Alumni interview, one-year experience in Qatar, FIFA 2022 World Cup

A journey of a young and talented woman
On the last article, we went through Nathalie’s journey as a science student to Workforce Operations Manager for the FIFA World Cup taking place this month in Qatar. In this second chapter, we will dive into her one-year experience in Qatar, then we will explore her future challenges with the FIFA World Cup.
Adaptation to the Qatari life
Coming from a city like London, where she completed her Global Sport Business Master programme, it has been quite a change, not only in terms of temperature but as well in terms of lifestyle.
« A regular working week here starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday, which gives us Friday and Saturday as weekend. As it gets hot very fast, we start working early in the morning. I wake up around 5:30 am every day and work from 7:30 am till 3:30 pm. »
A change in her lifestyle that she welcomes, « it is hard to get used to it, but once you do, it is incredible the number of things you can get done in a day. It gives me time to relax and enjoy a late afternoon by the pool, or other activities after work. »
If you are thinking that finishing work early afternoon and hanging by a pool is nice, wait to hear about what weekends are like there. « A great weekend starts with a Friday brunch which is a staple in this country. After that, I would go to a dhow cruise (typical Qatari boats), a desert safari, visit a Souq (traditional market around here) or do some dune bashing in a land cruiser. »

The evolution of mentalities in Qatar through sports
The first major international event that Qatar organised was the Asian Games, back in 2006.
« It completely changed their view on sports » says Nathalie. « They now want to carry on organising major events, the Asian Games should return to Qatar in 2030 while the Formula 1 is set for 2023. »
« People are more open minded, I do not think Qatar will end up like Dubaï, however, they are trying to keep their own identity, but attracting and being welcoming towards foreigners is something they are heavily working on. »
From the FIFA Arab Cup to the FIFA World Cup
A year ago, and 5 days prior to the FIFA Arab Cup, Nathalie arrived in Doha and was put straight to the task.
« The FIFA Arab Cup was a major test for both FIFA and Qatar. Some of the major stadiums were tested at the time, notably the Al Bayt stadium where the opening ceremony of the World Cup took place ». A period that she described as very challenging as the whole transport operations system was being tested daily.
Once this first competition over, it was time for the managerial team to reflect on essential questions to best prepare for the WC. « What did we learn from the FIFA Arab Cup? What did or did not work? And what could be implemented better? »
A few weeks later, adjustments and plans were made to make sure this upcoming World Cup would be a great success.

At this moment (early November 2022), Nathalie and her team are going through the « grand rehearsal » which consists of involving all the stakeholders on a few events and trying to replicate what the World Cup will be like ensuring that everyone is perfectly trained.
We are very proud at AMOS of the journey of this young and talented woman, and we are wishing nothing but the very best for her during this global competition as well as for the rest of her career.
We will have a follow up interview with Nathalie once the competition is over, so we can get some insights regarding the way this super-event was managed. Stay tuned.
Written by Guillaume Faure, Communication Officer AMOS London
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26 Jan 2023
GSBM alumni interview Nathalie, FIFA 2022 World Cup
The view of an insider on how things went in Doha
On the 18th of December 2022, at the Lusail Stadium, the 22nd Men Football World Cup ended on a dramatic final, which saw Lionel Messi and his teammates winning the most desired trophy. Never in history, the attribution and the preparation of a World Cup had provoked this many reactions from governments, organisations, newspapers, and people all around the world. It was, within this tense climate, a little over a month ago, that our alumni Nathalie Deutsch, Workforce Operations Manager at TMS, was getting ready to live the biggest experience of her young career. A month later, we are reaching back to her, to have the view of an insider on how things went in Doha - Capital of the Qatari Peninsula. For our former Global Sport Business Master student, the general mood around the World Cup changed when the competition started. « A lot of people have criticized the competition, wanted to boycott, and they had their reasons for it. As a member of the staff, we did not agree with everything that happened here, however, at our level, we made sure to deliver everything ethically, and in a way, it was successful ».
Fan experience
Over the past 4 months, I had the chance to write a couple of articles on her adventures, which taught us a lot about the organisation of such an event, notably the fact that changes are made up to the very last minute, and the result is never guaranteed. However, the hard work and dedication of the teams paid off as the fan experience received great feedback. « I had the opportunity to see a few games, especially the semi-finals and the final, and I have to say, apart from a few things that you will always have in this kind of competition (queueing to get into the stadium, customer service that could be improved...), the services were great. Overall, it was super easy to get around and there was a great atmosphere ». Regarding the games she attended, one obviously stuck to her: the final! « 80% of the stadium was filled with Argentinian fans, they were good fun! Every time Messi touched the ball, the whole stadium was like… wow! It was special moment ».
