Rising to the Challenge: Ian's Leadership Journey at Paris 2024
October 01, 2024|News
At just 24 years old, Ian has taken on a significant role within the IGNITX Accreditation team for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Engaged as an intern for IGNITX at the end of 2023, Ian has already proven his value as a young leader, managing complex operations at some of the most prominent venues of the world’s largest sporting event.
Initially brought on board as Administrative Assistant with the opportunity to serve as Venue Accreditation Deputy Manager at Bercy Arena for the Olympics and Paralympics, Ian, of Senegalese and Swiss nationality, was promoted in May 2024 to Venue Accreditation Manager for the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium after the previous manager stepped down for personal reasons. Despite the sudden transition, Ian embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, quickly adapting to his new responsibilities.
In the 5 months that Ian was with us, he showed initiative and a great sense of responsibility. He was a quick learner and always gave his best at every task. Internally, it wasn't a difficult decision to make, offering him the position as Venue Accreditation Manager which he accepted wholeheartedly.
Ian’s path to this unique experience is rooted in his academic background and early professional experiences. Having studied Sports Management at the Sports Management School (SMS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, he was already on a trajectory toward the world of international sports before joining IGNITX. His previous roles included working with Sotheby’s in Geneva, as well as the Nidecker Group in Rolle, experiences that shaped his foundational skills in administration and client service.
When asked what drew him to the opportunity with IGNITX, Ian shared:
I wanted an opportunity to experience life outside of Switzerland, where I've spent my entire life. Fortunately for me, IGNITX was looking for an intern who spoke French and was ready to work in Paris. It was everything I wanted, and then the opportunity to work for Paris 2024 was also a dream come true.
Diving Deep into the Olympic World
For Ian, the journey has been filled with surprises, challenges, and invaluable learning experiences. Reflecting on his unexpected promotion to Venue Accreditation Manager, he explained how the role gave him a deep dive into the world of sport events:
It was a big step for me, but also an amazing opportunity, which I embraced with great motivation.
Throughout his time with IGNITX, Ian has grown into his leadership role, learning valuable lessons along the way. He cites his top three takeaways from the experience as:
- Communication is key. Leading a team requires clear, effective communication to ensure everyone is aligned and can perform their best.
- Respecting processes. Working on large-scale events means following established procedures, even when they are time-consuming.
- Cross-functional learning. Observing and learning from other teams and functional areas provided him with a broader understanding of the event ecosystem.
Memorable Moments and Challenges
Ian fondly recalls the pride of contributing to the successful execution of the Paris 2024 Games as one of his most memorable moments:
Seeing the Games go smoothly made me proud, and I will remember this experience for the rest of my life.
Yet, the journey wasn’t without its hurdles. Transitioning into a managerial role meant quickly mastering complex accreditation processes, something Ian hadn’t had much experience with before.
First, I had to learn the accreditation process from almost zero. Then, just as I was beginning to feel confident, I had to quickly master it because I was becoming the manager and needed to know everything.
Looking Ahead: A Bright Future in Sports Management
This hands-on experience has had a profound impact on Ian’s professional development, boosting both his confidence and his career prospects. He believes that his time with IGNITX and Paris 2024 will be invaluable as he continues to pursue a career in sports management.
This has been the most important experience of my career so far. It has given me a lot of confidence, both professionally and personally.
As Ian reflects on his journey, he is grateful to the many people who helped him along the way. He especially acknowledges the influence of Vinicius Melich, an expert in the field serving as Accreditation Cluster Manager in the IGNITX team since 2023, whose guidance throughout the event was instrumental:
Working and learning from someone with that level of experience has been incredibly rewarding and valuable.
Ian’s time with IGNITX has given him more than just experience—it has provided him with mentorship, deep professional relationships, and a sense of pride in contributing to one of the most significant events in the world.
As the excitement of Paris 2024 winds down, Ian looks ahead with excitement, ready to take the next steps in his career, equipped with the lessons and experiences that have shaped him during his time with IGNITX.
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