Mentoring stories

Interview between Bartlett and adman Marc Nohr, with whom he started a mentoring relationship aged 18. Mentoring is a resource which he says has helped him to mitigate potential mistakes and guide him through his blind spots.

I’ve always been a big advocate of mentoring – it’s something that I believe has a mutual benefit for the mentor and mentee alike. As someone who has been on both sides of this process, it’s fantastic to share my experience and to be challenged.

I have 6 years’ experience in the advertising industry and have always been lucky enough to have a mentor. This has helped me navigate the media industry which is fast-moving, accelerating digitally and full of acronyms.

Mentoring is alive and well, and needed now more than ever. In a world that is changing as fast as ours, driven by technology and new prospects, we all need to keep learning, revising what we have learnt and learning afresh.

I know first-hand the impact that one influential person can have in your life and I’m sure we can all name at least one person who has said or done something so meaningful that it has changed the path we were on in life.

Running a business can and should be extremely satisfying, but it can also be harrowing and very lonely. And when many of us first get into those leadership roles, it is all too easy to think that is it sign of weakness to admit you need help. It isn’t.

Don't underestimate the power of having a neutral sounding board to help gain clarity on a career path, set goals, get advice on tackling challenges or just taking time to help recognise your skills and achievements.

Having worked in the media industry for over 20 years, mentoring became a natural next step due to it being such an important part of people’s development. I have been lucky enough to be able to mentor people in a number of different capacities over the years.

Maria McDowell, Founder, lollipop mentoring

I know what it is like to stall in my career, be labelled, not championed but I also know the power of having a mentor - they can literally change your life.

My very short but long-lasting mentoring story: I joined the ad industry in 1988, after a brief spell working as a van driver in the fashion industry. A couple of months in, the agency's creative director took me under his wing.

Liam Mullins, Managing Partner, the7stars

I’m a proud member of Media For All (MEFA) and we have a fantastic mentoring scheme which I’ve loved being a part of. It’s given me the opportunity to meet so many brilliant people across the media industry from other ethnic minority backgrounds.

Mentoring is no longer ‘a nice to have’. The Great Resignation has taught us that people are willing to walk away from their current employer if it means finding a job that offers a better work-life balance, higher payer and career development.

I thoroughly approve of mentoring; it’s terrific being the beneficiary of great mentoring and it's great fun, not without challenges. This is different to coaching where the process encourages the coachee to learn how to find the answers for themselves.

My journey with mentoring started about 6-7 years ago, as part of an internal programme based on propelling junior talent. As well as training, part of the programme involved a mentor in senior leadership.

I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am now if it wasn’t for my mentors. My first ever mentor was an established HR consultant who shared her knowledge, experience, and insights, and I still fondly remember our coffee mornings.