Importance of Mentorship

Mentorship is a personal responsibility that has shaped my career and continues to influence how I show up for others. Looking back, I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors who believed in me, challenged me and helped me see possibilities I couldn’t always see for myself. Now, as a mentor, I feel a deep sense of duty to do the same for others, particularly women carving their own paths. Mentorship is rarely one-size-fits-all. It’s deeply human and often feels like the universe brings people together for a reason. It’s not just about career advice—it’s about building connections, sharing perspectives and creating space for growth. It’s about asking the right questions rather than offering all the answers, as Pat Mitchell beautifully explains in her TED Conferences Talk. True mentorship empowers others to lead with their own voice, find their own confidence and chart their own course. Of course, not every mentorship relationship is lifelong, and that’s okay. Sometimes, the most meaningful thing you can do as a mentor is recognise when the time has come to step back and allow someone to flourish independently. Mentorship isn’t about hand-holding; it’s about helping someone grow, trust their instincts and take ownership of their journey. As women, we have a unique opportunity to lift one another up. Whether it’s guiding someone stepping into a leadership role, helping a colleague navigate a challenge or simply being a sounding board, we can make a profound difference in each other’s lives. I’m committed to being the kind of mentor I needed earlier in my career and to paying it forward. The best mentors inspire and support others to reach new heights, and the most impactful mentees embrace opportunities to learn, grow and lead. When we support and invest in one another, we create a ripple effect—one that builds careers, deepens connections and inspires future generations of leaders. There’s incredible power in that, and it’s a legacy worth nurturing. https://lnkd.in/dYTCNUxU

When you’ve worked so hard to reach the top, why does self-doubt creep in even stronger? For many successful women leaders, loneliness and isolation at the top can amplify feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, commonly known as imposter syndrome. Even the most accomplished leaders get affected by this. As I climbed the ladder in my leadership journey, I expected to find greater confidence and validation. However, reaching the top brought about an unsettling mix of self-doubt and isolation. The paradox of feeling successful yet profoundly disconnected. Looking back, I can see some of the things that fuelled this sense of disconnect. This included lack of relatable peers locally (being CEO at 32),, the increased pressure to build on the work of my predecessor, fewer opportunities for honest reflection with trusted peers, and the absence of a sounding board to bounce off the high stakes decisions. Thankfully, loneliness doesn’t have to be a permanent part of leadership. As woman in leadership, you can combat both isolation and imposter syndrome by building intentional support networks and seeking mentors who can relate to their unique struggles. So, in addition to the list from yesterday, here are a few more on some of the ways to reclaim your confidence and connection. 1. Engaging in women's leadership groups. Professional groups focused on women in leadership provide spaces to connect with others who understand the specific challenges of being a woman at the top. These communities offer valuable reassurance and validation that help women combat feelings of inadequacy and gain strength from shared experiences. Some of the communities I have seen here on LinkedIn include The Ladies Book Breakfast Forum, WOMEN IN HR KENYA, and Women On Boards Network Kenya among others. Search for your industry group and be part of its activities and engagements. 2. Seek out mentorship   A trusted mentor can be a powerful ally against imposter syndrome. By connecting with someone who has walked a similar path, you can gain perspective from someone else's own journey and learn strategies to manage self-doubt. Mentorship also helps reinforce their accomplishments and provides guidance, helping them see themselves as competent and capable. 3. Finally, practice self-validation techniques.   Journaling, self-affirmations, or setting aside time to celebrate achievements can help counter the negative self-talk that loneliness and imposter syndrome trigger. Remember who you are. Recognize and acknowledge personal wins, no matter how small. These help to foster your confidence and reduces reliance on external validation. In this journey, success and self-belief can thrive together. Imposter syndrome can make the journey to success feel lonely and filled with self-doubt, but it doesn’t have to be this way. What are other networks available here on LinkedIn? Tag and help a sister 😀 #africa #leadershipdevelopment #professionalwomen #personaldevelopment #

The Power of Mentorship: Guiding the Next Generation of Women Leaders Spent an inspiring afternoon with my mentee from National University of Singapore Business School, deep in conversation about leadership, growth, and balance. Our discussion revolved around three key themes: 1️⃣ How to demonstrate effective leadership, even in a junior role – Leadership isn’t about titles but about influence, initiative, and integrity. We explored ways to step up, take ownership, and make an impact, no matter where you are in your career. 2️⃣ The key characteristics for success—beyond just career – True success goes beyond climbing the corporate ladder. It also includes nurturing your health, relationships, and personal growth while staying aligned with your values. 3️⃣ Balancing priorities while maintaining emotional well-being – The ability to juggle multiple commitments without burning out is a skill every ambitious woman needs. We shared strategies on setting boundaries, prioritizing what truly matters, and staying resilient in the face of challenges. These are the types of conversations that mentorship makes possible. Having someone to ask the right questions, provide guidance, and challenge your thinking can make a world of difference—not just for mentees but for mentors too. At PHOENIXUS, we believe in structured mentorship programs that don’t leave things to chance. A good mentor-mentee relationship is more than just casual career advice—it’s a deliberate, guided process that ensures both parties gain value. That’s why our mentorship framework is designed to provide both strategic insights and practical takeaways, tailored to the needs of senior women leaders and emerging talents alike. This Saturday, as we continue Cohort 1’s mentorship journey, we’ll be deep-diving into two key areas: ✨ PHOENIXUS IGNITE (Tertiary students) – Helping young women bring their vision to life through structured teamwork, feedback loops, and professional branding. ✨ PHOENIXUS ARISE (Young professionals and mid career leaders) – Elevating financial independence for emerging leaders by aligning money with leadership goals, featuring insights from successful women investors. Leadership is never just about reaching the top but lifting others as we climb. And that starts with intentional mentorship. Have you also got a mentor in your journey who was instrumental in shaping your growth? #Phoenixus #Mentorship #WomenLeadership #NextGenLeaders #PersonalGrowth

