Throughout my mentorship, Christian [Petersen] and I connected via video calls, often from opposite sides of the world and across very different time zones. I truly appreciated the time he made available despite his own demanding schedule, offering support and insights on my work. Our discussions covered various topics, from creative techniques to equipment choices, and he encouraged me to try new approaches within my work.

A particular focus of our mentorship was a project I developed featuring both international athletes and grassroots players, with Christian’s advice and encouragement, I set about connecting these different levels of field hockey with the set already including images of Olympic Champions alongside local juniors at grassroots level. His encouragement gave me the confidence to take on a personal project that I had considered for some time and made a real impact on my work adding a new focus and challenge.

The experience was completed by meeting Christian and the other mentees, mentors, and grant winners in Denver, Colorado. As I’m based outside the United States, I never had the chance to meet others from the program in person, so it was especially rewarding to finally build those connections face-to-face. The gathering not only provided great insight into the industry but has created invaluable relationships that I look forward to maintaining in the years to come.

This mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of the industry and, in turn, my confidence as a freelance professional.