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Education & Careers

Inspirational Stories

Life is not always a clear path, and no path is the same. But as you navigate, there are people all around the world to guide you. Read their stories below and let it help you take your own next step.
I want to share my story!
Jim Van Vugt

Project Manager
Jacaranda Sports Marketing

Growing up
I grew upp in a family of 4, with me being the eldest. At the age of six, my life took a turn with my family moving to Turkey as my father started a new business. It was a big cultural shift: new language, new food and a completely different environment. But one constant stayed with me; football. I started playing at age four, too young to officially join a team, but the local club let me train with them anyway.

At school, I was always involved in sports, swimming competitions, school football teams, whatever I
could join. Those tournament trips, traveling with friends, competing, sharing the highs and lows, made me realize how powerful
sports can be in bringing people together. 

I went to high school in Valencia, Spain, and after graduating I moved back to Netherlands, my birthplace, to study Business Management. Even though I appreciated being close to family again, having a season ticket at my
favourite team PSV and living in familiar surroundings, I also felt I was missing this international feeling and adventure while also and potentially more important, I wasn’t pursuing my true passion in the Sports Industry.

It didn’t take long before I realized that this path wasn’t fulfilling me. So, I made a difficult but exciting decision: I quit my studies and got a job for the summer to save money and began searching for a new opportunity abroad that aligned with both my passion for sports and the international experience. That search led me to Geneva Business School (GBS), where I was accepted into the Sports Management program. My ambition and path were clear, I wanted to work in the sports industry
and more specifically, as a Sports Agent. I had always been intrigued by the dynamic role agents play – traveling the world, negotiating contracts, supporting athletes and helping transform raw talent
into global stars.

Education
My time at GBS Madrid was great. The city’s energy, its role as Spain’s main metropole and the diverse student body created an exciting environment both academically and socially. The curriculum was hands-on and enriched with industry insights. Courses on sponsorships, sporting events and club management laid the base but what stood out most were the real-life facilitators brought in from the industry.

One that particularly inspired me was Rubén Guillem, then the Marketing Manager at Valencia CF. He gave us a week-long course on sponsorship deals, brand visibility, licensing strategies and how top clubs work with partners. It was a real eye opening and valuable experience, which I still carry with me today.

It was also during my time at GBS where I pitched a business idea of a Football Tournemament for University Students on our own version of Shark Tank, which was very succesful and after being connected with likeminded we built what today is The Intermaster Cup.
Shortly summerized: A football tournamnet of 5 years, eight cities, over 100 tournaments and more than 5,000 players. 

Career
After graduating from GBS, I returned to Valencia and joined Jacaranda Marketing, a Sports Agency specializing in Events, Sports Consulting, Sponsorship Activation, Hospitality and Sustainability. I started as an intern and worked my way up to become a Project Manager. Like any career, there
have been highs and lows—but each project and experience adds to my professional career.

Highlights
One of the most exciting events I’ve worked on is the 52 SUPER SERIES, a Premier Sailing Championship. I’ve led Sponsorship Activations with global brands like Rolex and Amway. 

Beach Motor Yachts. One of the highlights has been managing guest experience
programs—especially for XS Nation and Amway—offering VIPs a behind-the-scenes look at Championship Racing, VIP Dining and live on water action. Guest leaving with big smiles is an indicator on a job well done!

Another amazing milestone was our work with Škoda at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in
Stockholm. From pitching creative ideas and budget to physically building out the fan activations, it was a great experience that brought me even closer to fans, the sport and the insights of sponsorship within sports.

For me, sports are all about passion, connection and fun. This journey, from Valencia to Madrid, traveling for tournaments across Spain and international events—has allowed me to grow my network, explore new places while having lots of enjoyable moments.

My role today is as a Project Manager focused on guest management and hospitality, sponsorship activation and coordinating sustainability operations. This role fits you if you enjoy working with people and socializing and handling pressure of high expectations. 

Likewise, you get used to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments. It requires flexibility and taking on long hours during events, frequent travel and the ability to come up with fast solutions. Social skills are key, especially when hosting guests and working with partners. Good
organization and planning skills are required.

In return, you get to meet incredible people, travel to exciting places and constantly build new skills. No two days are the same, and for someone who enjoys variety, responsibility and bringing
events to life, it’s an incredibly rewarding path.

If I could give advice to my younger self, it would be to stay curious. Just because you follow sports closely doesn’t mean you know everything about how the industry works. There’s always more to learn and being open to new ideas and experiences will take you much further. 

MOA KRISTENSON

Client Relations Manager
The Open Championship 

 Growing up, I participated in various sports. My dad worked with sports education in the region and so my interest for sport peaked very early. 

