“OMG, I’ve done it”: how recognition helped Shay start believing in his own talent
For Shay, two things have always gone hand in hand: music and technology.
Music was a huge part of growing up and a way to bond with his family. At the same time, Shay was the kid who loved anything technology related.
Eventually, those two interests came together and pointed towards the events industry.
But discovering what you love doing and believing your work has value are two very different things.
One of the biggest lessons Shay has learned since starting out is something many emerging creatives struggle with.
“You have to value yourself and your services. You can’t undersell yourself, it’ll do more damage than good. Trust in your skills, in your equipment, and most importantly yourself.”
That belief in his own ability has not always come easily.
And that is where recognition through the Breakthrough Talent Awards made such a difference.
“I felt seen”
Being nominated twice and going on to win a Breakthrough Talent Award gave Shay a huge confidence boost.
Before that recognition, much of his time had been spent making visuals and practising software without necessarily knowing where it was all leading.
Then came the nominations.
Then the win.
“It was like ‘OMG I’ve done it’. I felt seen and like I was stepping in the right direction.”
That feeling has stayed with Shay.
Asked what the recognition meant both then and now, three words came to mind:
“Uplifting, proud, confident.”
Sometimes an award is not simply about celebrating something you have already achieved. It can give you the confidence to keep going and a signal that the direction you are heading in might just be the right one.
The moments that matter
Interestingly, Shay’s proudest moments have not necessarily been the biggest or most obvious ones.
One came when the band Polyphia reposted a visual Shay had created for one of their songs on Instagram.
Another happened after Shay posted a piece of visual art and suddenly received a flurry of comments and DMs asking for a tutorial.
For Shay, the response from the community meant more than being able to attach a huge event or artist name to the work.
It was proof that something he had made had connected with people.
That matters.
Especially when you are still building a career and working out where your skills could take you.
Learning to take up space
Shay is clear about the skill he wants to develop next: networking.
“I seem to have the right skills and attitude but not the right circle.”
It is an interesting admission because it speaks to something that comes up again and again for emerging talent.
Developing your craft is only one part of building a career. You also have to meet people, ask questions, make yourself visible and give others the chance to discover what you can do.
Shay’s advice to anyone starting out is to become a sponge.
Learn. Absorb information. Apply it. Then keep going.
And there is another lesson that feels particularly important:
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t forget to value yourself in all regards!!”
What’s next?
Shay now wants to push further into the creative side of live production, with ambitions to get involved in art installations and festival video operating.
There is still plenty to learn and plenty of people to meet.
But there is also a growing belief that this is exactly where he should be.
And behind that drive is a deeply personal source of inspiration.
Shay credits his late mother, who raised three children as a single parent, with teaching him to keep going when things get difficult.
“She always cheered me on and pushed me to my goals. I do it for her.”
Maybe your work deserves to be seen too
There is something worth taking from Shay’s story if you are considering entering the Breakthrough Talent Awards but wondering whether you have done enough yet.
You do not need to have everything figured out.
You do not need the perfect network.
And you do not need to wait until you feel completely confident in your own ability.
Sometimes recognition can be part of what builds that confidence.
Shay went from practising, creating and wondering where it might lead to being able to say:
“OMG, I’ve done it.”
This year, you can put your own name forward for a Breakthrough Talent Award.
So if you are creating work you care about, developing your craft and beginning to make your mark on the industry, value what you have achieved enough to give it a chance to be seen.
Breakthrough Talent Awards 2026 nominations are now open.