Emma Prokesch’s (’19) career goals never involved the traditional nine-to-five.
As a field operations escort manager for a “high-touch, luxury client and official partner of Team USA” at the 2024 Paris Olympics, her workdays began at 5 a.m. and concluded around 2:30 a.m. the following day.
“I’ll be candid in that working at events like this seems much more glamorous than it actually is,” she said. “Most days I only slept two to three hours a night. But I would not change it for the world.”
As a graduate of the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management, Prokesch said the hands-on nature of her education directly prepared her for the demands of her career. “These experiences taught me how to manage timelines, coordinate with vendors and teams, and stay composed under pressure. These are the same skills I now rely on in high-intensity settings like the Olympics and at FIFA.”
Working at the Paris Olympics didn’t happen overnight. After graduating in 2019, Prokesch moved to Ireland to kickstart her career on the Guest Relations team at the Adare Manor Hotel and Resort, a luxury property that was ranked the No.1 Resort in the World by Condé Nast Traveler in 2022 and the official host venue of the 2027 Ryder Cup. Shortly after she was hired, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing her to pivot. Once back in the States, Prokesch joined GMR Marketing, working on the Comcast Business account to support a range of high-profile events like the Ryder Cup, PGA Tour, NASCAR and the Kentucky Derby.
To work at the Paris Olympics, there was no formal application process. The field of events is all about who you know. Through in-field connections, Prokesch interviewed with On Location in March 2023. A year later, she was assigned her role for the Games.
A typical day working for the Olympics includes a tight schedule; Prokesch usually planned and operated around two events for guests per day. “Since we were hosting celebrity brand partners and C-level executives, it was very important that all operations were flawless,” she said. Along these lines, Prokesch would brief her team on everything from parking locations to security entrances, hospitality lounges and guest seats.
“When you are operating at this level, you can’t afford to get lost, but you have to learn a new venue every day. Even though we did site visits ahead of the Games kicking off, we had 17 venues to memorize and different seats/hospitality locations for different events.”
Despite some personal challenges, once she touched down in Paris, everything clicked. “I discovered strength I didn’t know I had. Under immense emotional pressure, I performed at the highest level during 27 consecutive days of one of the most intense events in the world. I proved to myself, and to anyone who doubted me, that I was capable of far more than I imagined.”
Prokesch described the Olympics as “the pinnacle of human achievement in every way,” saying, “I genuinely believe they are the closest we have ever gotten to world peace.”
During the gold-medal USA vs. France men’s basketball game, she said, “A few of our guests had been gifted tickets, and the only local staffer I could bring was a young French college student who loves basketball. He came to support one of our guests, a former pro player. Watching the game with him — even as France lost — was powerful. He was emotional the entire time, completely overwhelmed by the experience.”
Prokesch’s biggest takeaway from this milestone career opportunity can be summed up in one word: resilience. “I believe deeply in the importance of pushing personal boundaries. ... Growth rarely happens in comfort.”
Following the Games, Prokesch was left wondering what was next for her. “It is hard to explain the feeling of achieving a goal that has consumed your identity since you were a kid. It’s surreal but also terrifying at the same time. I spent so many years building toward the Olympics that, when they finally ended, I had to reflect and ask myself, ‘What’s next?’”
Her supervisor in Paris suggested she get involved with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which led to her next daring career adventure. The position for the World Cup had two paths: one that would be similar to her past roles and one that would include something new. She chose to follow the new opportunity, working with a different type of “client” — the Philadelphia community — as the Philadelphia host city volunteer manager.
Through both career milestones, Prokesch credits her success to her alma mater. “JMU has been a huge part of my career journey, mostly because of the people I met along the way.”
Connections with former professors and Dukes have also guided her.
“After Paris, when I wasn’t sure what direction to take next, I reached out to Patrick Crosson (’11), a fellow alum, for advice. And on my very first week at FIFA, I ran into Jen Nelson (’14), another JMU grad, at a happy hour, and we instantly connected.”
Prokesch’s advice for current students in the Hart School is to make the most of your time and opportunities. She highlights connections and pushing beyond your comfort zone as paramount.
“In this industry, comfort and complacency are the biggest barriers to success. Growth happens when you challenge yourself and take on new experiences, even if they feel intimidating at first. Most importantly, have fun with it. This is a unique and exciting field; you will work hard, but if you love what you do, it won’t feel like it.”
