Tyler Orr’s Post

Caring for our youth - mentoring can make a world of difference to someone 🌟 Mentoring is a very powerful process and can be helpful in many different situations. My focus here is on our youth that needs us more than ever. Why? Youth unemployment rates are consistently higher than those of adults. Social isolation is a significant issue among young people, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 10-20% of adolescents globally experience mental health conditions. This is what is reported through global organizations such as WHO, ILO and it is consistent with what we hear from the news every day. For me it is worrying, and it calls for action. Why mentoring? 🔸 By providing mentorship, we can empower young individuals to believe in their potential and pursue their dreams with confidence. We can also offer invaluable guidance, helping to navigate through educational and early career challenges. 🔸 Many young people face significant difficulties or lack that encouraging adult to talk to; a supportive mentor can make a world of difference in the personal and professional growth. 🔸 As a mentor, you'll learn and grow just as much as your mentees. You’ll gain fresh perspectives and new insights and sometimes even create lasting relationships. 🔸 Mentoring is an investment to the future. Strong, supported youth contribute to stronger, more resilient communities and societies. These are all compelling reasons why I have decided to dedicate part of my time to do pro-bono mentoring for young individuals.  I am currently a Mentor in a mentoring program led by Suomen Mentorit (Mentors of Finland), where an impressive number of 175 mentoring pairs are currently on their mentoring journey aiming to support young individuals in their transition to working life and mapping their own path. Read more. My mentee is Eveliina Autio who is a dedicated professional graduated from Aalto University, currently looking for a job. A few words from Eveliina on mentoring “Mentoring has provided me with a valuable space to express my thoughts, ideas, and questions on career related topics at this transitional time in my life. Tarja has shared her experiences, provided feedback, and asked me thought provoking questions. This has enabled me to assess my career aspirations from new perspectives. We have covered topics including values, dreams, and CV skills with many more topics to come. Our conversations have been incredibly valuable to me, and I believe that many other young professionals would highly benefit from having a mentor as well." I am calling on you to make a difference in someone’s life through mentoring. Reach out if you want to discuss finding the right program for you or how your organization can accelerate efforts in caring for youth. There are many ways to make a difference 🌍✨, how are you contributing today 🌟🙌? #MentoringMatters #YouthEmpowerment #DareToCare #ProBono #ChangeMaker #BetterFuture #InclusiveGrowth #CorporateSocialResponsibility

Mentors have been a game-changer for my career and personal development. But I’ve noticed that many people aren’t sure how to both find a mentor and create a successful mentor/mentee relationship. So, I’ve compiled a few lessons I’ve learned in my journey so far: 1\ Understand what you need Before you start looking for a mentor, take a step back and reflect on what you’re looking to achieve. Are you seeking technical knowledge, industry insights, or leadership skills? Your goals will guide you in identifying the right mentor. 2\ Look in your network Often, the best mentors are closer than you think. Look within your existing network. This could be a senior colleague, a former boss, or even someone you’ve connected with through industry events. Personal recommendations can also be invaluable. 3\ Don’t call it a mentorship Once you’ve found someone you respect and want to learn from, don’t just say “Will you be my mentor?” Approach them as a human being. Ideally, you’ve picked someone that is in your industry and has the same interests. Then, strike up a conversation around a topic you both know a lot about. If they seem engaged, ask if they would be open to setting up a meeting to discuss a specific issue you are running into (that they are uniquely suited to help you with). 4\ Be prepared Once you have a meeting set up, prepare specific questions and topics you want to discuss. Be specific. And don’t go over the time limit they’ve set aside. 5\ Act on their advice This is a severely underutilized tactic. Most people just want advice. They don’t want to do the work. If you actually implement the strategies and tactics your mentor outlines, this will put you in the top 1% of mentees. And it will leave a positive impression. Especially if you update your mentor on the actions you’ve taken along with results achieved. 6\ Don’t overdo it You can wear out your welcome very easily. So, don’t overload your mentor with questions. Shoot 1-2 a quarter. And make sure they are good questions. If it’s something you can google, don’t waste their time. Be very respectful and clear about why you’re seeking their guidance. Bonus points if you include specific actions you’ve tried in an effort to get around the roadblock. 7\ Be grateful Mentorship is a two-way street. While you gain knowledge and insights, ensure you’re showing appreciation for your mentor’s time and effort. Regularly update them on your progress and express your gratitude. ━━━━━━━━━ ⚙️ ━━━━━━━━━ If you choose wisely and respect the relationship, a multitude of opportunities are waiting for you both.

