ESA is the essential and inclusive community for all professionals working in sponsorship. In 2022 we created the ESA Sponsorship Diploma Scholarship to help grow the diversity of the sponsorship industry by offering at least one applicant based in Europe a place on the course each year. Seven supported scholars have now graduated Dip ESA (see below), with four undertaking the course in 2026.
We believe that together we can create an industry-wide movement that promotes an inclusive approach to dialogue and thought leadership, welcoming diverse perspectives and allowing each of us to be ourselves, while shaping the future of international sponsorship.
Applications for the ESA Sponsorship Diploma Scholarship will reopen in summer 2026.
Francisco Garcia
2026 Scholar
“After careful research, I could not find any comparable alternatives in the market matching all the benefits and resources that the ESA Sponsorship Diploma brings. For this reason, I feel very grateful for this opportunity. Over the last couple of years, I have found it to be important to dedicate myself to what I’m truly passionate about.
“I hope to use this opportunity to build a stronger foundation in the area and apply the knowledge acquired in both my role and throughout my career. I feel eager to get started with this year’s assignments, which include an exciting set-brief from Wimbledon aiming to address a real-life marketing challenge, as well as evaluating commercial opportunities within current events, such as the Winter Olympic Games.”
Iida Tuliainen
2026 Scholar
“I’m eagerly looking forward to deepen my knowledge about the field of sponsorship. I have some surface-level skills from my previous studies, but the ESA Sponsorship Diploma gives me the support and education I need to call myself a professional in the sponsorship industry. Hopefully in the future I can share some of the knowledge and common practices I receive here with artist communities and maybe eventually with individual artists as well.
“One of the main reasons I decided to apply was the chance to be a part of this amazing network of professionalism and different views. I believe we all share a common interest and passion towards the industry of sponsorship and I can’t wait to dive even deeper into the ESA community.
“When I found out I received the ESA Sponsorship Diploma Scholarship I was out of words and the situation felt surreal. It was not only a great honour to receive the Scholarship but it also gave me the confidence boost I needed. Now I know, for sure, that this is exactly where I should be right now and I can’t wait to see what this journey has to offer!”
Jamal Bernard
2026 Scholar
“Receiving the ESA Sponsorship Diploma Scholarship has been incredibly meaningful to me because my path into the professional industry hasn’t been a traditional one. Growing up in South London without much formal support, I learned early on that the right opportunities can completely change a person’s trajectory.
“Having spent over 10 years working in social mobility and youth engagement sector, I’ve seen first-hand how powerful partnerships can be when they are rooted in genuine community impact. For me, this Diploma isn’t just about professional development, it’s about gaining the right tools to ensure sponsorship acts as a bridge for under-represented voices.
“I’m particularly excited to dive into the ‘why’ behind successful partnerships, moving beyond traditional methods to create something authentic. Although this is still the early stages of the course, I’m looking forward to blending my lived experience with the structured skills ESA provides.
“I am excited and really look forward to using this opportunity to show the next generation of professionals from backgrounds like mine that there is a seat at the table for them, and that our perspective is exactly what the industry needs to grow.”
Murat Önhon
2026 Scholar
“I have heard about ESA’s influence since I first entered the entertainment industry. I started my career in live entertainment & culture in the marketing side, then took the opportunity to work in brand partnerships for Universal Music Group. That was my first introduction to the world of talent partnerships and sponsorships. My next step was in live entertainment again, where I had the chance to execute sponsorships by managing activations and brand partnerships for Türkiye’s top-tier festivals, concerts and venues.
“I am now aligning my career with the sports industry and looking to drive value for rights holders and global brands. I find purpose in contributing to the growth of sports by working within the industry and generating a positive social impact through effective partnerships. The ESA Sponsorship Diploma felt like a great opportunity at this point in my career to move to the next steps of my journey and I feel grateful to have received the Scholarship.
“The way the program is structured, the guest speakers, the resources and networking opportunities are very promising for each participant’s development. At the induction in London, I felt right away that I found myself in one of the best environments of the industry, where I can progress, build new relationships and learn from peers and mentors. As our Course Director noted, we are fortunate to be part of an industry that brings to life meaningful experiences for society.
“I hope to be able to take away important learnings from this Diploma and meet great people along the way. I would like to thank ESA once again for giving the opportunity to people from diverse backgrounds to expand their knowledge and be part of this industry.”
Jonathan Krumholz
2025 Scholar
“I applied for the Diploma because I believe that the best way to grow as a person and as a professional is to always continue your learning journey and to invest your time in what makes you most passionate and become better at it.
“I think the ESA Diploma will provide me with all the theory behind marketing sponsorships, providing me with a stronger foundation to support my learnt knowledge and allowing me to become a better professional with a more comprehensive way to understand, plan and execute different projects/campaigns.
“On top of that, it will provide me with access to one of the most important networks in the industry, allowing me to get in touch and build relationships with colleagues within the industry, learning from their experiences and finding opportunities to create value together.
“I feel excited about starting the Diploma, full of energy and with a little bit of concern about being able to balance the work with studies and family, but confident that I’m surrounded by a strong network of support with family and ESA representatives.”
