We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ella Peters a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ella, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Growing up as the only girl in my family who skied, and often the only girl in my friend group or ski crew, I was used to navigating male-dominated spaces from an early age. Teaching ski school, I was one of the only female instructors, and later at CSU, I became the first woman to serve as backcountry officer for our outdoor club, a role traditionally held by men. I rarely saw other women participating in these events, which only fueled my desire to show other girls that we belong here too. During my AIARE avalanche course, I was the only girl and the youngest participant, and the male instructor made it clear he didn’t think I would be taken seriously. He grouped me differently, offering “help” that felt more like doubt. Instead of letting that break me down, I used it as motivation, to prove that girls are just as strong, just as capable, and just as badass. Reconnecting with that same instructor later, after gaining more experience, gave me external validation and helped build my confidence. Still, I’ve faced microaggressions and fewer opportunities, like during my internship at TGR, where only the men were invited on shoots while the women were left in the office. Experiences like that pushed me to work harder, to learn how to backflip, and to keep showing up and standing out.
Eventually, these challenges inspired me to start my own female-led film business, Peters Mountain Media, with the goal of creating space for women in outdoor cinematography. I wanted to build a platform where women could take the lead behind the camera, tell powerful stories, and be taken seriously in an industry that often overlooks us. Founding this company has been a major part of how I’ve overcome imposter syndrome, it’s given me a sense of ownership, purpose, and pride in everything I’ve fought to build. While doubt and stereotypes still exist, I now channel that energy into lifting up other women, proving we not only belong, we’re here to lead.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Skiing and storytelling have been at the heart of who I am for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Colorado skiing every weekend with my family, often as the only girl in a sea of boys, and I’ve carried that same adventurous, driven spirit into my professional life as a filmmaker. Today, I run Peters Mountain Media, a female-led production company focused on capturing stories in the outdoor and action sports world, especially the ones that don’t get told nearly enough.
What excites me most about what I do is the ability to blend art, movement, and the raw beauty of nature into visual stories that move people. Whether I’m filming skiers dropping cliffs, editing a short reel that captures the stoke of a backcountry mission, or documenting someone’s first big mountain descent, I’m constantly inspired by the energy, emotion, and environment. My love for skiing fuels my filmmaking and vice versa. I want viewers to feel the cold air, hear the crunch of fresh snow, and see themselves in these wild spaces, no matter who they are.
What makes Peters Mountain Media special is not just the content we create, but the mission behind it. I launched this business not only to chase my passion, but to create space for women like me, girls who rip, shoot, and pursue their passions , to have a seat at the table in an industry that still too often sidelines us. From the start, I’ve been intentional about partnering with brands and athletes who share those values and want to amplify diverse voices in the outdoor space.
Looking ahead, I’m expanding my work into longer-form storytelling and hope to take on more documentary-style projects that dive deeper into the culture of skiing and the people who make it special. I’m also working on building a community of creatives through workshops and collaborative shoots designed to mentor up-and-coming female filmmakers in the action sports world.
At the end of the day, I just feel lucky to do what I love and to use my lens to help others see the mountains, and themselves, in a whole new way.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three qualities that have made the biggest impact on my journey are passion, work ethic, and never saying no to opportunities, even when they felt intimidating.
Passion, and truly loving what I do, is the foundation of everything. My connection to skiing and filmmaking runs deep, it’s what gets me up before sunrise to chase powder shots, what keeps me editing late into the night, and what makes the hustle worth it. That genuine love for the craft is what keeps me going even when things get tough. For anyone just starting out, I’d say: follow the things that fire you up, because when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work, and that passion will carry you through the challenges.
Work ethic has been just as important. Being in a male-dominated industry, I felt early on that I had to prove myself constantly, and I met that challenge by working harder than anyone expected. From teaching ski school to launching my own film business, I’ve learned that showing up prepared, staying late, and going the extra mile makes a lasting impression. My advice: treat every project like it matters, no matter how small. That consistency builds trust, and people will start to notice.
Finally, I’ve learned the value of never saying no, at least not right away. So many of the coolest things I’ve done started with a yes that scared me. Saying yes to new opportunities, even when I wasn’t sure I was ready, forced me to grow faster than I thought possible. Whether it was stepping into leadership roles, trying a backflip for the first time, or taking on a big film shoot solo, I learned to trust myself in the process. For anyone starting their journey, my advice is: say yes, figure it out later, and believe that you’re capable, even if you don’t feel it yet.
Those three qualities, loving what you do, working your butt off, and being open to every experience, have shaped my entire path and continue to guide me forward.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
If I knew I only had a decade of life left, I’d spend it doing exactly what I’m doing now, filming and skiing. Those two things bring me the most joy, purpose, and connection to the world around me. I’d chase winter around the globe, tell powerful stories in the mountains, and work with people who inspire me. I’d spend every moment outside, documenting the raw, beautiful, sometimes messy reality of outdoor life and adventure.
And that’s why I feel so lucky, I’m already living it. I’m pursuing my passion right now, and I truly wouldn’t change a thing. To be able to say that at this point in my life is something I’m incredibly grateful for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ellaapeters1.wixsite.com/peters-mountain-medi
- Instagram: ella_peters1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-peters-b64666221
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
