Shanie Marion

""I chose Essex because the programme was exactly what I was looking for."

A Career in Mental Performance Consulting

After graduating from the University of Essex with an MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology, Shanie returned to Argentina to pursue a career in sport while building her own business as a Mental Performance Consultant. Alongside competing as a footballer, she is working towards Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) accreditation and supporting athletes to achieve their performance goals.

Why Essex?

"I chose Essex because the programme was exactly what I was looking for. The lecturers were clearly passionate about their subject, the modules were engaging, and the coach of the women's football team played a big role in convincing me to study at Essex."

Combining sport and study

As a member of the Essex women's football team as a performance sports scholar, balancing academic work alongside training and competition required strong organisational skills.

"Whenever I had free time, I would get ahead with reading, assignments and preparation. Learning to manage my time effectively has been one of the most valuable skills I've taken into my career."

Gaining practical experience

Alongside her studies, Shanie chose a placement as a Sports Scientist Frontrunner at the Human Performance Unit, gaining hands-on experience in data analysis and communication.

"This experience helped me learn how to explain complex concepts to people from different backgrounds and developed skills that I still use every day with my clients."

Building a career in sport psychology

Since graduating, she has returned to Argentina, where she combines playing football with running her own mental performance consultancy.

"The MSc gave me the knowledge and confidence to work with clients, understand the psychological demands of performance, and apply evidence-based approaches in practice."

Working towards completing the experience requirements needed to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), her goal is “to continue developing as a practitioner and help athletes perform at their best, both in sport and beyond."