The ESA Diploma Scholarship was introduced in 2022, and after two successful years we are delighted to announce an expanded cohort of three Scholars in 2024.
Following the successful experience of Ashley Arthingal (2023) and Nobandile Mutseyekwa (2022), this year’s offer of free enrolment has been awarded to Deji Faremi, Sinem Pozanti and Eloise Stingemore. Scroll down to read how they feel about the opportunity.
Deji Faremi spent almost 10 years working in sports media and marketing in his homeland of Nigeria, then moved to the UK to study a Masters in International Marketing Management. The opportunity to specialise in sponsorship by undertaking the ESA Diploma Scholarship proved irresistible.
Deji said: “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!”
Sinem Pozanti spent over 12 years in corporate finance in her home city of Istanbul. Now based in Italy, she recently joined 42 Racing SA as a Client Advisor, and she has pinpointed sponsorship as the career path she wants to pursue.
Sinem said: “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, have 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.”
Eloise Stingemore has spent several years working in live events, sports marketing and media along with acquiring a long list of professional qualifications across marketing, management and environmental studies. She completed the FA Wales BE. Football: Mentoring Programme For HER in 2023 and is currently shadowing the Board of Sport Wales while joining the advisory group of Cymru Women’s Sport.
Eloise said: “I’m very interested in moving into the partnership and sponsorship space and thrilled to now have the opportunity to do so via the ESA Diploma.
“Fundamentally I want to fill in gaps in my skillset and knowledge that you can’t fully acquire working on the ground. I’ve studied sponsorship as a module in past courses but until you focus on it as a career, you’re only going to get a generic grounding. It’s going to be invaluable, and I know it’s going to build my confidence to go for jobs knowing I don’t have any glaring gaps on my CV.
“I feel a strong sense of excitement, and also trepidation. This is a completely new world, but one I wanted to join, to be strong and believe that it’s the right time to take risks and chances. The opportunity presented itself and I thought why not?
“Not only do I want to work in sponsorship, but I also want to increase the representation of women in the sport business in Wales. I really believe in the power of sport to change people’s lives. I’m the kind of person you’ll see freezing in the rain watching 100 kids play football – it’s all about getting involved at the grassroots and I’d love to think I could do that through a career in sponsorship.”
