We were incredibly grateful To Daniel Geey for offering five young people the opportunity to attend a brilliant one day conference at the British Library exploring how to build the invisible and achieve your dream career in sport.
Here, Amira, who attended, shares her reflections on an inspiring day packed full of great insights and thought provoking conversations.
My Honest Experience &
What I Took Away From the Day
By Amira
Setting the Scene
What drew me to the conference?
I came across the Build the Invisible conference after seeing it shared in the BEK Connect group chat. As someone who’s trying to get her foot in the door and is genuinely passionate about sport, I knew I couldn’t miss this. What drew me in most was the idea of learning how to create my dream career and figuring out what skills I need to develop to become like the people I look up to in the industry.
My expectations vs. reality
Before attending, I expected the day to be a bit daunting. These types of events usually are. But I went in with a growth mindset and told myself to stay open, curious, and positive so I could soak up as much as possible.
Arriving at the venue
When I first walked in, the atmosphere was busy, but the good kind of busy. It honestly felt like a market: loud, energetic, full of conversations, introductions, and people making connections. Right at the door we were handed the Build the Invisible journal, which already made the event feel more intentional.
Key speakers
The host was Daniel Geey, the author behind Build the Invisible. Out of all the sessions, two talks really stood out for me:
Panel 1: “The Talent Business, Life Lessons & Comfort Zones” Marcia Lewis, Alex Segal, Ehsan Shah
- Alex Segal shared two pieces of advice that stuck with me: “always go” — show up, send the message, take the meeting because you never know what will come out of it. And second, stay educated. Reading and learning shouldn’t stop after school. You can’t plan the future if you don’t learn from the past.
- Ehsan Shah talked about the importance of being different and thinking outside the box. Play the long game. Be proactive.
Panel 2: “Leadership, Imposter Syndrome, Public Speaking & Resilience” Simon Leslie, Leon Mann MBE, Ceylon Hickman
- Simon Leslie spoke about the importance of reframing your situation/failure. He didn’t come from an educated background and had no school qualifications, but he still went on to write four books. The phrase “not yet” keeps the dream alive and makes failure comfortable.
- Ceylon Hickman, from Football Beyond Borders, highlighted how relationships drive the world and how sport often starts those conversations. A simple did you watch yesterday’s game or what team do you support can go far.
- Leon Mann spoke about leadership and encouraged younger people to challenge the old ways of leading.
- Someone asked a question, ‘how can young leaders know they’re capable before crisis hits?’
And CAH answered that you should practise “crisis moments” early, you don’t want your first penalty to be at the World Cup.
Understanding the Event
In my own words, the purpose of the conference was simple: to show young people what’s possible. To widen our thinking, build confidence, and prove that dream careers aren’t reserved for a lucky few.
Some key themes included:
- Connections and community
- Resilience, grit and consistency
- Mentorship and learning
- Curiosity and taking action
Structure of the day
Two panels → Networking break → Sports quiz → Two more panels.
Key Insights & Takeaways
Top advice that stayed with me:
- Always show up.
- Be different and think creatively.
- Leave your ego at the door.
- Keep learning.
- Be kind to yourself, progress isn’t linear.
Most impactful speaker:
Simon Leslie, without a doubt. He has a calm presence and speaks like he’s talking directly to you. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get everything right, and hearing him normalise mistakes and encourage self-kindness hit home for me.
Practical tools:
We were given the Build the Invisible journal with QR codes linking to daily content. Every weekday, you consume three pieces of industry content and summarise them. It’s such a simple but effective way to stay educated and stay in the loop.
Personal Reflection
Moments that made me reflect
One moment that really stuck with me was Leon Mann sharing his experience with Bell’s Palsy after university. As someone who was also diagnosed with a chronic condition after graduating, it reminded me that I can’t pause or wait around, I have to keep taking action and maintain momentum.
What was affirmed?
The event also validated something I’m proud of: I’ve built a strong network of kind, inspiring people who genuinely want the best for me. Listening to the speakers reminded me how valuable that is.
What shifted?
Simon Leslie’s message about self-kindness. I’m driven and ambitious, which sometimes makes me too harsh on myself. But sometimes being unkind does more harm than good. That’s something I’m actively working on now. I want to reframe the way I talk to myself.
Being around like-minded people
Being surrounded by like-minded young people was honestly inspiring. Hearing their goals and seeing their ambition made everything feel more realistic, like I’m not the only one dreaming big.
Career & Growth
The event made me realise just how broad the sports industry really is. There is something for every skill set. It’s not about fitting into a role; it’s about shaping your own path and using your strengths strategically. It also motivated me in my role at St Mary Magdalene Academy. I want to stay open-minded, learn from my team, and use my position to spark passion early in young people.
Community & Purpose
What does “building the invisible” mean to me?
I’m still figuring it out — but to me, it symbolises possibility. It’s limitless, like a glass ceiling waiting to be broken.
Community and social mobility
Ceylon from FBB (Football Beyond Borders) spoke about supporting young people from areas of socioeconomic disadvantage through football — something I hope to be involved in one day.
Connections & Networking
I met people who shared similar backgrounds, goals, and challenges, including A-Level students unsure about their next steps. It felt so full-circle to be able to reassure them because I remember exactly what that uncertainty feels like. We connected on LinkedIn and I hope to keep those relationships going.
Emotional & Human Element
One of the most inspiring moments was hearing the speakers talk about their childhood dreams and where they are now. Many didn’t come from money or luck, just hard work, consistency, and curiosity. That mindset is something anyone can develop and reminded me that success is built, not given.
The whole event made me feel hopeful and positive about my future.
Applying the Lessons
What I’ll implement immediately
Keeping my LinkedIn active and using the journal to stay consistent with learning.
What I want to change in the next 6–12 months:
- Read more
- Educate myself
- Try new things even if I fail
- Make mistakes and learn from them
- Be brave enough to explore new ventures, even if they don’t work out
Final reflections:
Why I recommend this event
I would recommend this event to anyone. You never know what you’ll gain, but you will gain something. There’s no such thing as a wasted opportunity when you show up with curiosity.
What this means for my journey
For me, this event feels like the start of an exciting chapter. I don’t know exactly where I’m going yet, but I’m moving with purpose… and that’s enough.