

5. What’s the most exciting use of real-time data in sport you’ve seen lately?

For me, it’s how predictive data and visuals are now blending seamlessly into live experiences. When data is presented properly, fans can understand what is happening instantly without needing to decode a spreadsheet for twenty minutes.

You also have to account for modern attention spans, which seem to get shorter by the week. Audiences expect insights immediately now. Patience as a concept is hanging on by a thread.

6. What sporting mindset or mantra do you try to bring into your workday?

Very simple. “Gold is winning. Anything else is losing.”

Maybe that sounds slightly dramatic for a Tuesday morning intro call, but mindset matters. In business development especially, positive energy is contagious.

7. What’s one challenge in your job that feels like being “in the final minutes of a close game”?

Trying to get contracts signed ahead of the World Cup definitely feels like that sometimes.

I must admit, those periods are also exciting because you see teams collaborating brilliantly. Usually powered by slightly too much coffee as well!

8. Which athlete do you think would make the best CEO?

Personally, I’ve been a fan of figure skating since I was a kid, so probably Alina Zagitova. Winning every major gold title takes incredible discipline, consistency and composure under pressure.

I admire people who combine technical excellence with high standards. In business, you also have to set standards and challenges high whilst accepting there is always risk involved. And that balance is probably rarer than an inbox with no unread emails!

9. What sport would you love to try but never have?

I’d love to try figure skating. I’ve always admired it, but after watching the level of balance, discipline and elegance involved, I also have a healthy respect for how quickly it could end quite badly for me!