In our latest ‘Day in the Life’ blog, we’re shining a spotlight on some of our incredible colleagues who have moved from the world of sport to excel in the word of AI. At Luminance we see past the work experience a candidate might have to hire based on talent, motivation and potential; experience comes in many forms.

We sat down with Account Executives, Charlotte East and George Rossiter, as well as Business Development Representative, Henri Lavin, to hear about their journey from playing elite sport to joining a fast-paced tech company, how their sporting background has benefited them and the skills they picked up along the way.

What sport did you compete in, and what did you enjoy most about competing at such a high level?

Henri: I was a rugby player with the Leicester Tigers, England U18s, and the captain of Loughborough University’s team! It was always my dream growing up to play rugby at a professional level, and playing for my boyhood club with some of my best mates was such a special experience.

Charlotte: I competed for Great Britain in equestrian eventing and jumping. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to travel around the world competing at the highest level, visiting some amazing places and getting to know some special people and animals, along the way too.

George: I was a professional rower for Great Britain. Competing at that level meant that I was completely committed to chasing my goals on a daily basis, knowing that every training session brought me closer to achieving that goal.

What do you think are the most important traits or qualities needed to compete in professional sport?

George: A few come to mind immediately: determination, resilience and teamwork. You need the ability to work hard and focus when the situation demands it. It’s also about being committed entirely to chasing that goal every day - training as well as I could daily to get a little bit faster and a little bit closer to that goal.

Henri: Echoing George on this one: resilience, work ethic, coachability and the desire to be constantly improving are all things that spring to mind. The skills I built on the pitch training in the cold English weather I now apply to cold calling!

Charlotte: I completely agree. You need to have a certain level of individual determination, motivation and drive, while also being willing to learn new things and change up your game as you go. That’s what makes you a great athlete.

How do these qualities translate to your work at Luminance?

Charlotte: The first one that comes to mind is relationship building. While riding, I spent lots of time building relationships with sponsors, clients and owners. Now as an Account Executive, I really focus on building quality relationships with my clients. Having that competitive and ambitious side also comes in handy when I have clear goals I want to meet.

Henri: Working at a rapidly growing company like Luminance means I’m constantly adapting to new situations, and I think sport really prepared me for this. Coming into this role out of university, I was excited to constantly improve and be continuously learning; this role has definitely provided me with that. I also get to be part of a hugely supportive team, something I really value as an athlete!

George: Just adding to what Henri said about teamwork, I think there’s a tendency for sales to seem individualistic, but there’s a big team element. There is a whole team involved in every opportunity, and you can benefit and learn so much from those around you if you know how to work as a team.

What motivated you to join Luminance?

George: Luminance is an exciting and fast-growing company. I felt this was the perfect place for my ambitious (ok, competitive) mindset. I felt I could apply skills I’d already developed through sport but also learn many new skills from those around me. I wanted to immerse myself in building something with a leading figure in an exciting industry. In sales, your success is determined by the work you put in, it’s the same in sports! So, I felt right at home.

Charlotte: I knew I wanted to be part of something big and dynamic, and that’s exactly what Luminance is doing. We’re genuinely revolutionising an industry and leading the way at a monumental point in AI’s history.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to transition into a role outside of sport?

Henri: There are so many transferable skills; use that to your advantage! I would encourage anyone to use their network and chat with other people who have transitioned from sport to a more traditional work setting (even people you don’t know who you read about on a blog!). There are loads of success stories out there.

George: You may feel like you have no relevant experience, but everything you’ve learned in sport will allow you to get up to speed very quickly. If you approach your role with the same diligence and attention to detail as your sporting career, it will only be a matter of time until you achieve success. Continue to build relationships with your team and colleagues just as you did in your sport, and you’ll not only learn lots from them, but you’ll have a lot of fun at the same time.

Charlotte: And don’t be afraid to take the leap! You have so much potential to utilise all those skills gained from elite sport, and it really does set you up for the transition.

If you’re looking for a challenging, fulfilling role in sales, customer success, business development, support or marketing, Luminance is hiring across the board. Check out our available roles here and get in touch today.