🌈 Shape the Future of STEAM—One Mentor at a Time Have you ever looked back on your journey and thought about the people who believed in you, guided you, or opened doors when you needed it most? Imagine being that person for someone else—a young woman or non-binary individual passionate about STEAM. 🌟 It Starts with a Single Step Being a mentor isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up with empathy, an open mind, and a willingness to support. If you’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to give back, this is your sign. Join the Stemettes Mentorship Program - stemettes.org/volunteer. Let’s be the bridge that connects today’s talent with tomorrow’s possibilities. 🔗 Ready to make an impact? Visit stemettes.org/volunteer and become a part of this incredible movement. Together, we’ll inspire the future. 🌟 Will you answer the call?

Fantastic post from Stemettes covering why you should volunteer as a mentor! Mentoring can be incredibly rewarding - if you are asking yourself 'what can I offer a young person considering a STEAM career?' - here are a couple of things I have come to realise since getting involved with mentoring: 🗺️ ↩️ 1. Everyone has different lived experience and takes a different journey through their career. Sharing insights into how you have coped with challenges at different stages, and celebrating development and change are things young people need to hear about to take the pressure off of 'making the right choice'. 👂 ➡️ 2. You don't need to have experience in someone's dream job, in order to support them in getting there. Just by lending and ear, helping them talk through their options, or develop soft-skills can be a massive help! I would seriously recommend giving it a go! Claire Strange Jasmin Harvey BA(Hons) AfCGI PCQI Yvonne Gordon MBA, AICW, CMgr FCMI ,CIPP/E, IRMCert #STEM #STEAM #WomenInTech #FutureTalent #Mentoring #StudentToStemette

As we slowly approach the end of yet another academic year, it's time to once again thank all of our fantastic mentors, who have taken the time to support a young person this year. You've been amazing. Thank you for your commitment and passion. We are always looking for new mentors. If you're interested, please get in touch (simon@thepromisefoundation.org.uk). Mentoring is often seen as a way for experienced individuals to pass on knowledge, skills, and guidance to the younger generation. While the primary focus often tends to be on the benefits to the mentee, this is a relationship in which the mentor also stands to benefit considerably. Engaging in mentorship can enhance the mentor's personal and professional life in several ways, creating a beautiful and mutually beneficial dynamic. One of the most profound benefits for mentors is the sense of fulfillment derived from helping someone grow and succeed. Watching a mentee develop confidence, acquire new skills, and achieve their goals can be incredibly rewarding. This altruistic act can enhance the mentor’s sense of purpose and satisfaction, contributing to their overall well-being. Additionally, mentoring provides an opportunity for self-reflection, allowing mentors to gain insights into their own lives and careers as they share their experiences and wisdom. Mentoring sharpens essential soft skills, particularly in leadership and communication. Guiding a mentee requires clear, effective communication and the ability to inspire and motivate. These skills are directly transferable to the mentor’s professional environment, potentially improving their performance and effectiveness in their own role. By learning to adapt their communication style to suit the mentee's needs, mentors become more versatile and empathetic leaders. Engaging with younger individuals can help mentors stay connected with emerging trends, technologies, and perspectives. The mentee’s fresh outlook can provide new ideas and challenge the mentor's preconceived notions, fostering a two-way exchange of knowledge. This continuous learning keeps mentors adaptable and informed, ensuring they remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. By contributing to the development of younger individuals, mentors play a crucial role in building stronger, more resilient communities. This sense of community involvement can enhance the mentor’s social capital and provide a sense of belonging and pride. Knowing they have contributed to the success of future generations can be a powerful motivator and source of personal pride. While the focus of mentoring is often on the benefits to the mentee, the mentor also reaps significant rewards. From personal satisfaction and improved leadership skills to staying relevant and expanding professional networks, mentoring is a mutually beneficial endeavour. By investing time and effort into guiding the next generation, mentors not only help shape the future but also enrich their own lives in meaningful ways.

