Why I Mentor: It's Not About Me
On the joy of supporting others, the beauty of diverse journeys, and why I keep showing up for mentorship
There’s something quietly powerful about mentorship.
Not the kind that’s listed on someone’s CV. Not the kind that’s transactional or performative. But the kind where you walk alongside someone, witnessing, encouraging, gently nudging, and holding space as they do the hard work of becoming.
Lately, I’ve had the privilege of taking on several new mentees. I won’t share names or details, but I will share the joy.
One is a PhD candidate at the start of a big journey.
One is a woman running her own business here in the UK.
Another is a senior leader in Mexico—someone I’m truly honoured to support.
And another is an LGBT leader navigating their next step here in the UK.
It’s a beautifully diverse group, and that diversity matters. These are not cookie-cutter paths. They’re unique, full of complexity and potential. And I get to be there, not to shape the outcome, but to support their outcome.
That’s the magic of mentoring.
For me, it’s never been about adding a line to my CV. It’s about helping someone else shape theirs. Whether it’s a promotion, a pivot, a new challenge, or simply the clarity to say “this is who I am and where I’m going”—that’s where the impact lives.
And here’s the part I always come back to: I don’t make the change for them.
They do.
I might offer insight, a resource, or a question that sparks something. But they take the step. They make the move. They do the work.
And I get to cheer them on—often quietly, always proudly.
That’s why I mentor.
That’s why I’ll keep mentoring.
Because when we help others rise, we rise too.
If you’ve been mentored (formally or informally) or if you mentor others, what’s stayed with you from that experience? What has it changed?
I’d love to hear your reflections.
#MentorshipMatters #GlobalLeadership #InclusiveGrowth #AcceptanceWithoutUnderstanding