Sky Sports presenter Pien Meulensteen shares career insights and advice with UCFB students

From interviewing Premier League stars to presenting live broadcasts watched by millions, no two days are the same for Sky Sports presenter Pien Meulensteen.

Joining UCFB and VSI Executive Education at a recent industry networking event, Pien shared an insight into her career in sports media, the work that goes into live football coverage and her advice for students hoping to follow in her footsteps.

For Pien, one of the biggest attractions of working in sports broadcasting is the unpredictability that comes with every match.

“The best thing is the unknown of football,” she said. “You go to a game and you’ve got absolutely no idea how it’s going to go. There might be a last-minute winner, lots of goals or something controversial. Every single day is different at work and I love that.”

While viewers see polished broadcasts on screen, Pien explained that hours of preparation take place long before kick-off.

“It’s very busy,” she said. “You’re there three or four hours beforehand and a lot of the preparation actually starts the day before.

“You’re researching the story of the game, preparing for interviews and thinking about what the result means for supporters.”

From interviewing players and managers to presenting alongside pundits, every stage of the matchday requires quick thinking and careful planning.

“You’ve got to think on your toes, listen to what people are saying and react to it. You’re always trying to tell the story of the game and make sure the analysis brings that story to life.”

Pien then also highlighted the importance of education for UCFB students looking to build a career in the sports industry.

“I think it’s massively important because you’ll meet experts that you can learn so much from,” she said. “It’s a chance to develop your skills, make mistakes and learn from them before you get into the industry.

“Most importantly, the network you build through your education is something you’ll carry with you throughout your career.”

Alongside developing technical skills, Pien believes networking is one of the greatest benefits of studying in a sports-focused environment, allowing students to build relationships that can open doors later in their careers.

She finished: “The main thing is to believe in yourself.

“If you have enough passion and believe you can do it, just keep pushing through because there will be doors that close. Don’t be too upset by the no’s, appreciate the yeses and keep working. If you have belief in yourself, no one can stop you.”

If you want a career in the sports media industry, apply to UCFB through Clearing and start on one of our sports media-focused degree courses as early as September.

You can also view a prospectus to learn all about our courses, campuses and everything about student life at UCFB.