Guiding the Next Generation: My Mentoring Journey at Gallagher

Throughout my 20+ year career, I've had the privilege of exploring various roles and industries, from graphic design to marketing and recruitment. This diverse background has given me a unique perspective and a wealth of knowledge that I now bring to my current role as an Employer Brand and Recruitment Marketing Manager at Gallagher.

Working across a wide range of initiatives for all brands, from programmatic advertising to email campaign strategy and content creation, I’m committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for all our global brands.

Embracing the Opportunity to Mentor

When Gallagher opened up the opportunity to mentor undergraduates, I eagerly jumped at the chance. Having previously mentored individuals in the US and the UK, I found the experience incredibly rewarding. Mentoring allows me to learn more about others, provide support, and challenge them when they face difficulties.

Through these interactions, I have gained valuable insights that have undoubtedly made me better in my role. Understanding people, their motivations, and their concerns is crucial in delivering the right content to the right audience, especially in the emotionally charged field of recruitment.

Tailoring the Mentoring Approach

Currently, I am mentoring two university students, one actively seeking a graduate role for next year and the other preparing to embark on that journey in the near future. To make sure I meet their unique needs and goals, I start by getting to know them better and asking what they hope to gain from our time together. I make it clear that my sole agenda is to provide help, support, and guidance in whatever way they need. By surrendering to their needs and focusing on them, I create a safe space for them to explore their potential and make their own decisions.

Empowering Mentees Through Guidance

Drawing from my experience in managing teams, I have developed techniques to empower mentees without simply providing answers. I believe that asking the right questions at the right time can significantly impact how someone perceives a situation or scenario.

By sharing my own experiences and approaches, I aim to help mentees find their own way of dealing with challenges. Ultimately, everyone is unique, with their own set of experiences, confidence levels, and biases. The way I see it, my role is to guide them in discovering their own path to success and happiness.

Championing Challenges

One of the most common challenges that mentees face is conflict. Having struggled with this myself, I share the insights I gained from the audiobook Conflict without Casualties, which transformed my outlook on conflict. By breaking down the scenarios mentees encounter and demonstrating alternative approaches, I help them navigate these difficult situations more effectively.”

As a mentor, it is crucial to cultivate essential skills and qualities, such as active listening, empathy, and patience. Leaving your ego at the door and genuinely wanting to help someone without expecting anything in return is an incredibly fulfilling experience.

Embracing a growth mindset and recognising that both mentors and mentees can learn and grow together is key to overall success.

Career development

If I could give my mentees a 'superpower' for their career development, it would be the ability to read job advertisements effectively. Too often, people, especially those new to the workforce, believe they must tick every box in the minimum criteria.

The sad reality is that this mindset is holding them back from countless opportunities. Employers rarely find candidates with all the skills they are looking for, and they will inevitably have to prioritise the most important ones. By understanding this truth, everyone can unlock their potential and seize opportunities they may have overlooked.

At Gallagher, we are committed to The Gallagher Way, which emphasises growth for the go-getter and navigating the future together. Through my mentoring experiences, I have witnessed firsthand the power of these values in action. I believe we create a culture of continuous learning and development by empowering people to take ownership of their decisions, championing their growth, and providing guidance through challenges.

As I continue my mentoring journey at Gallagher, I am excited to play a role in shaping the next generation of professionals. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and insights, I hope to inspire and support mentees as they navigate their own unique paths to success. Together, we can create a brighter future, one mentoring relationship at a time.