Jamie Eisenberg '24 graduated this past winter from Flagler’s sport management program and has already taken her career to the global stage, collecting passport stamps as readily as new professional skills. In less than a year, she has made significant contributions to SportsMEDIA Technology’s (SMT) event operations team, supporting world-class competitions including Wimbledon and The French Open.
Her relationship with SMT began while she was still a Flagler student, when her class was tasked with creating a campaign for the company. Eisenberg went the extra mile to connect directly with SMT representatives, ultimately leading to a full-time offer as an event operations intern. Thanks to the flexibility of Flagler’s program, she was able to start the role immediately, traveling across the country with SMT while completing her final semester.
Eisenberg credits Dr. McNiff Villemaire, Sport Management program director, for championing student choice and creating opportunities within the program. “If she didn’t give me that opportunity, who knows where I’d be right now,” Eisenberg said.”
Villemaire was not only a professor but also a mentor. Eisenberg recalls many moments when fear initially held her back, until Villemaire’s guidance gave her the courage to embrace new opportunities. This mindset has stayed with her well beyond graduation, particularly when navigating high-pressure responsibilities abroad.
“We all know that feeling of wanting to explore a new career opportunity. It feels like such a leap of faith. You’re on the edge, it’s scary, but it could lead to something incredible. She opened my eyes to the fact that when you feel that way, it’s usually a sign of an amazing opportunity ahead. That feeling of fear often leads to something exciting,” Eisenberg said.
Embracing Fear in the Outback (Adelaide, Australia)
Immediately after graduation, Eisenberg boarded a 25-hour flight to Adelaide, Australia, marking the first of many passport stamps in her post-grad journey. There, she worked on SMT’s scoring team for the 2024 LIV Golf Tournament, tracking players’ strokes while compiling real-time statistics.
It was Eisenberg’s first time working both overseas and at a golf event. Rather than shying away from the challenge, she drew on the lessons she learned at Flagler.
“I didn’t know anything about golf going into that event, which was scary,” Eisenberg said. “But that’s the sports industry. Unless you’ve grown up in a specific sport, there’s so much you don’t know about others. In the program, they taught us that if you don’t know something, learn it. So that’s exactly how I approached both golf and, later on, tennis.”
The experience was both demanding and rewarding. Jet-lagged and adjusting to a new culture, Eisenberg quickly realized that international events move at a fast pace, leaving no room to fall behind.
“My biggest takeaway is to do the things that scare you, because they lead to growth. When you’re overseas, you might only be able to talk to your family in the middle of the night. That was tough at first. But I learned to be uncomfortable—and then got comfortable being uncomfortable,” Eisenberg said.
Parisian Pressures and Late Night Cappuccinos (Paris, France)
From Australia, Eisenberg headed to Paris for the French Open, where she handled match analysis and scoring through SMT’s RG Vision platform. The work demanded long hours, quick problem-solving, and total accuracy under pressure.
“Live sports is one of the most high-intensity industries,” Eisenberg said. “If broadcast graphics are wrong, misinformation spreads. Nothing is personal; it’s about getting the job done right. Under pressure, you can’t crack.”
Eisenberg found the late nights surprisingly fun, fueled by camaraderie with her coworkers and more than a few cappuccinos. Initially intimidated by the language barrier, she soon discovered how uniting and universal sports can be, valuing the chance to collaborate and learn alongside professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
“Everyone has different stories, but our common passion for sports placed us on the same team,” Eisenberg said. “Walking into a room where half of us don’t even speak the same language, you can still make someone’s day with a smile or a coffee—it just shows there are so many good people in the world.”
A Full-Circle Moment at Wimbledon (London, England)
Just months later, Eisenberg returned to Wimbledon, where she had once assisted SMT as a Flagler student. This time, armed with new knowledge and experience in the field, she took on greater responsibilities—operating scoreboards and managing onsite playlists for the iconic tournament.
“Having the opportunity one full year later made me realize everything I’m doing to make myself more valuable—both to the company and as an individual—is really working,” Eisenberg said.
The Wimbledon Tennis Tournament is known for its dedication to precision, accuracy, and prestigious tradition. This high-profile nature of the event brought even higher standards for Eisenberg’s team at SMT.
“In one of our first meetings before Wimbledon, my boss said their expectation was perfection—and that we would deliver nothing less,” Eisenberg said. “That set a new standard for me. It made me realize that this is how every event should be. If you can complete one event perfectly, you’re capable of doing that for any task. Whether it’s work or life, you should always set the highest expectations for yourself and your team.”
Taking on such visible, high-stakes responsibilities at Wimbledon was daunting, but for Eisenberg, it became a proud marker of how much she had grown in a single year.
“Operating the scoreboards was definitely intimidating,” Eisenberg said. “They’re filmed, broadcast, and followed by millions of people. It’s nerve-wracking, but also so exciting to have that kind of influence. One of my coworkers used the reference, ‘We have ink from our pen in every part of the tournament.’ I loved that visualization, and now I like to think I left my own ink when I was operating the scoreboard at Wimbledon.”
Eisenberg’s eagerness to learn is matched by her drive to go beyond what is asked of her. That initiative has made her valuable to the SMT team and is a testament to the professionalism and work ethic Flagler College instills in its graduates.
Building on Flagler’s Foundation
After months of travel, Eisenberg created a presentation with recommendations to improve SMT’s RG Vision platform, enhancing overall efficiency. Her insights were shared with company leadership, marking an important milestone in her early career.
She credits Flagler for preparing her to take these leaps. “My professors built me into the professional I am today. They gave me the confidence to put myself out there and reminded me I was prepared for this. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their guidance and support. They filled my toolbox—and now it’s up to me to use it,” Eisenberg said.
Looking ahead, Eisenberg is focused on advancing to a project manager role with SMT, where she can take a more hands-on approach to orchestrating events and collaborating directly with clients. Beyond her corporate ambitions, she dreams of owning a CrossFit gym, driven by a deep passion for the fitness community that first inspired her career path.
From Australia to France to England, Eisenberg’s journey reflects courage, adaptability, and determination: the very qualities Flagler College strives to instill in its students.
