Building Brands & Driving Commercial Growth in Sport & Entertainment
Zaheen Ahmed
My background blends commercial growth, sponsorship activation, marketing, media, and entrepreneurial leadership — grounded in high-performance sales and business development. I built my career learning how to create and capture value — developing the discipline to identify opportunity, structure deals, negotiate strategically, and drive measurable revenue. I approach sport & entertainment not only as culture, but as a business ecosystem — one that demands sustainable revenue models, strong partnerships, thoughtful marketing, and operational precision.
As an entrepreneur by instinct, I focus on translating bold ideas into commercially sound realities. I’m drawn to building — taking concepts from early-stage vision to structured execution. That means building brands from the ground up — defining their value, telling compelling stories, shaping revenue strategy, forging meaningful partnerships, and designing systems that scale.
Whether within an organization or developing something of my own, I operate with ownership — thinking long-term, building with intention, and executing with discipline.
Experience
Sponsorship Manager, Ontario
Canadian Street Soccer Association
February 2026 - Present
The Canadian Street Soccer Association (CSSA) is a national non-profit that uses soccer to drive social change. It creates inclusive programs for people facing homelessness, refugee journeys, addiction, mental health challenges, and social exclusion, helping them rebuild confidence, community, and opportunity.
Marketing Committee Member
Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada
October 2025 - Present
Supporting the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada (SMCC) as a member of the Marketing Committee, contributing to strategic initiatives, content planning, and community engagement efforts that strengthen Canada’s sponsorship and marketing ecosystem.
Event, Matchday & Broadcast Operations
Ontario Soccer
June 2025 - Present
Ontario Soccer is the provincial governing body for soccer in Ontario, supporting 500+ clubs and 380,000+ registered participants. It oversees competitions, player development pathways, coach and match official education, and delivers major provincial events across the province.
Field Coordinator & Event Operations
Canada Soccer – National PDP Championships
August 2025
Canada Soccer is the national governing body for soccer in Canada, overseeing the sport from community participation to high performance. It supports nearly 1 million registered participants nationwide, manages national competitions and development programs, and leads Canada’s National Teams on the global stage.
Soccer League Convenor
DG Sports – York Region Soccer League
October 2025 - Present
DG Sports is a sports management organization that operates and coordinates competitive and recreational soccer leagues across the GTA. Through its flagship York Region Soccer League (YRSL), DG Sports delivers structured, high-quality soccer experiences for teams, players, and officials in a professionally managed environment.
National Business Development & Account Manager
Global Payments Inc.
October 2023 - March 2025
Global Payments – A Fortune 500 payments technology company that delivers the complete industry leading worldwide commerce ecosystem.
Account Executive
UEAT Technologies – A Moneris Company
June 2022 - June 2023
The AI powered all in one online ordering and kiosk solutions for restaurants.







