I’d be lying if I were to tell you that it was easy to get a chance to prove yourself in the sports industry, but for most people it takes a lot more to get to that point. 

The sports industry is ever changing, and so is the creative side of sports. With trends changing just as fast as Usain Bolt can run a 100m sprint, professionals must always be on the lookout for people who can be an asset to their team by keeping up with trends and making innovative content - and that’s why it is essential for professionals to take chances on young and new creatives. By adding new and young creatives, your team will earn a fresh perspective that they might not have had beforehand. They may introduce a new point of view on your brand or business that you haven’t thought of before and can help elevate the perception of your company. Bringing in new creatives that may only have a short amount of experience can bring in a new take on storytelling, marketing and design based on their knowledge of how an outsider views the company.

In my own experience, one that is still short lived in comparison to most in this industry, I’ve realized how crucial it is to diversify your team in many aspects. When it comes to making relevant, engaging and innovative content, one must learn the value that comes with hiring people from different backgrounds - and I’m not just talking about ethnic backgrounds, I mean hiring a studio photographer as well as a photojournalist, hiring someone who has grown up playing and watching a specific sport versus someone who learned about it after getting their degree. Having a variety of backgrounds allows your team to have a wide knowledge of how to promote, engage and evolve your brand and social media presence. 

The hard part of taking on younger or newer creatives is not having a clear answer of if they will bring to the team what you are asking for. While to most people that is a scary thought and would typically drive themselves to not bringing on those creatives, but it can also be a very rewarding decision. When bringing on creatives with less experience, you have the ability to shape their knowledge and enforce good habits early on. It is also important to not assume right away that just because one does not have a decade of experience, that they would not be a good candidate for a job. I have found that if one shows a good understanding of the subject that the position requires them to know, and display a strong willingness to learn, grow and demonstrate what they learn, that they will often excel in said position and will often exceed the expectations put upon them. And at the end of the day, didn’t someone take a chance on you at one point?

So in this ever-changing world of sports, try to take a chance and embrace the voices of new creatives. Having an open mind to bringing on new talent isn’t just an option anymore - it’s a necessity for staying ahead. Let’s create a welcoming space for these young creatives to bring their unique contributions and talents to the game. 

Written by Mikaela Engstrom