As part of the WomenWise Mentoring Programme, we’re bringing together all mentors for a dedicated session focused on sharing experiences, strategies, and support.

This session will cover:

• Practical tools and frameworks to guide effective mentoring

• Approaches to handling sensitive or challenging conversations

• Peer exchange of best practices and real-world examples

It’s also a chance to connect with fellow mentors from the wider cohort, share what’s working, and strengthen our collective impact.

Yesterday, we hosted our first mentee webinar for this cohort.... a moment to reflect, share what’s working, and gather insights to shape the next phase of the programme.

Here’s what’s standing out:
🔑 Great mentees aren’t the ones with a five-year plan. They’re the ones who show up curious, open, and intentional - ready to explore ideas, reflect, and take action.

🧠 Challenges are real... from imposter syndrome and vague goals, to diary clashes and the pressure to “get it right.” But with support, structure and a space to think out loud, mentees are already and making real progress.

💬 The right questions help to unlock clarity and direction:
🔹 “What were your goals when you were at the same stage in your career as I am now?”
🔹 “From your experience, do you think I should become a software generalist, or hone down into a particular area/technology?”
🔹 “What are the transferable and soft skills I can develop to progress in my career?”

💡 A few standout reflections from mentees:
“I realised confidence is a barrier 0 and I’m learning how to work through it.”
“My mentor helped me break a big goal into small, achievable steps.”
“We talked about how to make clever and strategic career moves - and that changed the way I think about my next step.”

✨ This is what WomenWise Mentoring is about:
Creating space for reflection.
Encouraging brave questions.
And helping women make confident, strategic moves in industries where the path isn’t always clear.