I help create immersive exhibits for one of the world's largest real estate companies. My morning starts at 5:45 a.m with Afrobeats and I get to work from futuristic venues — here's what my routine is like.

Esther Sarpong.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

• Esther Sarpong is the director of experiential retail for Brookfield Properties.
• The properties in her portfolio are used for touring exhibits and live-experiences. 
• Sarpong says she enjoys seeing the future of entertainment being reshaped through these venues.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Esther Sarpong, a 39-year-old celebrity experience marketer and the director of experiential retail for Brookfield Properties  from Las Vegas, Nevada. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I'm a director of experiential retail at Brookfield Properties and I drive innovative entertainment concepts at prominent retail locations. 

My career started in experiential marketing when I realized that I'm a creative, fluid problem solver who stays calm and cool under pressure. Through live events and touring exhibitions, I establish trust and emotional connections between customers and brands. In this role, I curate human experiences that foster brand loyalty.

My day starts at 5:45 a.m. with Afrobeats

Sarpong's Afrobeats alarm clock.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

The day starts with Afrobeats playing as my family's morning alarm. Our current jam is "Calm Down" by Rema and Selena Gomez. We keep the music on until we walk out the door.

School drop-off starts at 7:15 a.m.

Sarpong and her two children headed for morning drop-off at school.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

My two kids and I play a game where we spot colors, shapes, and numbers, during our morning drive to school.

I swing by Starbucks at 8 a.m. to get my usual

A grab-and-go breakfast for Sarpong en route to work.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

On the way to work, I swing by Starbucks to get a tall caffe misto and a ham and cheese croissant — my usual.

I arrive at my Las Vegas office by 8:30 a.m.

Sarpong at the Brookfield Properties' office in Las Vegas

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

After arriving at the Brookfield Properties' office in Las Vegas, I check my emails and organize my to-do list. My to-do list is prioritized based on project-scope and timelines, and immediate and current projects. 

I meet with producers in the morning

Sarpong has meetings with producers in the morning.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

I've worked at Brookfield since June 2019. In the morning, I have meetings with producers on the East Coast, West Coast, or sometimes overseas. We discuss experiential concepts for EXPlore, which allows our partners to use spaces within our properties for touring exhibits. 

I get to create magical happy spaces for people to immerse themselves in every day

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

My favorite part of my office is a painting

Local artwork inspires Sarpong to start her workday.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

I have a painting in my office from a local Las Vegas artist, Ricardo The Artist, which shows a free spirit boss babe who inspires my energy daily.

I have face-to-face meetings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Sarpong meets with a colleague at Fantasy Lab Las Vegas in the Thierry Poncelet Exhibit.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

I have face-to-face meetings with location-based companies that organize touring exhibits. Right now, I'm in active conversations with key global players, as we discuss partnership opportunities for various intellectual properties they manage.

We discuss not only the concept but the operational process, permitting, scheduling, timelines, ticketing process, media outreach, social media promotion, and all the details to make their launch successful.

After that, I spend a few hours catching up with live-experiences

Fantasy Lab "It's all a dream" location.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

Around lunchtime, I spend a few hours catching up with live-experiences in the Brookfield Portfolio. Today, it's with Fantasy Lab Las Vegas, a location-based entertainment concept that's new to the US. 

It includes a bar and restaurant inside Fashion Show Las Vegas, which has a multiverse of attraction rooms filled with large-scale interactive art, mixed-reality playgrounds, and secret passageways. 

I typically visit other experiences in the market, after 1:30 p.m.

Sarpong visits Area 15.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

Today, I'm heading out to Area 15, a well-known immersive entertainment space in the industry.

I really enjoy seeing experiences in person

Sarpong at Illuminarium.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

While at Area 15, I'll visit Illuminarium, Meow Wolf, and other experiences. I really enjoy seeing the future of entertainment being reshaped through these futuristic venues firsthand.

At 3:30 p.m. I return to my desk

The EXPlore Newsletter is Sarpong’s passion project.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

At my desk, I continue working on my passion project — the EXPlore Newsletter. It's a recently launched quarterly newsletter that highlights touring exhibits and the experiential industry and keeps the business abreast on the latest news and trends.

It's 5:40 p.m.: Time to plan for the next day

With the workday almost done, Sarpong starts planning for the next day.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

At 5:40 p.m., I look at my calendar and organize my schedule for tomorrow, make my to-do list, and plan for the next day.

I arrive home at 6 p.m.

Sarpong doing homework with her kids.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

After arriving home at 6 p.m., I finish homework with the kids.

When the homework's done, we chat over dinner

Sarpong has dinner at home with her family.

Courtesy Esther Sarpong

After homework and dinner, we play a fun game where we share our favorite part of our day and have Google Assistant clap for everyone's winning moment.

8:30 p.m. is bedtime for the kids

Sarpong reads to her kids before bed.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

We put our kids to bed at 8:30 p.m. with prayers, a bedtime story, and a few kisses.

At 9:30 p.m. I head to the EOS gym for about an hour

Sarpong at the EOS gym at night.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

I like nighttime workouts, so at 9:30 p.m., I head to the EOS gym for about an hour. My favorite workout equipment is the Stairmaster or elliptical.

Around 11 p.m. I end the night with my husband

Sarpong and her husband toasting with a glass of wine in front of a fire pit.

Courtesy of Esther Sarpong

At the end of the day my husband and I Netflix and chill with a glass of wine.

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