Misaki Tsuruta

Cluster Venue Technology Manager, Paris 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games Organising Committee, Paris, France
Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Hospitality Management conjoint programmes

He enjoys playing a part in putting together the world’s biggest sporting event, says Misaki Tsuruta who is now based in Paris where he works as the cluster venue technology manager for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee.

“I love being part of a universal cause that promotes unity and excellence through sports and delivering the biggest sports event in the world in collaboration with experts in other areas.

“In this role I’m responsible for planning, implementing and operating technology services in major non-competition venues, including the Olympic and Paralympic Village and the International Broadcasting Centre. I’m training junior members, creating teams for each venue, providing guidance during the planning phase and will be acting as a point of escalation to ensure that the planned technology services function as intended at all venues.”

His career path has been somewhat unusual, he says.

“I started working in the hotel industry, then spent a few years working in a professional soccer club and now I’m managing the technology services at the Olympic Games. I’ve acquired new skills along the way, and will always remember my personal achievements such as designing a new brochure for the hotel I was working for, successfully concluding a difficult negotiation with another club, and now delivering the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Memories of AUT
For Misaki, the very first step towards the career he has today was enrolling in AUT’s Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Hospitality Management conjoint programmes.

“After leaving high school, I was very interested in pursuing a career in hotel management. I wanted to study a degree that would give me a base for this career as well as a global vision of business administration practices. The conjoint programmes at AUT corresponded with what I was looking for at that time.”

He still has fond memories of his time at university.

“I wanted to get good grades in all the courses I was studying, and I believe that the degree has given me a good base for my professional career. The classes were well organised and the schedule was communicated well in advance, which made it easier for me to take up part-time jobs in a hotel near the university. I’m also grateful that I was chosen for a student exchange to École Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d’Angers (ESSCA) in France. This experience helped me understand the business environment in Europe.”

Advice for other students
Misaki, who graduated from AUT in 2003, has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their university journey.

“Remember that everyone has different skills and characteristics. The things that make you happy and the things that motivate you can be different from your colleagues or people in the same industry.”

The important thing is to figure out what sets you apart from others.

“I think it’s important to listen to your heart, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and be conscious of your value in the market that you want to be in. It’s not simply comparing yourself to the person who is perceived to be the best in the market, but it’s more of finding out what you want and figuring out what makes you stand out.”