Maya Jama Mentorship Shortlisting & Panel Event Experience

In the summer of 2025, I applied for the Maya Jama mentorship programme, an initiative created by Maya Jama in collaboration with her wider network to support women trying to enter or grow within the creative industries. The programme aimed to offer guidance and mentorship across a range of fields, including television, fashion, and business, providing real insight from people actively working in the industry.

After applying, I was shortlisted among approximately 25 applicants, which was an exciting milestone in itself. Although I wasn’t selected as one of the final five mentees, being shortlisted gave me encouragement and confidence that my work and aspirations were being recognised within a highly competitive process.

Following this, I was invited to attend a panel event hosted by Maya Jama in collaboration with Creative Access in March 2026. This was an incredible opportunity to still be involved in the programme and engage directly with industry professionals. I travelled to London for the event, where Maya took part in a panel discussion alongside other mentors from her network. The conversation focused on breaking into the industry, career development, and the realities of working in fast-paced creative environments.

The panel was extremely insightful and honest, offering a realistic perspective on both the challenges and opportunities within the industry. Hearing Maya speak about her own career journey was particularly valuable, as she discussed the hard work, persistence and uncertainty involved in getting to where she is today.

After the panel, there was a networking session where I had the opportunity to speak directly with Maya as well as other mentors attending the event. Maya was incredibly approachable and kind, and the conversations I had throughout the day were both encouraging and informative. I gained a much deeper understanding of the industry, particularly around the importance of resilience, adaptability, and building experience in different ways.

Although I wasn’t selected for the mentorship itself, the experience of being shortlisted and attending the panel event was highly valuable. It strengthened my motivation to continue developing my career in the media industry and provided real insight into the pathways and challenges involved in progressing within it.