Mentoring schemes present not only a great opportunity to master new skills and kickstart your career, but also to add a very successful and highly experienced person to your network. Femme Palette works with a wide range of accomplished mentors. Meet four of them right now! Karen, Ivana, Ania and Eva answer questions in this mentor spotlight.
What do I do
I currently work as a Learning Specialist for a company in Brno, CZ but before that I was a university professor and academic advisor in the United States. Although I can speak Spanish, I somehow found a job in the Czech Republic instead, where learning the language has been a bit of a challenge!
Why I mentor
I learned about Femme Palette after photographing an event - a panel of female entrepreneurs - and was impressed with the organization. I feel very strongly about female empowerment, education and support so it was a natural step to join. I mentor because I enjoy the relationships that are formed and how they are mutually beneficial.
I wish I’d known when I started my career
I wish I had known that I didn't need to do everything right away because I ended up burning out quickly from taking on too much. My younger self was concerned about career success and I didn't know how to slow down. Now I realize that it is important to choose more carefully.
What do I do
Ivana Zidova, Senior Account Executive at LinkedIn, living in Ireland where I relocated 4 years ago from the Czech Republic, fun fact is that when I was moving to Ireland it was actually first time I've been to Ireland.
Why I mentor
I do mentor because I've joined mentoring program at LinkedIn as a mentee when I started and it helped me a lot. When I had the first chance to become a mentor myself at LinkedIn I've took the opportunity and I was mentoring job seekers in Ireland. I think this is the best way to give back what I've got early in my career.
I wish I’d known when I started my career
That I don't have to have everything figured out. That the right opportunity will be there for me when I will be ready and finally that the key is to have a good network of the professionals around you that keep you motivated.
What do I do
I work as a CMO for Terap.io, an online counselling platform. Marketing for psychotherapy services is way different from my previous experience in e-commerce or fintech. It is very delicate, much more pull than push, and based on an overall education in the field. It’s also incredibly meaningful.
Why I mentor
I realized I would never have had such an amazing job and career if it hadn’t been for the help and valuable advice from some great people I crossed paths with, so it seems only fair to give this value back to the community.
I wish I’d known when I started my career
Everyone is so focused on themselves that it’s almost impossible to embarrass yourself in front of others. Either they don’t notice, or they’ll forget. I spent too much of my free time stressing over past or potential situations...and there is really no point to it. So don’t be afraid to go big:)
What do I do
Hello, my name is Eva. I am currently acting as Sr. Transformation program manager at SITA (leader in IT services to Air transport industry (ATI)), which may be very surprising to anyone who knew me when I was young. During my studies, everyone, including myself and high school professors, believed I would end up as a professional basketball athlete. My first serious sport injury prevented me from European Championship selection and made me realize the fragility of professional athlete careers. Here comes the life twist, I left Czech Republic when I turned 18 and started to build a Finance and Project Management career in Holland and Switzerland. At the same time, I continued a professional player adventure at Nyon Basket feminine club in Switzerland for many years.
Why I mentor
I have struggled with self-confidence, legitimacy, and even hierarchical abuse during my professional journey. People made me doubt my capacity of being successful, until I met the person who saw potential in myself and without even noticing, mentored me, and helped me build the person I become today.By mentoring, I hope to accompany others in seeing their potential for success and share all the great advice I received.
I wish I’d known when I started my career
I wish I knew a long time ago that there is an opportunity in every situation. We just need to learn how to recognize them, know why and when to accept them and surround ourselves with people who believe in our potential and the potential of the project we plan to undertake.
Did our mentors’ stories inspire you? Great! We’re inviting both potential mentors and mentees to join the community! Whether you’re someone more experienced looking to pass their knowledge on and help others grow, or someone who is at a point in their career where you could really benefit from some qualified guidance, we’re more than happy to welcome you! Become a mentor or find out more about Femme Palette programs for mentees and which would suit you best!
Interested in becoming a mentor but not sure if you have what it takes? Take our specially designed Mentor quiz to find out if you have it in you. It's quick and fun!
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