Livewire Sport Announces Diversity In Digital Mentoring Programme Cohort

LiveWire Sport has announced its first cohort for the Diversity in Digital Mentoring Programme, a new 2020 initiative that aims to educate, encourage and engage a diverse range of talent from under-represented groups across the sport and digital industries.

13 people, drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds and offering diverse skill sets, have been selected to receive a year of support from the content agency, including access to long-term LiveWire Sport clients such as Channel 4, Team GB and Wimbledon. 

Applications were open to individuals who have faced barriers – whether visible or invisible – in fulfilling their potential in the sport and digital industry. These barriers could be related to any number of reasons: age, beliefs, sexuality, race, disability or gender, all the way through to financial, geographical, health, family or lifestyle challenges.

“We’re extremely proud to welcome our first cohort of mentees for the Diversity in Digital Mentoring Programme and look forward to helping them achieve their aspirations in the sports and digital industries,” said Pranav Soneji, Director & Co-Founder, LiveWire Sport.

“The group represents a truly diverse cross-section of backgrounds, with each member giving compelling reasons about the visible and invisible barriers that have prevented them from progressing within the industry. 

“We weren’t sure how  the programme would be received when it was first announced – but the applications and quality of candidates exceeded all of our expectations. We hope to continue this standard in the years that come.”

As part of the programme, each participant will be partnered with a mentor from the LiveWire Sport team for the year to provide additional support and advice, with the cohort and mentors meeting for the first time at a session on 31st March. 

The cohort includes Naomi Ogbeta, a six-time British triple jump champion and member of the UK Athletics Athletes’ Commission who is embarking on a career in the media. She will join 12 others who are looking to break into the sport industry: Adam Addicott, Ade Ojigbo, Connor Belle, Emily Chow, Jamie Cullen, Jay Lettman, Jordy Gray, Louie Benjamin, Mitul Samji, Rida Iqbal, Will Humphrey, and Zahrah Malik. 

The programme was announced in November 2019, and will run throughout 2020.