Collaboration between multiple stakeholders
Organising a Global Sporting Event is about finding a way to successfully collaborate with multiple stakeholders. And we have known from previous interviews and the international press that it is not an easy process. Multiple newspapers relayed the difficult relations between FIFA and the Qatari Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy during the build-up of the competition. However, according to Nathalie, once the competition started, the momentum took over and everyone found a way to work together. « When the operations come live, the collaboration between stakeholders gets better. We have meetings, and every time there is a problem, a representative of each entity is present to discuss it and find a solution. Everyone came together and worked closely to get things done. The approaches are sometimes different from a stakeholder to another, but the end goal is the same, having a wonderful competition. I think that the World Cup brought the best out of Qatar, and that is what everyone saw, whether they were there or in front of their television ».
The World Cup Legacy
According to the Qatari’s ambassador in Russia, the total cost of the world cup is around $200bn, which is according to Sky Sports, « many times higher than any budget spent on similar events in history ». Qatar has built 8 stadia, over 100 hotels to host the teams and the fans, as well as a brand-new underground for the crowd to navigate easily. With all these news infrastructures, the question that is yet to be answered is the one about the legacy. For Nathalie, everything was planned. « In terms of transport, the metro is something that was needed, whether international competitions are happening or not, it will still be of great use for the locals and tourists ». « Regarding the stadia, from what we know, they will have a capacity reduction and will be used for local or international events » (as mentioned in the previous articles, Qatar will host the upcoming international Asian Games as well as the Asian Football Cup AFC). The Education City stadium will become part of the wider Qatar Foundation facilities for university students.
Post World Cup Duty
In the mind of most spectators, once the final is over everything ends and their lives go back to normal, and the only things remaining are memories. But for the managers on the field, it is another story. The work there isn’t quite finished, it is even the beginning of a new adventure. The first two weeks after the competition consisted of sending her staff home, and since the new year Nathalie has been focusing on a legacy job. « I am currently busy compiling information and data from the competition, then writing action reports, preparing handovers for whoever wants to know about the event, because there are other events coming up, and even if my team will not be there, someone will need to use what we built to deliver the future events ».
26 Jan 2023
GSBM alumni interview Nathalie, FIFA 2022 World Cup
The view of an insider on how things went in Doha
On the 18th of December 2022, at the Lusail Stadium, the 22nd Men Football World Cup ended on a dramatic final, which saw Lionel Messi and his teammates winning the most desired trophy. Never in history, the attribution and the preparation of a World Cup had provoked this many reactions from governments, organisations, newspapers, and people all around the world. It was, within this tense climate, a little over a month ago, that our alumni Nathalie Deutsch, Workforce Operations Manager at TMS, was getting ready to live the biggest experience of her young career. A month later, we are reaching back to her, to have the view of an insider on how things went in Doha - Capital of the Qatari Peninsula. For our former Global Sport Business Master student, the general mood around the World Cup changed when the competition started. « A lot of people have criticized the competition, wanted to boycott, and they had their reasons for it. As a member of the staff, we did not agree with everything that happened here, however, at our level, we made sure to deliver everything ethically, and in a way, it was successful ».
Fan experience
Over the past 4 months, I had the chance to write a couple of articles on her adventures, which taught us a lot about the organisation of such an event, notably the fact that changes are made up to the very last minute, and the result is never guaranteed. However, the hard work and dedication of the teams paid off as the fan experience received great feedback. « I had the opportunity to see a few games, especially the semi-finals and the final, and I have to say, apart from a few things that you will always have in this kind of competition (queueing to get into the stadium, customer service that could be improved...), the services were great. Overall, it was super easy to get around and there was a great atmosphere ». Regarding the games she attended, one obviously stuck to her: the final! « 80% of the stadium was filled with Argentinian fans, they were good fun! Every time Messi touched the ball, the whole stadium was like… wow! It was special moment ».
