From WorldSkills Champion to a champion of others

In a Competition year, it is easy to focus only on the event itself and the potential of a place on a podium. But Steven Harris Ramdev is quick to tell his students that this is just one moment in the lifetime of their skills.

He says, “I constantly remind my Competitors about the purpose of the journey. It is not only about one Competition or one result. It is about who they become through the process. I remind them of their potential, share my own experiences with them, and encourage them to stay focused, stay disciplined, and keep moving forward even when the process feels difficult.”

This insight has been an important part of Steven’s own career development. After bringing a Medallion for Excellence back to India, Steven now works as a Chief Expert in Graphic Design for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is currently preparing the Competitors for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, and his support also saw the UAE bring home a Medallion for Excellence from WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

His progression from Competitor to Expert has given Steven a new perspective on everything he learned in Aarau, Switzerland at the 46th WorldSkills Competition. He reflects, “When I look back at Special Edition, the moments that stay with me the most are not only the successful ones. They are also the mistakes I made during the Competition. Even today, I sometimes look back and think I could have done things differently. Those reflections have become very important to me. They remind me to stay humble and to keep learning.”

Steven uses his own experience to shape the kind of support he gives his students and he admits that watching his students succeed has been one of the most fulfilling parts of his career. He says, “Seeing my Competitors achieve the things I once wished I had done better is one of the most satisfying feelings. It feels like I am still connected to that journey, but now through them.”

But for Steven, their success is also an indicator of the impact WorldSkills training can have for an entire nation. He says, “Their achievements are not just individual victories. They represent the growth of the Graphic Design Technology skill in the UAE, and it shows what can happen when talent, training, discipline, and belief come together.”

This is why he believes that investment in skills matters now more than ever. Steven can see that the world of work is changing fast, and professions like Graphic Design are having to navigate the rise of artificial intelligence tools that can generate images, layouts, and visual concepts in seconds. It has prompted concern in the creative industry about the future of these skills.

Steven does not dismiss these concerns, but he is firm that human skill isn’t a fallback, it’s the foundation. He says, “No matter how advanced AI becomes, you still need a trained eye to judge what is good and what is not. That kind of judgement does not come just from prompting. It comes from training, experience, observation, failure, and years of understanding visual communication. No artificial intelligence can truly replace artistic intelligence.”

Steven feels that young people who invest in developing genuine skill will be better placed to work alongside AI tools, rather than be displaced by them. He reflects, “I personally do not believe young people should be afraid of the uncertainty of the future of work. Instead, I tell my students to have their own clear goal that is personal, ambitious, and meaningful to them. Once they know what they are aiming for, they can work backwards and decide what skills, habits, knowledge, and experiences they need to reach that goal.”

He knows this because it was his journey too.

When asked what he values most from his training, he turns to his life skills, saying, “Some of the most important skills I developed through my WorldSkills journey are decision-making, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and assertiveness. WorldSkills taught me that excellence is not only about technical ability. It is also about the person you become through the process.”

Steven admits that his journey did not unfold in a straight line. There were moments of self-doubt and mistakes made during Competition that he still reflects on today. If he could speak to his younger self, he reflects that his advice would be simple. “I would tell him, ‘Man, you are on the right track. Just keep doing what you do best’”.

Beyond just Graphic Design, Steven believes that any young person navigating the early years of a career should be willing to accept feedback and have the discipline to keep improving. He shares, “I used to find it difficult to depend on someone else’s judgement or trust another person with the quality of the work, because I always wanted to do things my own way. Through WorldSkills, I slowly came out of that mindset. I learned that feedback is not a threat to creativity. It is part of growth.”

As WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 approaches, Steven believes Competitions like these are also helping shape a more positive future for all skilled young people. He concludes, “The journey does not end when you finish competing. It transforms into something even bigger. You carry the lessons forward, you pass them on to others, and you get to be part of someone else’s dream.”

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