Journey · Perspective · Purpose
My Story.
The experiences, people and moments that shaped how I think about performance, wellbeing and the work I do today across sport, education and business.
The story so far
My journey
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2012–2018
Foundations in Finance
Studied Accounting and Financial Management at Loughborough University, with experience at Accenture UK and Deloitte Middle East. Alongside corporate life, volunteering with young people and a growing interest in health and performance sparked a new direction.
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2018–Present
Building an International Practice
With early support from Art of Brilliance, began delivering educational and wellbeing workshops. The work grew internationally across schools, universities and businesses.
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2022–Present
Connecting Research and Practice
Began a Doctor of Education at UWE Bristol, exploring emotional regulation, wellbeing and performance in professional sport. My research and practical work continue to inform one another, connecting academic learning with everyday experiences in sport.
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2022–Present
Professional Cricket
A meeting with Andy Flower led to an opportunity with Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10, followed by work in the ILT20 and IPL. My work now spans franchise teams, national bodies and 1:1 support for domestic and international cricketers across the men’s and women’s game.
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2024–Present
Cricket and Education with Desert Vipers
Began developing educational workshops and programmes for schools, universities and businesses with Desert Vipers. From 2025, this expanded into the ILT20 team environment, bringing my education and professional sport work together within one franchise.
Performance matters. So does the person behind it.
I’m Sanj, a mental fitness coach and educator working across professional sport, education and business. My work has grown around one question: what helps people feel and perform at their best more consistently?
The adventure began in corporate finance, a leap into the unknown, honed through volunteering and observing education in action which led to paid opportunities across schools, organisations, and then into professional cricket. Each setting has shaped how I work in the others. Today, these are not separate chapters of my career; they are active parts of one practice and what is shaping my entire Doctorate studies.
From external achievement to purpose
I studied Accounting and Financial Management at Loughborough University (2012-16), completed a 12-month Industrial Placement with Accenture UK, and upon graduation, worked for Deloitte Middle East in Dubai across Corporate Tax and Global Employer Services. I was living in my dream city and working with among the most skilled professionals in their field.
It was exciting and I absolutely loved my time working in DIFC. But after only 6 months, it provided opportunity to reflect on the difference between chasing external validation and feeling deeply connected to ‘work’. As a sports fanatic, I looked towards athletes for inspiration and was already curious about what enabled the best excel. I wanted to explore whether these lessons could support my own personal development.
For nine months, I explored those questions while continuing my corporate role. Outside office hours, I volunteered with young people preparing for university and internships, listened to the stories of those with more life experience to connect the dots and invested more intentionally in my own health. That foundation and hope gave me the confidence to venture beyond Deloitte in search of designing a career that aligned with how I wanted to contribute to the world.
Building an international practice
The early years were shaped by the generosity of Dr. Andy Cope and the entire Art of Brilliance team. They shared their brilliance with me and shaped my voice as a facilitator. Through observing multiple sessions over multiple train journeys across the UK, Andy and team gave me paid opportunities to see whether I would be able to make this work. The first and only advice he gave me was “If you’re having fun, the audience will have fun, if you’re not, they won’t”.
Fun was had and after that, there was no looking back. I began delivering educational and wellbeing workshops for schools, universities and businesses, helping people channel that 2% version of themselves.
In 2019, I spent a month with Julian Pace, Robbie Fig and Cassie Silver at Happiness Co. in Perth, Australia. This was the first time I had ever seen up close how how pain can fuel purpose. The learnings from that month continue to shape my practice.
Over time and especially during COVID, thanks mainly to the support of my fellow Welshman, Mikey, I adapted my programmes for online delivery. The pandemic presented an opportunity to pivot and provide support for international audiences, including Johnson & Johnson teams across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Outside of that, I started making frequent trips to Switzerland to work with Institut Montana Zugerberg where under the guidance of Alex Biner and the team, we did some special work with both staff and students. Beyond Europe opportunities have since come at The British International School of Riyadh, The British School New Delhi, British Schools Middle East, The Federation of British International Schools Asia, Marlborough College Malaysia, Nexus International Singapore and more. I absolutely love working with progressive schools.
Combining formal and informal education through cricket
In 2022, an introduction to Andy Flower opened a door into professional cricket. What stayed with me from our first conversation was his curiosity about my journey, my approach and the values behind my work. He offered me an opportunity in the Delhi Bulls environment during the Abu Dhabi T10, which became the start of a working relationship across further franchise competitions.
I went on to work under Andy and with his world-class coaching team in the ILT20 with Gulf Giants for three seasons (2023-25), in the IPL with Lucknow Super Giants 2023 under Andy as Head Coach and Gautam Gambhir as Mentor, the WPL with Gujarat Giants 2024 under Max Klinger and then Desert Vipers (S4-current) led by Tom Moody and James Foster. These environments have challenged me to make mental skills work practical, relevant and responsive to the demands of franchise cricketers at different stages of their career.
In 2024, a conversation with Tom Moody helped me recognise another need: support for players that continues beyond a franchise tournament or team environment. His encouragement helped shape the confidential 1:1 mental performance coaching I now offer athletes alongside my team work.
In 2025 and 2026, VVS Laxman invited me to work at the Centre of Excellence with Under-19 and Under-16 boys’ camps. Across two ten-day camps, I delivered workshops and worked 1:1 with players. I cherish this opportunity to work with young cricketers as part of a BCCI initiative and was impressed at the extent to which these camps focused on holistic development.
Cricket did not replace my education and corporate work. It gave me another setting in which to explore the questions at the heart of it: how do people prepare for demanding moments, respond when things do not go to plan, and sustain both performance and wellbeing?
Where the work is now
Since 2024, I have worked with Desert Vipers under the guidance of Phil Oliver, Matt Bailey and Ben Hardy-Jones on educational workshops and programme development across schools, universities and corporates. From 2025, that relationship expanded to include work with the Desert Vipers ILT20 team.
I continue to support athletes individually, work in professional cricket environments design and deliver learning experiences for schools, universities and businesses. Alongside that practical work, I am undertaking a Doctor of Education (EdD) at UWE Bristol, researching emotional regulation, wellbeing and performance in professional sport.
The settings have changed over the years. The question has evolved to: how can people pursue performance while looking after the person behind it?
LET’S CONNECT
Let’s explore what comes next.
Whether you’re pursuing personal goals or supporting a team, let’s explore how mental fitness can support your performance, wellbeing and the journey ahead.