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Claire Tulloch - Founder, Pebble
After 15 years managing in-house teams, the thing I missed most wasn't the events or the pace, it was managing my team. Things like the one to one conversations about where someone's career could go and how to get there. The Women in Exhibitions' mentoring scheme has given me the opportunity to do that again.
What I've loved most is the range of it. One session might be big picture, where do you want to be in five years, and what's standing in the way? The next might be entirely practical, a tricky stakeholder, a difficult conversation or a decision that feels stuck.
That mix is where mentoring earns its value especially for women navigating careers where a trusted sounding board isn't always easy to find.
The WIE mentoring scheme has given me the chance:
- to see the industry through the eyes of someone earlier in their career what excites them, what frustrates them, and what's changed since I was at that stage
- to get a fresh awareness of the pressures on emerging talent now (hybrid working, freelancing earlier, building visibility) which didn't exist in the same way when I started my career 25 years ago
- for genuine optimism about the future, seeing the talent and ambition coming into the industry
It’s also interesting what mentoring has taught me about coaching and leadership:
- the best sessions aren't the ones where you have the answers, they're the ones where you ask the right question and the mentee find their own
- listening without immediately problem-solving is a skill and mentoring rebuilds it
- there's rarely one right approach, hearing how a mentee wants to tackle something differently and it working, is humbling in the best way
Interested in becoming a mentor or mentee? We'd love to hear from you - Click here