SFU Alumnus, Tina Morabi, has taken a unique opportunity to work with the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics games. Tina is employed in project management for the Brand and Creative Services Department for VANOC. Her department works with each division of the Games, such as sponsorship, and helps them produce the creative designs they need for the Olympics. She manages a skilled team of designers in creating innovative brands for each division. Some projects she’s led include designing the medals for the Paralympics games and creative development for the Olympic torch relay.
Tina partially attributes her current success with VANOC to a Co-op position she held with them through SFU’s Co-operative Education Program. In January 2008 she joined VANOC to complete her final Co-op work term. While on her work term with VANOC, she was involved in numerous projects. When she saw the project management position advertised, she applied, and successfully obtained the position. According to Tina, “I’m one of the biggest proponents of Co-op. Without it, it’s so hard to merge your education with actual work experience.”
Before graduating with a BA in Communication and minor in Political Science in 2007, Tina completed three other Co-op work terms. Her first was with the City of Coquitlam helping with emergency city planning management. The other two were with SFU International. She also spent a semester studying abroad at the University of Van Amsterdam in the Netherlands. “It was completely different; the education, people, and food. I loved it!” said Tina.
Tina’s advice to current students would be to “…definitely take Co-op. You need to manage your expectations and know that your first or second Co-op may not be exactly what you want to do, but regardless you are going to learn something.” She continues, “Eventually you will get to the place where you to want to be.”
For now, Tina will continue in project management until the Olympic and Paralympics games in 2010. When asked about her future beyond VANOC, she replied, “I’m not sure, maybe I’ll go on to work for the 2012 Olympics!”
