Operations Manager Intern
During the 2023 AT&T Pro-AM golf tournament at Pebble Beach, I managed one of the largest concession tents on the 18th Fairway. I was responsible for over 100 volunteers, directing and motivating them to provide exceptional service to over 190,000 attendees. Another integral part of my job was to manage concession logistics, constantly communicating with the supply managers and utilizing Excel to update critical inventory information.
From this experience, I demonstrated adaptability in handling unexpected customer rushes and challenging weather conditions, including 20+ mph winds and heavy rain, while maintaining team cohesion. I also contributed significantly to the company’s revenue growth, achieving a 15% YoY sales increase, resulting in total sales of $4 million. Furthermore, I earned accolades for leadership from my volunteer group, which comprised of military veterans and federal agency workers.
A huge takeaway that I learned (and will be implementing in my leadership style for future careers) is that a good leader is one who helps their team members grow to be leaders too. In other words, a good leader is one who brings forth new leaders. In my first couple days of opening, I felt overwhelmed by how much I had to oversee. But once I observed which volunteers demonstrated leadership capabilities, I decided to place them in charge of certain areas of the tents. For example, I had one senior volunteer manage the front part of the tent in which they oversaw the system and flow of customer orders getting in and out. Not only did they do a fantastic job, but their presence allowed me to focus on other things. So, one thing I would definitely implement in my own future career is to identify the strength and weaknesses of my team members, and delegate leadership roles to those I deem best fit.