91É«ÇéƬ

Mentoring a 91É«ÇéƬ student is a powerful way to use the knowledge learned on your career journey to guide someone starting out on their professional path. The Career Discovery Mentoring Program is one way to showcase what you’ve learned and inspire others to succeed.

How does mentoring work?

Through the Career Discovery Mentoring Program, you’ll be partnered with a current 91É«ÇéƬ student. You will become part of a bigger, connected and supportive 91É«ÇéƬ alumni and student network.

Sharing your experiences can also bring fresh clarity and renewed purpose, helping you grow as a leader, communicator and listener. 

A Career Discovery Mentoring Program spotlight feature – Gabriella Martini

Over the years, has been a dedicated mentor. We sat down with her to find out more about what inspires her to mentor with CDMP time after time.

What inspired you to become a 91É«ÇéƬ alumni mentor?

I was fortunate to have people throughout my career who took the time to share their experiences, provide honest advice, and help me navigate opportunities and challenges. Becoming a 91É«ÇéƬ alumni mentor simply felt like a way to pay that forward.

What keeps you coming back as a 91É«ÇéƬ mentor?

What has kept me engaged is seeing the impact that even a small amount of guidance can have. Often mentees don't need someone with all the answers, they just need someone who can help them think through decisions, challenge their assumptions, and give them confidence to back themselves. It's incredibly rewarding to watch people grow and take steps they may not have otherwise taken.

What does mentoring mean to you personally?

To me, mentoring is about helping someone accelerate their growth by sharing experiences, perspectives, and lessons learned, both successes and mistakes. It's less about giving answers and more about helping people develop the confidence and judgement to find their own.

I've had several mentors throughout different stages of my career. Some were formal mentors, while others were leaders, colleagues, or industry contacts who invested time in me. Each offered something different, whether it was technical advice, leadership guidance, or simply encouragement at the right moment. Those experiences reinforced for me how valuable it is when someone genuinely takes an interest in your development.

How has mentoring shaped you professionally?

Mentoring has made me a better listener and a better leader. It’s taught me that everyone's career journey is different, and that there is very rarely one right path.

Professionally, mentoring has encouraged me to spend more time understanding people's goals, motivations, and challenges before offering solutions. It has also reminded me that leadership isn't about having all the answers, it's about asking the right questions, creating opportunities, and helping others realise their own potential. As a business owner, that mindset influences how I work with my team, clients, and partners every day.

What would you say to someone who is considering becoming a mentor?

You don't need to be at the end of your career or have all the answers to be a valuable mentor. Everyone has experiences, lessons, and perspectives that others can learn from. In many cases, the challenges you've navigated recently are the exact challenges someone else is facing today.

The most important qualities of a mentor are not expertise or seniority. They're curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to invest time in helping someone else grow. If you're genuinely interested in supporting others, you're probably more ready than you think.