Emma is a Project Coordinator at Aryfyre International, a complex role balancing movements of live projects and operational teams across multiple countries and different time zones.
She began in Business Development and progressed into Protective Operations.
Five years in, here’s what she had to say:
You joined Arcfyre from a different industry – how has your background shaped the way you approach your role?
‘I was previously working in the hospitality industry and co-running a business with my husband. Hospitality teaches you great soft skills – noticing when something isn’t right or when someone is having a bad day. Learning empathy, and understanding when just listening is all that is required.
Hospitality pushes you to strive for perfection, the first time, every time.
In Protective Ops, I coordinate support across multiple locations with lots of moving parts, delayed flights, missing luggage, changing schedules, and the occasional last-minute curveball. A sense of humour helps – sometimes you just have to smile, shake it off, make a plan and keep things moving.
I also learned a lot about the value of strong relationships. And that an almond cappuccino with one sugar will mostly always set me on the right path again.’
How has your understanding of the industry shifted since you started?
‘What some people may see as a simple manpower operation has so many more influences and contributing factors sitting beneath the surface.
We take into account regional understanding, principal preferences and comfort, duty of care. The role requires empathy for clients, operators and colleagues because at the end of the day, we all want the same result – a safe, successful project.’
Was there a turning point where your role changed?
‘Moving out of Business Development and into the Protective Ops space. Here I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know our clients, operators and the world in a more ‘operationally in-depth’ way. At the same time caring for my young daughter – great for the nightshift/after-hours responses while she was still learning to sleep through the night!’
If you could sit down with yourself on day one and offer one piece of advice, what would it be?
‘Calm down, go to the gym when you can and breathe. I do think there’s a beautiful tenacity in what we do. We plan and do the same thing every day, but no two days are ever the same. It’s built on supportive relationships, understanding, patience and an unwavering sense of accountability and integrity.’