Youth Employment UK CEO, Laura Jane Rawlings took the time to explore her mentors, the impact they have had and what value they continue to add.
“I set Youth Employment UK up in 2011/12, it is 6 years old, well established, positively reaches and supports thousands of young people, working with some of the best organisations in the Country and and has excellent relationships with government departments. Youth Employment UK is having a positive impact on youth unemployment – It is a real success story. And none of it would of been possible without the mentors that have supported me throughout my life and those that still support me today.
If I reflect back on my career and my own personal and social development I can think of a number of people who have really shaped who I am and where I am. Some of these people probably didn’t even know that they were mentoring me at the time as it was never a formal mentor – mentee relationship. In my early career it was the more experienced colleague “taking me under their wing”, showing me the ropes, guiding and challenging me. I also played a high level of rugby and so had a number of coaches and teammates who mentored me in my sport.
There has always been someone, someone there to help guide and support me.
Right now I probably rely on mentors more than ever, I am more aware of who they are and how valuable they are to me. In my network I have:
A coach – a trusted business colleague who I will often go to when I have a challenge I am not sure how to handle. As a coach he is skilled in asking questions that help me find the answer, he never tells me. His support has helped me to develop my thinking and creative problem solving. He also gives me confidence in my own decision making process.
The bouncers – I actually have a number of what I call bouncers in my network, they are the people who’s opinions I really trust. I will go to them to bounce an idea I have, to see if they think it has potential or if it’s a really terrible plan. I might also bounce something I think against them, if there is a new government policy or initiative that I love or hate, I might call them and see if my thoughts are rational, way off or just too emotional. Because of my work some of the bouncers in my life are younger people, whose opinions and experiences are really valuable.
My A Team – Sometimes I doubt myself, I doubt that I am having the right impact or am the right person for the job. Sometimes I have hard days and feel like I am an imposter, I am told that it is quite common for people to feel like this, particularly for women. So I have built a network of brilliant colleagues, friends who I trust and who I admire and who challenge and support me. These people are my A Team I aspire to be like most of them but more than that they help pick me up when I need it and help me see myself through a different lense.
I dont have a formal mentor, I don’t think I have ever had. But mentoring takes all shapes and sizes. The people who mentor you also changes through life, as you or they move on, but particularly as you grow and develop you will find that you need new mentors to challenge and support you in a different way.
I think we all need mentors even if that’s not what we call them. Writing this has made me realise I probably owe a few thank you’s to some of the people who have been key mentors in my journey”.
Next Steps:
- Find out more about how mentoring can improve your business in our National Mentoring Day article
- Find out more about the Platinum Talent Match Mark and how you can be recognised as a Youth Friendly Employer
- Log in as a Community Member and find useful templates and guides for mentoring
