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From SKEMA to the organising committee of Paris 2024: the journey of a project manager
Chloé Forget (SKEMA 2019) is a graduate of the Master in Management (PGE) and the MSc in Project and Programme Management and Business Development at SKEMA Business School. She currently holds the position of PMO Event Delivery within the organising committee of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In this interview, she spoke to us about her academic journey and professional life.
Chloé, could you tell us about your academic journey at SKEMA Business School?
I joined SKEMA after completing a preparatory class in Rouen. I spent the first semester of my M1-year on the Raleigh campus and the second semester on the Belo Horizonte campus. I was pleasantly surprised by the freedom offered at SKEMA; as a student, we have the opportunity to shape our own path.
After my international academic experience, I decided to specialise in my M2-year and join the Grand Paris campus. I then chose the MSc in Project and Programme Management and Business Development. I appreciated the excellent support I received during my studies, the presence of highly qualified professors, and the opportunity to obtain all the professional certifications needed to enter the workforce.
How has your academic and professional background prepared you to excel in an international project environment?
After completing five years of management studies, two of which were abroad, I opted for a specialisation in project management through this MSc. My career goal was to become a project manager in the sports and artistic fields. I had already gained experience in managing artistic and tourist projects from a previous experience that I loved. I decided to improve myself and step out of my comfort zone. I ventured into the industrial sector as a project engineer at MI-GSO (world leader in project, programme, portfolio and change management consulting).
This position allowed me to share my project management expertise while benefiting from the advice of experienced project managers. Moreover, the international nature of my then project gave me the opportunity to use my language skills in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds!
Since you've been working for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee, could you describe your main responsibilities and tasks in terms of coordination and delivery of competition venues?
Since May 2022, I have indeed been collaborating with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee, specifically within the Event Venue Management department, which is responsible for the coordination and delivery of competition venues for the Couronne cluster (competition venues on the outskirts of Paris), which includes venues such as Roland-Garros, Parc des Princes, La Défense Arena, and Paris Bercy. My tasks are quite varied.
First, I plan the delivery of the venues in close collaboration with all the stakeholders involved. Then, I manage various tools and lead meetings with different collaborators to ensure smooth and efficient coordination of deliveries. I am also responsible for monitoring all documentation and contracts between the various parties, which is crucial for the successful delivery of competition venues. Finally, I analyse and monitor the risks associated with each competition venue, in collaboration with the stakeholders. In this regard, I can say that I support the teams. I assess the situation, analyse the risks, and propose solutions that are ultimately validated by the cluster director.
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