Looking back on my six-month journey as a Sustainability and Community Intern with the Desert Vipers, it’s hard to describe it as just an internship. This experience was deeply formative, influencing my professional outlook, personal values, and ethical considerations, and fundamentally altering my perspective on sport, impact, and daily decisions.
From day one, what stood out most was the culture. The team is genuinely welcoming and open to ideas, regardless of role or title. Whether it was senior management or an intern, every voice mattered. Ideas were encouraged, challenged constructively, and often implemented. That level of trust and openness is rare, and it created an environment where creativity and responsibility thrived side by side.
Sustainability here isn’t a checkbox, it’s a shared passion. Across the organisation, there’s a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact while amplifying positive social outcomes. From community engagement and schools programmes to on-ground sustainability initiatives during matchdays, the team consistently asked: How can we do better for people and the planet? Seeing that commitment translated into action, week after week, was incredibly motivating. It showed me that sport can be a powerful platform for change when values lead the way.
This internship offered me the best of both worlds. I had opportunities to work on the field, supporting matchday initiatives, community activations, and live sustainability efforts and off the field, contributing to planning, reporting, and long-term strategy. That balance helped me build a well-rounded skill set across sustainability operations, stakeholder engagement, data-driven thinking, and event execution. The trust the team placed in me to take ownership of meaningful work accelerated my learning far beyond what I expected from a six-month role.
Working alongside the team during the tournament was an unforgettable experience. Matchdays were intense, fast-paced, and incredibly rewarding, bringing together months of planning, coordination, and teamwork into moments that truly mattered. Winning the trophy in my very first season with the team made this experience even more special. Celebrating that success with a team that values purpose as much as performance reinforced how powerful it is when high performance and strong values go hand in hand. It was a moment of collective pride and one I’ll always carry with me.
Two people played a pivotal role in shaping this journey:
- Ben Hardy Jones (Business Sustainability Lead), who worked closely with me throughout the internship. Ben’s guidance, patience, and strategic thinking helped me understand sustainability not just as an ideal, but as a practical, measurable discipline within elite sport.
- Matthew Bailey (Head of Strategy), whose big-picture perspective and constant encouragement pushed me to think beyond tasks and focus on long-term impact, alignment, and innovation. His consistent follow-ups and guidance pushed me to challenge myself and deliver the work I did, giving me the confidence to take ownership and grow throughout the internship
Their mentorship gave me confidence, clarity, and a strong foundation to carry forward throughout my internship.
One of the most powerful takeaways from my time with the team is how deeply the team’s values – H.I.S.S (High Performance, Innovation, Sustainability, and Society) are embedded in everyday decisions. Over these six months, those values gradually became part of my own lifestyle.
I’m incredibly grateful to the entire Desert Vipers team for trusting me, supporting me, and challenging me to grow. This internship didn’t just build my skills in sustainability, but also strengthened my purpose. As I move forward, I carry with me not only professional experience, but a mindset shaped by values, collaboration, and the belief that sport can truly drive positive change.
Yoganand MK
FangsOut🐍