Collaboration between multiple stakeholders
Organising a Global Sporting Event is about finding a way to successfully collaborate with multiple stakeholders. And we have known from previous interviews and the international press that it is not an easy process. Multiple newspapers relayed the difficult relations between FIFA and the Qatari Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy during the build-up of the competition. However, according to Nathalie, once the competition started, the momentum took over and everyone found a way to work together. « When the operations come live, the collaboration between stakeholders gets better. We have meetings, and every time there is a problem, a representative of each entity is present to discuss it and find a solution. Everyone came together and worked closely to get things done. The approaches are sometimes different from a stakeholder to another, but the end goal is the same, having a wonderful competition. I think that the World Cup brought the best out of Qatar, and that is what everyone saw, whether they were there or in front of their television ».
The World Cup Legacy
According to the Qatari’s ambassador in Russia, the total cost of the world cup is around $200bn, which is according to Sky Sports, « many times higher than any budget spent on similar events in history ». Qatar has built 8 stadia, over 100 hotels to host the teams and the fans, as well as a brand-new underground for the crowd to navigate easily. With all these news infrastructures, the question that is yet to be answered is the one about the legacy. For Nathalie, everything was planned. « In terms of transport, the metro is something that was needed, whether international competitions are happening or not, it will still be of great use for the locals and tourists ». « Regarding the stadia, from what we know, they will have a capacity reduction and will be used for local or international events » (as mentioned in the previous articles, Qatar will host the upcoming international Asian Games as well as the Asian Football Cup AFC). The Education City stadium will become part of the wider Qatar Foundation facilities for university students.
Post World Cup Duty
In the mind of most spectators, once the final is over everything ends and their lives go back to normal, and the only things remaining are memories. But for the managers on the field, it is another story. The work there isn’t quite finished, it is even the beginning of a new adventure. The first two weeks after the competition consisted of sending her staff home, and since the new year Nathalie has been focusing on a legacy job. « I am currently busy compiling information and data from the competition, then writing action reports, preparing handovers for whoever wants to know about the event, because there are other events coming up, and even if my team will not be there, someone will need to use what we built to deliver the future events ».
16 Jan 2023
Student Interview Joseph, Global Sport Business Master in Paris
21 years, 3 countries, 1 journey
H. Jackson Brown Jr. once said, « Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do », and if there was a student that embodied this mindset, it would be our Global Sport Business Master student Joseph Vincent De Perez, currently based in Paris. Born in Auxerre (France) from a Spanish dad and an English mother, Joseph grew up in London (where his mum was transferred to work) until he was 7 years old then moved to Spain where he did his primary and secondary school in an international campus. Perfectly fluent in 3 languages (French, English and Spanish) by the time he turned 18, Joseph decided to pursue his undergraduate studies in an international environment. Although tempted by the high standards and reputation of economic studies, Joseph followed his heart and went to Kent (England) to study a 3-year Sport Management Programme. With 300 hours of work placement and some solid knowledge about sports business, Joseph graduated from the British University, and decided to look for a Masters in which he could develop his international network as well as gain experience from high-end sports professionals.
His relationship with sports
Our polyglot student has always been a sports aficionado, « I started playing football in England when I was 4 years old and continued in every country I lived in. When I was in Spain, I was scouted to play for the Valencia Academy, which I did for a few years, but I was realistic, and I knew that a career as football player would be extremely difficult ». However, last year, while living in the UK, our AMOScian was scouted again, this time, to play 5-a-side in the first English division. « I was playing semi-professionally on BT Sport and travelling across the UK. Playing on a regular basis against the best players like the captain of Northern Ireland». A fantastic experience that he wishes to live again, in Paris this time, maybe?
Starting his international career
Although many students are attracted to sports clubs or event management, Joseph is targeting a career in management within worldwide organisations such as Nike, Puma, or Red Bull. But for now, his next challenge is to work for the Atlético Madrid Club as part of a summer job, and we wish him the very best in this fantastic opportunity. Written by Guillaume Faure, Communication Officer AMOS London16 Jan 2023
Student Interview Joseph, Global Sport Business Master in Paris
21 years, 3 countries, 1 journey
H. Jackson Brown Jr. once said, « Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do », and if there was a student that embodied this mindset, it would be our Global Sport Business Master student Joseph Vincent De Perez, currently based in Paris. Born in Auxerre (France) from a Spanish dad and an English mother, Joseph grew up in London (where his mum was transferred to work) until he was 7 years old then moved to Spain where he did his primary and secondary school in an international campus. Perfectly fluent in 3 languages (French, English and Spanish) by the time he turned 18, Joseph decided to pursue his undergraduate studies in an international environment. Although tempted by the high standards and reputation of economic studies, Joseph followed his heart and went to Kent (England) to study a 3-year Sport Management Programme. With 300 hours of work placement and some solid knowledge about sports business, Joseph graduated from the British University, and decided to look for a Masters in which he could develop his international network as well as gain experience from high-end sports professionals.