I went to a specific high school that included golf in their program and knew I wanted to look into the opportunity of playing college golf afterwards. I figured out the application process by myself and applied to different schools and reached out to golf coaches. 

I ended up going to USCB in North Carloina, studied Communications and was part of their Women’s Golf Team.

Towards my senior year, a teacher at the time told me about an internship he’d recommended me for at the yearly PGA Tour event in town. I met incredible people whom I call mentors and close friends today and I knew from my experience that working with major sporting events full time was what I wanted to pursue. 

Fast forward a few years I left the United States and had an opportunity to move to London to delivery hospitality for major cricket events. Unfortunately this was cut short due to Covid but ultimately led me to where I am today.

Today I work as a Client Relations Manager, delivering hospitality and guest experiences across The Open and the AIG Women’s Open, both major championships in golf.

Morgan Wollnik

Manager, Corporate Partnerships
PGA TOUR

 
We had lived in a few states before (Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama), but once we moved to Florida we knew it would be our new home. With the constant warm weather, my family was always outside! My dad played golf his whole life, so he started taking me to the driving range with him often. I found a love for the game at a young age and never stopped playing. It wasn’t always easy (and still isn’t….) but the lessons that came from golf, and the role that it played in where I am today, made the hard days worth it. 
 
In highschool, I played golf all four years. I knew that I wanted to continue playing golf in college, so I started looking into schools that I thought would be a good fit. I didn’t anticipate staying so close to home, but when I stepped foot on the campus of Southeastern University (only 20 minutes from my high school) I knew I was meant to be there. Prior to starting college, I had dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Then I realized I was too emotional to be around sick animals, so I started to focus on opportunities in the golf industry. I played golf at SEU for three years, and took off my last semester to focus on final studies. In the fall of 2018, I graduated with a Sport Management degree with a Business Concentration!
 
 
When I was in college at SEU, I helped with our game day operations. I supported our Booster Club tent at home football games by checking people in, welcoming them to the game, and ensuring they were taken care of and hosted properly. I helped with game day filming at our home basketball games and selling tickets. I even worked at the concession stand for many games! 
 
Once I graduated, I got a job at the Leadbetter Golf Academy in Orlando, Florida and assisted with their Leadbetter Kids program. I gave junior golf lessons, helped run classes for three different age groups on Saturday mornings, and also worked in the golf shop checking in guests and scheduling lessons. 
 
Then came my first job with the PGA TOUR! After deciding to leave the academy, I saw a posting for a Sports Career Fair in Jacksonville, Florida from Teamwork Online. I figured it would be a great opportunity to connect with sports industry leaders and hopefully hear about some job openings that may be a fit for me. I ended up meeting the Inside Sales Manager for the PGA TOUR and landed an interview with him a few weeks later. After a couple of interview rounds I was offered a job as an Inside Sales Representative. After going through the program for over a year, I was fortunate to be promoted to a Sales Associate with a Korn Ferry Tour event in Greenville, South Carolina. Sales was a grind, and I learned a lot in those roles. I grew so much because I had to step out of my comfort zone. I was making cold calls, attending community events and meeting so many new people, running an Executive Women’s Day event, golfing with clients/prospects, and more. 
 
After a year and a half, I decided that I wanted to explore opportunities outside of sales. I knew that I wanted to continue working in golf, just doing something else! I applied to a Volunteer Coordinator role with THE PLAYERS Championship and unfortunately, did not get it. That ended up being a blessing in disguise because not long after I applied to a Coordinator, Corporate Partnerships role and got the job in November of 2022! My roles and responsibilities continued to grow over the next few years. Two promotions and three and a half years later, I am now in my current role as a Manager, Corporate Partnerships!
 
I help with asset fulfillment for our marketing partners, strategize relationship building between our internal leadership and corporate partners, and help run our Partner Connect program where we bring partners together multiple times throughout the year to network and hear from PGA TOUR leadership. It is a job that requires an eye for detail, creativity, event planning, an ability to adapt to change, and customer service skills. We want to keep our partners happy and ensure that our partnership is meaningful to them!
 
 
My advice to my younger self would be to just get started somewhere! I didn’t know that an entry level Inside Sales job would get me to where I am now, but I worked my way up and always kept an optimistic attitude. Intern and volunteer whenever you can. Meet other people in sports and stay connected with them throughout your career. Be a sponge and absorb as much as you can from those around you. For me personally, keeping my faith at the center of everything I do is the most important. In the ever changing environment of working in professional sports, I know that Jesus is the one thing that will never change! 
 
I am happy to connect with anyone interested and share more about my journey! Best of luck! 🙂

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