Have you had someone guide you at a pivotal moment in your career? A mentor who believed in you and helped you grow? Now, imagine being that person for someone else. Imagine a world where every young mind, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive in STEAM. A world where creativity, innovation, and diversity aren’t just celebrated but actively cultivated. YOU have the power to help make that a reality. Mentorship is more than career advice; it’s a bridge to belonging, confidence, and ambition. For young women and non-binary young people, a mentor can be the game-changer that ignites their passion and equips them to overcome barriers. Isn’t that worth investing in? ⭐️ Mentorship Transforms Lives Through the Student to Stemette mentoring programme, one mentee stepped up to improve their interpersonal skills and gain a deeper understanding of the pharmacology field. What they discovered was so much more. With Helen Deery’s outstanding mentorship, Maariyah built confidence, sharpened communication skills, and grasped challenging interview scenarios - including navigating salary negotiations. Helen’s personalised guidance turned ambitious goals into tangible achievements. Now, driven by this experience, Maariyah is pursuing a pharmacology degree, aspiring to contribute to innovative work at a leading company like GSK. This story is a powerful example of how mentorship can spark growth and inspire the next generation of professionals. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a mentor, take the leap. Your support could change someone’s future. At Stemettes, we believe in lifting others as we rise in our own careers. That’s why we’re inviting you to join the Stemettes Volunteer Hub – a community of passionate professionals dedicated to empowering the next generation in STEAM. ✅ Why YOU Should be a Mentor Mentorship isn’t a one-sided experience. You might be offering guidance and encouragement, but the truth is, you grow as much as the person you’re mentoring. You gain new perspectives, sharpen your leadership skills, and rekindle the passion that brought you into STEAM in the first place. When we mentor young women and non-binary young people into STEAM careers, we: + Break down stereotypes + Build bridges to opportunity + Equip the next generation to lead and succeed ⭐️ Make it Happen Becoming a mentor only requires empathy, a listening ear, and the willingness to support others. Whether you’ve longed to give back, grow your skills, or simply make the world better, this is your invitation to mentoring. stemettes.org/volunteer Join the movement and take the first step today. 💬 Comment below if you’ve been a mentor or mentee – we’d love to hear your stories and celebrate the amazing power of mentorship together. #Mentoring #Leadership #STEMVolunteers #WomenInSTEM #CareerGrowth #StudentToStemette ✨ #shoutouts ✨ Jade Mac Gregor, Aniko Ban, Alia Quraishi, Tushita Yadav, Denise Prairie Wright, and Karyn Sansom

Everyone needs a mentor, someone who is already doing what you are doing. One with great insights and wisdom to help guide and shape one's process for success. Mentorship is very vital and anyone who desires to be mentored must approach mentorship with the right mindset. Reaching out to someone to mentor you is a great step in the right direction but you must do the work to maximise the opportunity. Let's start with things to avoid: 1. Mentorship is not a financial Plan: Don't go into a mentorship relationship with the notion that the person has to solve all your problems. Making financial demands of mentor that just accepted to mentor you is not wisdom. Stop billing people under the pretence of mentorship. 2. Drop the entitlement Mentality: No one owns you anything and stop feeling entitled to their time, space, network or resources. Entitlement mentality will not help you, so drop it at the gate before stepping into the mentorship zone. 3. Laziness and Procrastination: You cannot be married to both laziness and procrastination. File for divorce and be serious with your life. when you are giving a task to do. Do it well, do it fast not later. Put in your best effort to deliver on the assignment, it might not be the best results but let your efforts and commitment speak through your work. What Can you do to enjoy the Process 1. Punctuality: Be punctual to meetings and appointments, be it virtual or in person. If you can't make it, ensure to pre-inform your mentor before time. 2. Be responsible: Nobody forced you to reach out to this individual to seek for mentorship. It is only wisdom you own your own and be committed to the process, it is wrong for your mentor to be the one chasing after you. It is funny, but is happening. Be responsible to the commitment you made. 3. Service : Be ready to service. There is so much to learn through service. Serve your mentor at any opportunity you get. It gives you first hand insight on how he/she handles things and navigate through processes. What better way to learn, than learning from observation and doing. 4. Be Valuable: You want your mentor to be committed to the relationship, you must position yourself as valuable. Be that person that helps ease the process. Go extra miles to find ways to bring value to your mentor. Do your own research about your mentor. You will be amazed at certain areas that they need help in. You can not bring solution to a man and you will not be noticed. People are naturally attracted to value, if you want a very good relationship with your mentor, bring value to the table. Let's stop here today, dear reader kindly share with us other ways that have helped you maximise your relationship with your mentors. #Mentorship #Youthmakingimpact #leadership #Ignite #2025Builttolast #BuiltToLast #goals #Selfleadership