His relationship with sports
Our polyglot student has always been a sports aficionado, « I started playing football in England when I was 4 years old and continued in every country I lived in. When I was in Spain, I was scouted to play for the Valencia Academy, which I did for a few years, but I was realistic, and I knew that a career as football player would be extremely difficult ». However, last year, while living in the UK, our AMOScian was scouted again, this time, to play 5-a-side in the first English division. « I was playing semi-professionally on BT Sport and travelling across the UK. Playing on a regular basis against the best players like the captain of Northern Ireland». A fantastic experience that he wishes to live again, in Paris this time, maybe?
Starting his international career
Although many students are attracted to sports clubs or event management, Joseph is targeting a career in management within worldwide organisations such as Nike, Puma, or Red Bull. But for now, his next challenge is to work for the Atlético Madrid Club as part of a summer job, and we wish him the very best in this fantastic opportunity. Written by Guillaume Faure, Communication Officer AMOS London16 Jan 2023
German student interview David, Global Sport Business Master in Paris
David Hollstein, a German student, has joined AMOS Paris
Since October 2022, David Hollstein, a German student, and former professional Horseback rider has joined AMOS Paris as part of the Global Sport Business Master programme. It is during an eclectic class, in the home of the 2024 Olympic Games that David decided to pursue his studies in Sport Management.A former Professional Athlete
From a very young age, David has trained as a Horse Back rider. This passion pushed him to train daily for a few hours after school until he had the opportunity to turn professional, at the age of 18. « At that time, I stopped school and decided to go after my dreams, they offered me professional training for 2.5 years which would give me a coaching degree, whilst giving me the possibility to carry on as a professional athlete. It was my dream as a kid, but Germany is very famous for having great horseback riders, and it is also known to be a tough field to succeed in. My family are from academic backgrounds, which pushed me to pursue my studies ». This became a choice that he is now glad to have make, as he has found his new passion by combining the economic, the business and the management aspects, alongside the sport element that he loves. At the time, his university in Germany - which specialises in Economics - had a partnership with a Spanish sport business school offering a double certification. He decided to seize the opportunity and received both qualifications after an incredible year in Santander, Spain.
Spain as a transition to France
« When I was in Spain, I became friends with a student who then went on to study at AMOS Toulouse. She had told me a lot about the school, and its programmes, so I went on Google to do some more research. I am convinced that travelling is good to develop one’s character, and when I saw the international aspect of AMOS, the seminars that they were providing in Seoul and in Chicago, as well as the different campuses in Europe I could study from, I was convinced. »His life in Paris
Even though settling into Paris was easy, as his sister was already living in the French Capital, David was a bit hesitant before making his big move. « I never lived in a major city before, so I did not know how I would react, but I have to say that now, I love it! There are so many things to discover, and free museums are just one example of how much this city has to offer. I want to take advantage of the historic aspect of Paris so I can absorb as much culture as I can. » David also knew that after spending years working out, practicing sports, and being close to nature, he would need a similar activity. « Since I arrived in Paris, I started a new sport, trail running. I am really getting into it; I have recently applied for a 30km race in Germany in May. I am preparing very seriously for it, hitting the gym 5 to 6 times a week. I personally need to have these challenges ahead of me, it keeps me balanced and motivated. »
The Paris campus, classmates and lecturers
« Diversity is key, and this is exactly what we have as part of the Global Sport Business Master promotion in Paris. Everyone is bringing their own culture, their own personality and I’m glad to be able to learn in such a diverse and genuine group of people. » Regarding the lecturers, David, who was used to a more theoretical approach when studying in Germany, was pleasantly surprised by the way AMOS is providing its lectures. « We have a lot of experienced lecturers, who have worked for major companies, Nike, Adidas, and others. They do not only deliver a lecture, but they also bring their own understanding of the current issues and make the class interactive, which is more interesting and makes the learning process highly practical. »His future
