Max Romeo always knew sports would be part of his story. After earning his undergraduate degree in recreation and sport management at FIU, he landed a part-time operations job with Inter Miami CF. It was entry-level, but it was a start. “I knew very early on this was the path I wanted to take,” he says. Determined to make it work, Romeo built relationships across departments and received a full-time offer just two months later. That momentum carried him through several internal promotions until he became the academy equipment manager, overseeing operations and logistics for one of the fastest-growing soccer clubs in the country.
While climbing the ladder, Romeo kept a close eye on his professional development. It wasn’t long before he started hearing about FIU Chapman’s Professional MBA in Sports Management, offered in partnership with Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid UE. Alumni like Rafael Cabrera and Joshua McQueen shared their experience with him and the value it brought to their careers. “I started to notice a trend,” Romeo says. “So many of the people I admired had taken this same program.”
Balancing work, school and life didn’t come easy at first. Romeo was still with Inter Miami when he enrolled, and the club was expanding rapidly. “My schedule was impossible,” he admits. “But after speaking with the team at FIU and Real Madrid, I realized the structure of the program allowed for flexibility, and the support was there when I needed it.” Despite the fully online format, he never felt alone. From professors and alumni to peers and staff, Romeo says the sense of community helped him stay on track. “Everything was laid out clearly from day one. I printed the course schedule and taped it to my office wall. That one piece of paper became my game plan.”
One of the most transformative parts of the program came in Madrid during the Real Madrid Experience, a two-week residency with Real Madrid executives, sports industry leaders and fellow students. “That trip changed my life,” Romeo says. “We attended Q&As, agency visits, lectures and I talked to everyone I could. The culture, the city, the people, it all pushed my curiosity and broadened my perspective.”
“The classes didn’t just teach theory. They showed me how the industry works, how decisions are made, and how to lead.”
In early 2025, Romeo transitioned out of Inter Miami and into a new role at Veo Technologies, a sports tech company based in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. It wasn’t a move he originally anticipated, but it came naturally through years of networking. Veo had been one of the vendors he worked with during his time at Inter Miami, and when a sales opportunity opened up, he was ready to make a change. “I wanted more time for myself, and this role gave me that. The program gave me the confidence to try something new.”
Romeo had never worked in sales before, but the MBA program’s sports finance and strategy courses gave him a solid foundation. “Even though I’m not a numbers guy, I felt prepared to make the leap,” he says. “The classes didn’t just teach theory. They showed me how the industry works, how decisions are made, and how to lead.”
Today, Romeo brings that blend of discipline, insight and people-first mindset to his role at Veo. Whether he’s working with clients or mentoring aspiring sports professionals, he encourages everyone to focus less on replicating someone else’s journey and more on shaping their own. “That’s the advice I always give. Do what you can with what you have and build your own path.”
“Do what you can with what you have and build your own path.”
Max Romeo’s Advice for Aspiring Sports Business Professionals:
- Get around the right people. Talk to professionals who are already in the roles you want and learn how they got there.
- Don’t try to follow someone else’s playbook. Everyone’s journey is different. Make yours unique.
- Use your resources. From faculty and peers to alumni, this program gives you access to a powerful network.
- Say yes to opportunities that are available and work for you. Whether it’s an unpaid internship, a networking event, or a side project, those moments add up.
- Stay curious. Ask questions. Learn from everyone. It’s the connections you build that often lead to the next step.
If you’re looking to advance or break into the sports industry, FIU Chapman’s Professional MBA in Sports Management program provides the structure, credibility and global reach to help you get there.
Learn more about the Professional MBA in Sports Management program at FIU Chapman.