Maria Wu Kiskis takes on role of LA28’s new Head of IKL!
Earlier this year, Maria Wu Kiskis transitioned into a new role, leading (as VP) Information, Knowledge and Games Learning to support the LA28 team in planning and delivering an unparalleled Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. Previously, she oversaw LA28’s Strategic Programme Management team.
In her new capacity, Maria has been working to refine the vision and scope for what knowledge and learning means for LA28. The team has an immense appetite for information, and Maria is collaborating across LA28 and with key stakeholders to develop an innovative, systemic programme that helps achieve the mission.
Maria describes herself as a plan architect, an advocate and a lifelong learner – all attributes which are at the heart of IKL. She is also a sports enthusiast and is especially passionate about gymnastics, tennis and 3x3 wheelchair basketball. Recalling her first Olympic memory, she said: “Mary Lou Retton’s perfect 10s at LA 1984. It left an indelible mark on me as a child, opening my eyes to what dreams are made of.”
Prior to joining LA28 in early 2022, Maria worked for global corporates Virgin Group, Neustar, Asana and Yahoo!.
With LA28, her favourite project to date was LA28’s Games dates announcement in July 2022. “It was an exciting moment to share our Games dates with the world. We had the opportunity to welcome IOC President Bach to Los Angeles and to bring our community together in person for the first time [post-COVID],” she said.
When asked what she is looking forward to most about the Games, Maria didn’t hesitate a moment. “Everything. At a time where so often we hear about divisiveness, this opportunity [the Olympic and Paralympic Games] to bring the world together through sport is second to none.”
LA28 activity update
LA28 is in the process of rolling out a revamped Learning Strategy, alongside a new Learning Management System. A key focus of the programme is the implementation of curated learning paths to support the LA28 team, from new hires to experienced operators, through to 2028 and beyond.
Planning for LA28’s participation in the Paris 2024 Observers Programme is also underway. The focus is on aligning the learning objectives in an integrated fashion and developing an operational plan that will ensure LA28 has the processes and best practices in place to allow the team to capture and disseminate knowledge across the OCOG, not only during the Paris Games but also through to the delivery of their own Games.