Read more: Meet Jonathan, 2025 ESA Diploma Scholar
Mandip Sehmi
2025 Scholar
“I’m absolutely delighted to have been awarded an ESA Diploma Scholarship. I am the Partnership Lead for Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, a charity that creates opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in the only mixed gender, full chair contact, Paralympic sport! I applied for the scholarship to help further my career by improving my knowledge of the sponsorship space and how partnerships can drive meaningful impact, especially in disability sport.
“The ESA Diploma is a fantastic opportunity to learn from leaders in marketing and sponsorship industry. Having been recommended the course by my peers, the qualification will help me develop new skills, network and improve my ability to grow the commercial partnerships for GB Wheelchair Rugby.”
Read more: Meet Mandip, 2025 ESA Diploma Scholar
Rory Bryant
2025 ESA Diploma scholar
“I feel incredibly privileged to have been awarded a Scholarship place on the ESA Diploma. As a sponsorship professional working within our fragile cultural sector, the need to forge positive, long-term commercial partnerships has never been greater.
“The chance to study the sponsorship industry’s leading training qualification is an amazing opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge, which I hope will ultimately help me to play my small part in protecting and developing our cultural assets. Thank you to ESA for this brilliant opportunity; I can’t wait to progress through the course and meet fantastic colleagues from across the sponsorship industry!“
Read more: Meet Rory, 2025 ESA Diploma Scholar
Deji Faremi
2024 ESA Diploma scholar
“I’m thrilled to have been selected for this incredible opportunity, diving into a subject that holds a special place in my heart. With nearly a decade in both sports and marketing, this feels like the perfect chance to put all those experiences together and lay the foundation for my future career.
“Throughout this journey, I look forward to not only learning and making new friends but also connecting with leaders in the sponsorship industry. Most importantly, I want to use this platform to support aspiring professionals in this field, showing them that reaching the pinnacle is within their grasp.
“My aspiration is for this scholarship to not just boost my own career but to pave the way for others with stories similar to mine. Here’s to the exciting road ahead!”
Read more: Meet Deji, 2024 ESA Diploma Scholar
Sinem Pozanti
2024 ESA Diploma scholar
“I am truly honoured and excited that I’ve been granted the ESA Diploma Scholarship! The ESA Diploma offers a unique platform for blending my finance background with new perspectives, enabling me to transfer my skills, transitioning from dealing with eight- to nine-digit figures in loan agreements to handling sponsorship agreements. This marks a significant step in redefining my career after relocating to a new country following a maternity break, propelling me towards new beginnings.
“My mission is to utilise this opportunity not just for personal growth but to inspire and empower women in the workforce who, for various reasons, had to temporarily pause their bright careers.
“I applied for this scholarship with the belief that education is a catalyst for a positive change, I am thrilled to be part of a community that values and fosters continuous learning. I feel like I’m out of my comfort zone and it’s exciting to be able to add new skillsets.
“I am committed to contributing to the narrative that encourages women to reignite their professional journeys to celebrate resilience, determination, and the limitless potential for career growth.”
Read more: Meet Sinem, 2024 ESA Diploma Scholar
Ashley Arthingal
2023 ESA Diploma scholar
“Applying for the ESA Diploma Scholarship was the perfect call for me and the whole experience has given me such a boost. I would recommend the Diploma to anyone but the honour of being a Scholarship recipient made me even more motivated, not only to study the course but to navigate the transition into sponsorship as an industry.
“Accessibility and diversity are vital in any industry – not only in terms of ethnicity and mixed cultural backgrounds but also people coming together from different fields of work. The industry benefits from having people with different perspectives.
“Before starting the course, I had no theoretical knowledge about sponsorship – only the practical application of speaking to brand partners and potential partners in my role as Project Coordinator of the World Ice Skating Day, a global initiative by the International Skating Union (ISU) to develop and grow ice skating across the world. It was great to learn right from the basics and discover how to form objectives and strategies, before going on to look at activation and evaluation. Now I find that I’m talking to sponsors in a very different tone and with a set strategy.
“I’ve never encountered such an interesting course and one that’s written in a way that is easy to understand. It can be hard to juggle the course work when you are working full-time, but it’s definitely manageable if you stick to the recommended timings for each module. It was nice to be broken into study groups and I travelled to London to meet up with my group. we still have an active WhatsApp chat and it’s great to have made friends and connections through the course.”
Read more: Meet the 2023 ESA Diploma Scholar
Nobandile Mutseyekwa
2022 ESA Diploma scholar
“I’ve really enjoyed the course so far. As a newcomer to the industry, the biggest thing I’ve gained – apart from knowledge – is the confidence boost it gives you.
“Having access to expert seminars and resources is really insightful and helpful, and it feels as if the Diploma is like a door into the sponsorship industry. The support of the ESA team has been great too.
“As a recent graduate looking for job opportunities, I wouldn’t have been able to do the course without the Scholarship, so it has removed a lot of that stress. I’m proud to be the first recipient and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone starting out in the industry.”