"I Almost Quit." Not because I wasn’t good enough. Not because I wasn’t ambitious. But because I felt alone. I looked around and saw no one like me. I second-guessed my ideas in meetings. I wondered if I even belonged in this space. And I’m not the only one. Women make up half the workforce but hold less than 30% of technical roles. And here’s the real problem: they’re leaving. 💡 Only 27.6% of the tech workforce is female 💡 Women with mentors are 77% more likely to stay 💡 Formal mentorship programs increase leadership diversity by 20% Here’s what those stats don’t show: 💡 The woman who almost quit because she felt invisible—until someone advocated for her. 💡 The junior engineer who hesitated to speak up in meetings—until a mentor gave her the confidence to own her voice. 💡 The aspiring leader didn’t see anyone who looked like her in the room—until someone pulled up a chair and made space. Mentorship isn’t just about guidance. It’s about belonging. The best mentors don’t just share knowledge—they see potential before it’s proven. They create opportunities, break down barriers, and challenge the biases that hold people back. Because sometimes, all it takes is one person who believes in you to change the trajectory of your career. PS - If you are in a leading position, make sure you make everyone feel seen.

𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐲 Celebrating 20 years of continued friendship with my first manager in Australia. Rodolfo Olmos was an IT Project Director at Lion Nathan. Tech and Manufacturing 20 years ago (and now) remains a fairly male dominated industry. However, something I consistently saw, was the action he took to advance women in tech. To celebrate this milestone, let me share what male allyship looked like and how we can all use our positional privilege to be an ally for those who need it: 1. He hired for potential - ensuring the base behaviours and skills existed - he sought out diversity of candidates. -> 𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟔𝟎% 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. 2. He coached - to no end. ->𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬. 3. He wasn't perfect - and he knew it. He'd send us to training that we needed. ->𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 4. He introduced me to my first psychologist - it was a pivotal turning point in my career. He didn't understand some of the limitations I put on myself - and so he sought out the right support. ->𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 5. He spoke our names in rooms that wouldn't know us, and we had his sponsorship to progress. ->𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. 6. Then - he gave credit where credit was due - right back to us. Here's to all male allies and friends in my network - there are so many of you doing outstanding work. Godspeed. #allyship

Smart women feel stuck, too. It’s rarely about skill; it’s about structure. If your business looks “fine” from the outside but feels heavy on the inside, read this. Having first-hand experience, I can tell you that sometimes you outgrow the business you built, and that’s where getting mentored helps you not just open new doors, but build them! Most women I mentored didn’t need more information. They needed systems and an external eye to look at their business without the emotional fog; to help them see what’s actually working, what’s draining them, and what needs to go. When mentees come to me, they’re usually carrying too much in their business and in their minds. They’ve taken courses. Followed advice. Tried to figure it all out alone. But something still feels stuck. Here are 3 major problems I help my mentees solve, with real results: 1. I don’t know what to offer anymore: You have created too many services or packages, trying to please everyone. I help you simplify, reposition, and build offers that feel aligned and sell with confidence. Result: One mentee went from juggling 5 scattered services to selling a single high-ticket offer, and booked 3 clients in her first month. 2. I’m stuck at the same income level no matter how hard I work. I review and upgrade your pricing, systems, and client types. Sometimes the problem is undercharging, and sometimes it’s accepting clients who drain time and energy. Result: A client raised her minimum project rate by 30%, streamlined delivery, and started earning more with less stress. 3. I’m overwhelmed, but I can’t slow down. I help you develop systems that protect your time, energy, and vision,  without dropping what matters. Result: One mentee cut her working hours by 40%, automated her onboarding, and finally made space for the life she was building this business for. And these are not random tips! It’s tailored guidance from someone who’s walked through the mess and made it out with clarity. If any of these sound familiar, you’re not doing it wrong; you’re just ready for the next level of support. And that’s where mentorship can change everything. #AskQueJay #BusinessMentoring #BusinessMentor #BusinessGrowth #WomenEntrepreneurs ------------------ I help women founders not just grow, but grow without carrying it all alone, through mentoring and building systems that support them.

