Go Further with Multiverse Mentoring
The 27th of October is National Mentoring Day! We want to say thank you to all our Mentors that support the Community. Read more to find out about the experiences of Apprentices as both a Mentor and a Mentee.
Our mission is to create a diverse group of future leaders.
This means more than ”the academics”- Multiverse aims to nurture potential, bring together lived experiences, and build professional networks and support pillars. One core component to unlocking this potential is Multiverse Mentoring.
Launched in the summer of 2020, the programme is approaching its 10th round. In that time, almost 600 apprentices have benefitted from one-to-one mentoring from an industry professional.
Learn about Multiverse Mentoring
Continue reading to hear from Apprentices who have joined as both a Mentor and a Mentee!
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Laura Targett is an Employee Engagement Manager at Vitality Insurance, undertaking Data Literacy/Data & Insights for Business Decisions.
What was your path to Multiverse Mentoring?
When we came onto the Community Hub, I read everything I could find. That included seeing references to the Multiverse Mentoring programme, which I had to find out more about. I knew about the value of mentoring from countless personal development/business books I'd read in the past and I was excited to have the opportunity myself.
When I started my Data Literacy/Data & Insights for Business Decisions apprenticeship, I was a year back at work following the births of my two children, finally feeling settled again and dare I say it, 'back to normal'. So, it was time to get out of my new comfort zone and seek out the next big challenge!
What have you been discussing in your mentoring sessions?
We set out some small goals to start: to regain confidence in myself and my abilities by writing a comprehensive 'win list', helping me to recognise my own successes, and to boost my profile by dipping my toes into social media / Linkedin.
Line, my Mentor, provides an excellent sounding board and is the perfect coach, listening intently to what I say and often reframing my words to help me gain a deeper understanding of myself and what I want out of life.
She’s helped me grow in confidence both in my abilities and in my status as a working parent, and she’s helping me to push to make my goals a reality.
What have you learned during your time with Multiverse Mentoring?
So much! I've learned to take stronger ownership of my wins, be proud of what I can do (and what I can juggle) and generally be a better advocate for myself, both at work and in day-to-day life.
One particularly strong lesson is the idea that I am my best self when I am feeling fulfilled at work - that's just who I am and I shouldn't feel guilty about that. Because when I am feeling my best self, that's also when I can be the best mum to my kids, and that's what they deserve.
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Rachel Davies is a Technical Advisor at the Environment Agency, undertaking a Project Management Apprenticeship to expand her knowledge in her future goals around environment-based project management. She came to Multiverse Mentoring as a mentee.
What was your path to Multiverse Mentoring?
I applied to get a Multiverse Mentor because I saw the opportunity and I wanted to learn about how to get to the next level. I wanted to feel inspired, and specifically, to work on my confidence.
What have you been discussing in your mentoring sessions?
Claudia, my mentor from Tortoise Media, and I are running it loosely - she’s like an accountability partner. We have a chat and I go away and report back on things I am reading, listening and developing and we have another chat. In between the meetings I feel I am reflecting on this positive journey and am building a different mindset by having that person there, focused on me.
What have you learned during your time with Multiverse Mentoring?
So much, and so much to come! I’ve still got some weeks to go and I’m grateful for that time. Put your energy where you want to build in life - both professional and personal!
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Vaida is Data Science Lead at Travis Perkins. She now works in the Group Data Science Team and supports strategic initiatives. She’s a part of the “Women in Data” network - and is closing out her Advanced Data Fellowship at Multiverse.
What was your path to Multiverse Mentoring?
Originally, I was a mentee because I’m always interested in learning from others. At that point, I didn’t consider being a mentor, because I didn’t think I’d have enough experience to offer. After returning from maternity leave, I had to figure out the "new" normal in terms of remote working and being a mother.
Through Multiverse, I was able to work on my personal objectives and when the next opportunity was available for mentoring, I signed up to be a mentor because I was ready to listen first and then share my knowledge and experiences.
How was meeting your mentee?
I was matched with Laura - a young professional. Immediately she impressed me with her honesty and attitude. She had a brilliant balance of technical and interpersonal questions, and I found that the conversation was seamless between different topics.
What have you been discussing in your mentoring sessions?
I mostly provided a listening ear - being completely impartial and not familiar with her industry, I was impressed with how well Laura explained the concepts and how she contributed to the overall success. Where she had technical or data-related questions, she informed me in advance giving me an opportunity to review and prepare for the mentorship sessions.
What did you learn from being a Multiverse Mentor?
This was the first formal mentoring engagement for me and I was surprised at how quickly the four months went. I could see how much progress Laura made during each catch up and I found it to be truly inspirational. Mentorship is a great way of growing the confidence to ask questions and see what happens if we are willing to be open and honest. Having an opportunity to discuss options and bounce ideas helps to think "outside the box" and get a new perspective.
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How can I get involved?
Start planning, and go further. Multiverse Mentoring means investing in your own development with a carefully matched mentor who can share their personal experience and professional insight.
Do you have over 6 years of work experience? Inspired by Vaida’s experience as a Mentor? For just two hours a month, you’ll be amazed at the difference you can make.
This article has been curated by the Multiverse Community Team.