« I want to combine my passion for Horseback riding and my newfound interest in economics. There is the Global Champions Tour which is the equivalent of Formula One for Horseback riding. It is a big organisation; they travel all around the globe creating competitions. I have already done an internship at the German Olympic Committee of Horseback riding which opened my eyes on the whole industry. » « Working for them as part of the event management team would allow me to use my own experience as an athlete. Honestly, I do not know where I will be in 5 years, or where my career will take me, so while I am studying at AMOS, I am trying to take in as much knowledge as I can! »
Word of advice to international students
« Do not be afraid, it is always a big step to leave your country, but people will welcome you with open arms in any place you find yourself in. My philosophy is, when you are staying in your own country it is like reading repeatedly the same page of a book. But when you finally make that step, and go abroad, you will get to discover the many other pages that this book is made of. » Written by Guillaume Faure, Communication Officer AMOS London16 Jan 2023
German student interview David, Global Sport Business Master in Paris
David Hollstein, a German student, has joined AMOS Paris
Since October 2022, David Hollstein, a German student, and former professional Horseback rider has joined AMOS Paris as part of the Global Sport Business Master programme. It is during an eclectic class, in the home of the 2024 Olympic Games that David decided to pursue his studies in Sport Management.A former Professional Athlete
From a very young age, David has trained as a Horse Back rider. This passion pushed him to train daily for a few hours after school until he had the opportunity to turn professional, at the age of 18. « At that time, I stopped school and decided to go after my dreams, they offered me professional training for 2.5 years which would give me a coaching degree, whilst giving me the possibility to carry on as a professional athlete. It was my dream as a kid, but Germany is very famous for having great horseback riders, and it is also known to be a tough field to succeed in. My family are from academic backgrounds, which pushed me to pursue my studies ». This became a choice that he is now glad to have make, as he has found his new passion by combining the economic, the business and the management aspects, alongside the sport element that he loves. At the time, his university in Germany - which specialises in Economics - had a partnership with a Spanish sport business school offering a double certification. He decided to seize the opportunity and received both qualifications after an incredible year in Santander, Spain.
Spain as a transition to France
« When I was in Spain, I became friends with a student who then went on to study at AMOS Toulouse. She had told me a lot about the school, and its programmes, so I went on Google to do some more research. I am convinced that travelling is good to develop one’s character, and when I saw the international aspect of AMOS, the seminars that they were providing in Seoul and in Chicago, as well as the different campuses in Europe I could study from, I was convinced. »His life in Paris
Even though settling into Paris was easy, as his sister was already living in the French Capital, David was a bit hesitant before making his big move. « I never lived in a major city before, so I did not know how I would react, but I have to say that now, I love it! There are so many things to discover, and free museums are just one example of how much this city has to offer. I want to take advantage of the historic aspect of Paris so I can absorb as much culture as I can. » David also knew that after spending years working out, practicing sports, and being close to nature, he would need a similar activity. « Since I arrived in Paris, I started a new sport, trail running. I am really getting into it; I have recently applied for a 30km race in Germany in May. I am preparing very seriously for it, hitting the gym 5 to 6 times a week. I personally need to have these challenges ahead of me, it keeps me balanced and motivated. »
The Paris campus, classmates and lecturers
« Diversity is key, and this is exactly what we have as part of the Global Sport Business Master promotion in Paris. Everyone is bringing their own culture, their own personality and I’m glad to be able to learn in such a diverse and genuine group of people. » Regarding the lecturers, David, who was used to a more theoretical approach when studying in Germany, was pleasantly surprised by the way AMOS is providing its lectures. « We have a lot of experienced lecturers, who have worked for major companies, Nike, Adidas, and others. They do not only deliver a lecture, but they also bring their own understanding of the current issues and make the class interactive, which is more interesting and makes the learning process highly practical. »His future
« I want to combine my passion for Horseback riding and my newfound interest in economics. There is the Global Champions Tour which is the equivalent of Formula One for Horseback riding. It is a big organisation; they travel all around the globe creating competitions. I have already done an internship at the German Olympic Committee of Horseback riding which opened my eyes on the whole industry. » « Working for them as part of the event management team would allow me to use my own experience as an athlete. Honestly, I do not know where I will be in 5 years, or where my career will take me, so while I am studying at AMOS, I am trying to take in as much knowledge as I can! »