The Power of a Great Mentor: My Mentorship Journey with Ignatius Masilokwa Many students ask where I gain my economic insights. I always tell them that I learn as much from others as they learn from me. Today, I want to highlight one of my mentors and why having a mentor early in your career is crucial. My mentor's name is Ignatius Masilokwa , or Iggy. I’ve known Iggy since 2014 when he was my tutor at Mulungushi University. I chose him as a mentor because his leadership, guidance, support, and encouragement have profoundly influenced my professional journey. As his student in 2014 and 2015, our discussions were primarily academic, focusing on inflation, GDP, exchange rates, and elasticity. It was all about improving my grades and preparing for further studies. When I started working with him professionally, I was nervous and unfamiliar with the new environment. Iggy knew my potential and prioritized integrating me into the organization. Thanks to his efforts, I now have a supportive group of colleagues, making my work environment enjoyable. This experience highlighted Iggy’s high emotional intelligence, a crucial trait in a mentor. One standout moment was when I rushed a report due to a tight deadline, resulting in several errors🤣. Instead of reprimanding me publicly, Iggy addressed the issue privately, helping me learn from my mistakes without embarrassment. This taught me the importance of handling errors with grace and understanding. Another memorable instance was when I misinterpreted year-on-year inflation during a presentation 🤣. Again, Iggy corrected me privately, allowing me to learn and grow without feeling discouraged. His respectful and constructive feedback has been invaluable. Iggy’s calm, humble, and respectful nature makes him approachable. In any setup, he insists I call him by his first name. This ease of connection is essential in a mentor. His calm demeanor, even in high-pressure situations, inspires me. His presentations taught me the value of maintaining a clear and focused mind when addressing an audience. A mentor should inspire and help you aspire to new heights. Iggy’s leadership style is remarkable. When assigning tasks, he provides ample time to complete them and offers criticism in a way that helps you deliver your best work without feeling rushed. This approach has improved my writing skills as I transition from academia to policy analysis and research. Though I still need improvement, his fearless yet respectful approach to challenges is something I plan to use to grow professionally in research and policy analysis. Thank you, Iggy, for being an incredible mentor and for your unwavering support. I am incredibly fortunate to have you as a guide and role model, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow under your mentorship.

MENTOR MORPHOSIS – Helping you become who you want to be. Last night’s Ellevate Network meeting topic unpacked both mentorship and sponsorship via a panel discussion with 3 very different but powerful, experienced corporate women. Thanks to AtkinsRéalis in Emaar Square for hosting us. Summary of key takeaways below: 1️⃣ A mentor is more of a private one to one guide who can advise you whereas a sponsor is more of an external public advocate who speaks on your behalf in an organization. 2️⃣ Mentoring isn’t always one to one, it can be in small group settings such as on a mentor walk  or a larger mentoring circle. 3️⃣ Be careful how you select your sponsor as they may have their own agenda that will be revealed at a later date and that may not sit well with you. Ensure your values and your sponsor’s values are in sync wherever possible else you may end up feeling compromised at some point. 4️⃣ Ideally both mentors and sponsors should be in positions of power and be able to speak for you in your absence. 5️⃣ Ensure you crystallize what it is you want from a mentor before you connect with one and try and define your own outcome from the association. That’s not an easy thing to do but it’s important for your long-term outcome. 6️⃣ A mentor can help you with navigating your way through an organization and also help you both acquire and hone your business skills. But don’t restrict those who speak for you to just a mentor or sponsor, let everyone know who you are and what you do. 7️⃣ Broaden your network of work colleagues and talk about things not necessarily related to your specific area of expertise. That way they get to know you and can also speak for you when necessary, otherwise how do they know who you are? 8️⃣ Build your own visibility in your organization, make sure everyone knows your name, ideally at as many levels as possible, not only with those who are in positions of power today, because they may be gone tomorrow. 9️⃣ Be confident and act the part you want to play like you’re in the lead role. Big up your contribution, don’t minimize it. And if you’ve made a mistake, well that was yesterday, learn from it and move on. 🔟 Sometimes it’s healthy for an organization for the usually younger mentees to mentor the older, more experienced mentors, with the added bonus of the mentors understanding the language of the young. 💯 Slay. If you’d like me to craft stories for your publication then send me a dm here. I usually write around the topics of luxury travel and cool food. Head of Influencer Success for Gifted Social. Next stop The Kingdom of Bhutan. It was so insightful and a genuine pleasure to also meet the panelists Ingrid D'Lima Afsaneh Jalilzadeh and Kate Hudson Thanks to all our members who attended. Lilly Kipchumba Jacqueline Scaffidi Halima Maulidi Nikita D. Manal Maleh, BA Manam Iqbal Kristen Coakley MSc. ACC. Natasha Coakley Jeniffer Mueni M. Reem El Tal