This headline immediately caught my attention. When I was going up for Partner over a decade ago, one of my reviewers told me that I was too direct and should soften my approach. I asked him if he would give me the same coaching if I were a man. He paused and withdrew the feedback. It’s tough being held to conflicting standards—when you speak up, you're labeled as "too assertive," but when you're quieter, you're seen as lacking leadership. As this article points out, a 2024 analysis of performance reviews found that 56% of women have been described as "unlikeable" (compared to 16% of men) and 88% of high-performing women have received personality-related feedback (compared to 12% of high-performing men). This pressure is even more intense in traditionally more male-dominated fields, where women are often expected to fit into traditional molds. That’s why mentorship is so important! When women in leadership roles offer guidance to others, we can create a supportive network that helps us all grow and thrive. #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #WomensEmpowerment

When I was in secondary school, I taught my colleagues mathematics after the teacher left the class. I heard things like, "You are simpler than Mr. Ode." I made A1 in mathematics. I did the same throughout university; I got A's in all the core courses I taught. Since starting work, I have always taught people the little I know to date. Why? "The real value of experience is in power to raise others to standard." That was my response to Destiny last month in our private mentoring conversation. She was curious to know why I always encouraged her to share knowledge and build her young team, which she took over in May this year after her promotion. One of the transformational experiences I notice in conversations is that reframing perspectives makes persuading or modifying people's behavior easy. Making others grow is not negotiable for me. So, I sell that narrative to whoever cares to listen. These are the perspectives I shared with Destiny - hoping they inspire someone to take action. 📍It takes bold, confident, and strong women to teach others. No fear of overtaking. 📍Your experience is your team's greatest resource. Help them understand what you know how to do. Once your team is as good as you, you will quickly lighten your load and move on to bigger tasks. 📍Leadership isn't just about what you've achieved but how many others you've empowered to succeed. If you look back and no one is following closely, are you truly leading? 📍Investing in your team's growth pays good returns. Have you ever considered building a legacy? One of the easiest ways is to make people as strong as you or stronger than you. 📍If you are a woman, mentor other women. Mentorship is the fastest route to shaping your organization's future and ensuring that you have women in the pipeline to take on leadership roles after you. Who else wants to bridge the gender gap in strategic positions? 📍As you guide others, you refine your potential and strengthen your leadership muscles. The more you share, the better you know. 📍Knowledge sharing creates a ripple effect. Your team becomes innovative, and you amplify organizational success. I remain grateful for colleagues and friends who have challenged me to grow and taught me to be better. PS: Your time will be in demand. You may feel everything is slow at the beginning. The more you pay attention to capacity building, the less burdensome it will be. The benefits of nurturing your team far outweigh the cost. Have you ever felt the joy of hearing others attribute their success to your help? Could you tell me in the comments? #CFOInsights #MyCFOJourney #TDDinspires #InclusiveLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #UnlockingPotential #ProfessionalGrowth #Executiveleadership #Mentoring

Mentorship: Let’s talk about it. Whenever I’ve had the chance to connect with executive-level leaders, its common to to hear how impactful mentorship was to their career. But here’s the reality for women.... we are 24% less likely to receive career advice from senior leaders, and nearly half don’t have access to a mentor or sponsor at all. That’s not just a gap, that’s a major blocker to growth. So why is mentorship still so out of reach for many women? 🔹 Lack of representation - Fewer women in leadership = fewer potential mentors. 🔹 Unconscious bias - Mentorship often happens between people who look like each other. 🔹 Societal expectations - Cross-gender mentorship can come with unfair judgment. 🔹 Time constraints -Women are disproportionately managing both careers and caregiving, with little room left for mentorship. Ladies - If you’re looking for mentorship or a space to pay it forward, here are a couple of great organizations doing the work: ✨ Women in Logistics and Delivery Services (WILDS) ✨ ATA Women In Motion Be an advocate for yourself and if you need help or have questions, reach out! If you know of any other groups doing the work, tag them in the comments! #WomenInTrucking #Mentorship #WomenAdvocacy #Sales

When I reflect on the path I have taken throughout my career, I know that I’ve been exceedingly lucky to have a support network of incredible mentors around me. When I’ve sought out advice, shared ideas, or simply needed to recharge, I have often turned to colleagues, longtime peers, and, of course, my mom. Yet I’m keenly aware that, unfortunately, many women have not had a similar experience. In fact, according to McKinsey & Company’s latest Women in the Workplace report, when working onsite, 23 percent of men say they receive the mentorship and sponsorship they need, compared to just 16 percent of women. And given that women of color tend to get less career advice and have less access to senior leaders, formal mentorship and sponsorship programs can be particularly impactful for their career advancement. The effects of meaningful mentorship for women at all stages of the career ladder can be significant, for both individual employees and an organization. Consistent and effective mentoring empowers women to further their own skills and author a unique career path, which also sets companies up for long-term success and a competitive advantage. This International Women’s Day, I encourage you to join me in thinking about what you can do to help uplift the next generation of female leaders in the workplace. It’s on all of us—not just women—to ensure that we’re not only opening the door but providing meaningful and sustained support for women all year round. Our organizations—and broader society—will be better for it. #IWD2024 #InternationalWomensDay #Mentorship