25/04/2024
How to rebuild a city with Karam Alkatlabe
Expanding its reach beyond Sustainability, the Programme now includes other hubs such as Entrepreneurship and Global Health, while also facilitating mentoring in the field of early research careers. Notably, the Entrepreneurship Hub has seen exceptional interest, reflecting the burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit at Wolfson College. Against the backdrop of the Wolfson Entrepreneurship Competition, the Programme serves as a timely resource for individuals exploring or developing business ideas.
Since its relaunch in autumn 2023, the Programme has seen remarkable traction, with over 120 participants enrolling. Drawing in Wolfson members from various corners of the globe, ranging from students to high-ranking executives, the Programme offers a diverse pool of mentorship opportunities. The Programme's unique approach has garnered enthusiastic feedback from participants, who attest to its value in shaping their professional journeys.
One mentee, Janella Ajeigbe, part-time MPhil student in Mathematics Education, is a headteacher of a primary school in London. She signed up to the Programme to learn how to be a better boss.
“I have been really lucky,” Janella told us. “My mentor works for a private equity firm in the United States and is very passionate about supporting Wolves. We meet every Friday at 2 pm and will be meeting for the next six months. He felt that the wide range of people he met during his time at Wolfson transformed him and wanted to give back and help others to have the same experience. My mentor and I are very compatible, but this is due, in a large part, to the warm welcome that I have had from Wolfson, my faculty and the University generally. When you feel valued and welcomed, it is easier to try new things and you find compatibility in surprising places."
Speaking about the highlight of her experience, Janella said, “The best bit of my experience so far was arriving home to find a large delivery box outside the front door. It was from my mentor. Inside were ten different books about leadership. They included classic books like Good to Great and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. He also included books like Leadership is Language which was written by the captain of a submarine who describes how he used language to change the culture on his boat. I love reading and so this was a wonderful surprise, but my mentor also gave me access to written and audio summaries of each book which I could have used if I had been too busy to read straightaway. Not every mentor will send each mentee a box of books, but they will all have knowledge and experience to offer you and a different perspective on your life and goals so far.”
The Programme emphasizes flexibility and autonomy and allows participants to dictate the terms of their mentoring relationships. Whether it is the mode, frequency, or location of communication, participants have the freedom to tailor their interactions according to their preferences. Acting as a facilitator, the College pairs individuals and encourages them to initiate introductory conversations to outline their expectations.
One of our mentors, Dr Robin Daniels, Bye-Fellow, joined Wolfson almost 25 years ago. He joined the programme to re-engage with the College community.
“Having a busy work schedule, and living overseas, limits the time that I have available and necessitates a flexible and relaxed approach to mentoring. This is superbly complemented by the College’s management of the whole program, starting with the very effective matching process. For me this has resulted in the opportunity to mentor a brilliant young engineer and post-doctoral researcher.”
The Programme encourages mentors and mentees to learn from each other, as has been Robin’s experience. “It’s a two-way street,” he tells us, “and I have already learned a lot about the fast-developing world of the “electronic nose” and opportunities for the accurate, quick and low-cost identification of biomarkers and other molecules. In return I’m able to share some of my experience and insights from thirty years of innovation, technology enterprise and start-ups.”
For Robin, the highlight of his experience was watching his mentee receive accolades and recognition.
“My mentee has enjoyed considerable success since we started working together, first as winner of the Darwin College Business Plan competition and then taking second-place in the prestigious Trinity Bradfield Prize, chaired by Sir Greg Winter, former Master of Trinity College and Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist. Most importantly, she has topped it all as a finalist for Wolfson’s own Entrepreneurship Competition 2024! I would wholeheartedly recommend the mentorship program to prospective mentors and mentees alike and hope to continue to support it well into the future.”
The Wolfson College Mentoring Programme stands as a testament to the institution's commitment to fostering professional development and mentorship within its community, promising continued growth and impact in the years ahead. With preparations underway for its second round of applications, the Programme invites new participants to tap into the wealth of experience and knowledge offered by Wolfson members. Click through to visit the Programme sign up page. This Programme runs concurrently with the Wolfson PhD Mentoring Programme, overseen by Dr Chris Town, a distinguished Wolfson Fellow.
