Author: Kylie Creasser
When Anshuman Pandey first joined Niner Esports during his freshman year at UNC Charlotte, he didn’t go in searching for a leadership title. He just loved gaming. But what started as a simple passion slowly unfolded into a story of confidence, pressure, community building, and figuring out the kind of person he wanted to become.
From High School Experiments to a Freshman Leap
Anshuman actually tried running an Esports club once before in high school, and he’ll be the first to admit he had no idea what he was doing. He micromanaged, made mistakes, hit roadblocks, and was told straight up when things weren’t working. But those years taught him more than he realized at the time.
So when he walked into the student organization showcase in his freshman year and casually mentioned he was interested in helping out, everything shifted. The President told him the Events Director spot had just opened.
It was one of those moments where you either step back or just say, “Why not?” He took the leap.
And that leap turned into two years of nonstop work, building, learning, failing, and rebuilding, eventually leading him to become President of one of the largest student organizations on campus.
What Running Esports Really Looks Like
People often think Esports is just tournaments and screens, but Anshuman learned quickly that the behind-the-scenes workload is huge. Big events can take a full semester of planning. February 2026’s event is already in motion with room reservations, pitch decks, sponsorship calls, and coordination with multiple student orgs.
He manages a team of six executive members (hoping to grow to seven or eight), distributes tasks, runs weekly meetings, handles member concerns, reviews marketing strategies, and ensures the day-of operations go smoothly. After events, he handles post-event analysis, wraps up with sponsors, and resets for the next one.
Along the way, almost the entire exec board graduated, leaving Anshuman as the only returning member. Suddenly he wasn’t just stepping into a role, he was stepping into an empty structure that needed to be rebuilt from the ground up. He had to train new leaders, recreate systems that had been lost, and rebuild momentum for an organization much bigger than himself. It was overwhelming at times, but he persevered.
“Pressure builds diamonds,” he said. “Balancing everything gets tough, but you keep pushing, and you realize it’s worth it.”
He also learned the importance of clear communication. One small miscommunication can ripple through an event, so he’s learned to own his mistakes, communicate honestly, and create an environment where his team feels safe being upfront too.
Building a Community, Not Just an Org
Niner Esports is huge, with 19 competitive teams across games like Valorant, Overwatch, Smash, Splatoon, League, and more, but Anshuman cares just as much about the casual side.
His goal has always been to create a place where students can bond over the hobbies they love. He’s especially proud of starting a Discord server that connects leaders from cosplay, illustration, game dev, and other “geek culture” communities. These groups used to be isolated, but now they collaborate, share resources, and plan events together.
“That’s the impact I want to leave,” he said. “A platform for future student leaders to connect and work together.”
Career Growth Through Esports
Even though gaming is his passion, Anshuman is also a computer science major with interests in AI, robotics, and AR/VR. Esports helped him build confidence in ways traditional classes didn’t—like managing teams, communicating with different personalities, and explaining technical ideas in simple ways.
He says he can go into any tech field now and feel confident he can succeed.
“You can be the least technically experienced person, but if you’re a strong communicator, a good leader, and you take initiative—that matters more.”
His Esports work also opened doors he never expected. He traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Esports World Cup and spent a week in Santa Monica with Red Bull and collegiate Esports leaders from around the country. It was like a “Disneyland for Esports,” as he put it.
Talking with other large Esports programs inspired him, especially hearing how Triton Gaming manages a 100-person staff with a mentorship system. “It motivates you,” he said. “You see all these different ways people operate and it pushes you to succeed in your own way.”
Real-Life Skills: Balance, Organization, and Honesty
Managing school, Esports, and everything in between isn’t easy, and Anshuman will be the first to admit that. His system is simple: Google Calendar, to-do lists, and being completely honest with his team about what he can and can’t handle in the moment.
“Open communication is the best approach,” he said. “Everyone I work with knows what’s going on, and nobody takes it personally.”
Through trial and error, he learned that leadership isn’t about being perfect, it’s about showing up with passion, communicating clearly, and creating an environment where everyone feels supported.
Connecting Esports to Career Preparation
Even though Anshuman hasn’t used the Career Center much yet, he’s starting to think more seriously about interviews, internships, and what comes after graduation. What he really wants is help with technical interview prep and building confidence in presenting his skills.
He also believes that students in Esports often underestimate the value of what they do. Leading teams, managing events, coordinating budgets, pitching sponsors — all of that is real experience that translates directly into tech and business roles.
“There’s so much leadership in Esports,” he said. “You just need to learn how to talk about it the right way.”
A Message to Anyone Afraid to Start
If Anshuman could leave students with one takeaway from his entire journey, it would be this: Just start, even if it scares you. Even if you think you’re unqualified. Even if you’re afraid of messing up.
He knows what it feels like to have no experience, to doubt yourself, to struggle through trial and error. He also knows how much can change when you decide to try anyway. “Take the leap,” he said. “Do something that feels a little crazy. You’re going to fail sometimes, but you’re going to learn so much from it. Passion and effort matter way more than being perfect.”
Looking back, the only reason he’s in the position he is today is that freshman-year him decided to say yes to an unexpected opportunity. He hopes more students give themselves the chance to experience the same kind of growth.
Because you never know where one leap of faith might take you.