在本系列中, we’re asking the women in our MentorHER community for their reflections on the programme.
Here’s the first instalment, from Zuhlke’s Claudia De Carlo.
"Experiencing the ability to contribute to someone else’s growth is truly rewarding, and MentorHER is providing me with the means to make it a reality."
Only a couple of months after joining my current company, I received an exciting invitation to apply for a place on a mentoring programme, 十大网博靠谱平台数字公司, the leading organisation in Greater Manchester dedicated to fostering growth and success within the Tech community.
于是，我开始了与导师的旅程. This fully funded programme is carefully designed to inspire and empower women to grow and thrive in their careers in the Digital & 科技领域. 尽管到目前为止取得了进展, the need to challenge stereotypes about which roles are suitable for men and women persists, and it’s still imperative to keep working to reduce the gender pay gap. 此外, the striking statistic that men apply for jobs when they meet only 60% of the role requirements, but women do so only if they meet 100% of them, is clear evidence that women need more confidence, and this is just one of the programme’s goals.
Initially I was uncertain about what I could contribute, 我甚至考虑过申请当学徒, grappling with doubts about my qualifications and achievements in my career. I had never experienced formal mentoring either. 这些都没有阻止我申请, with over two decades of diverse experience across industries and roles, I decided to get into it with dedication and passion and do for others what I wished I have had for myself.
导师很看重我的技能, life experiences and attitude over academic endorsements and invited me to become a mentor. 作为导师, I feel I can make a meaningful impact on others while having an opportunity to develop my leadership and coaching skills.
There was an initial Kick-Off session that filled me with empowerment and enthusiasm. Bringing together mentors and mentees, it set the tone for the journey ahead. The carefully curated training materials are informative and engaging, and the support from the programme managers comprehensive.
This programme has already prompted me to reflect on my personal journey, 意识到我已经走了多远. It’s given me the confidence to take on the challenge to be an inspiration to others, by drawing out what people have already in them, and giving them the tools to do whatever they wish to do, 而不是为他们做.
在整个过程中, 我反思了我的恐惧和疑虑, my expectation management and boundary-setting skills, 提高了我的听力能力, and internalised the significance of empathy. The mix of hands-on exercises, theoretical insights, models, and techniques struck a perfect balance. 它重申了谦逊的重要性, 开放, 和诚实, 强调成长心态的价值.
The programme has also introduced me to a diverse network of 38 women, each with their own unique stories and personalities. We learn from each other, supporting and uplifting one another.
I’m profoundly grateful for this initiative, 哪里有一个由杰出女性组成的敬业团队, 克里斯汀·彼得斯·罗巴克和希瑟·伦纳德, are working tirelessly and innovatively to unite other inspiring women. These women believe that mentorship is a skill that can be learned, one that contributes to the individuals’ success and empowerment, 随后有利于就业市场, 行业内外.
At the Kick-Off session, we collectively committed to this mission: ”在一起, 我们可以授权和教育个人, 不分性别, to assist women in pursuing both life and career opportunities.” 四个月后, 正如第一批导师总结的那样, we’ll assess our achievements and areas for growth. 我相信, 不管结果如何, with heightened awareness and collaborative support, we will undeniably experience significant personal and collective growth.
克劳迪娅·德·卡洛撰写
For more information about MentorHER, check out the 数字她 网站 and find out how you can get involved as a Mentor, Mentee or Sponsor.
