In this interview, we meet Liina Adov, a psychologist turned coach and DEBI Lead at Pipedrive, where she drives initiatives focused on diversity, equity, belonging, inclusion, coaching, and organisational development. With a background spanning educational psychology, therapy, and research, Liina has coached more than 200 colleagues and is passionate about helping both individuals and organisations navigate complex challenges with confidence. Here, she shares how mentoring supported her transition into a new leadership role, strengthened her strategic thinking, and gave her the tools to approach uncertainty with greater clarity, perspective, and confidence.
I currently work in People & Culture, with a focus on diversity, equity, belonging, community-building, coaching, and organisational development.
When I joined the mentoring program, I had just stepped into my current role and had also become a first-time manager, leading a team of coaches. It was an exciting step, but also one that came with many new questions and responsibilities.
A few years earlier, I had stepped into a new role as a DEI Manager. At the time, I never found a mentor, and looking back, I regretted that. I still remembered the confusion and anxiety of stepping into something I had never done before.
This time, I knew I would learn and grow faster if I had someone who had already walked a similar path - someone I could bounce ideas off, learn from, and turn to for a different perspective. I was right.
I wanted to grow in two areas at the same time: in my strategic DEI work, and in finding my way as a manager and leader.
I wanted to become better at stepping back from everyday challenges, seeing the bigger picture, and making more intentional choices about how I approached both the work and my role within it.
I feel that I made meaningful progress in both areas. I gained so many ideas, perspectives, and practical action points that I could not possibly put all of them into practice within the six months of the program.
In many ways, the mentoring gave me enough material to continue growing for several years. I am most proud that the learning was not only theoretical. I was able to apply many of the ideas directly to real situations while the program was still ongoing.
I still doubt many things, and uncertainty is still there, especially in a constantly changing environment. But mentoring helped me move through that uncertainty faster.
I became better at finding a starting point and beginning to untangle complex situations more quickly. I still carry that with me: the feeling of having a little more ground under my feet, even when I do not yet have all the answers.
One of the most meaningful realisations was that many everyday challenges were actually symptoms of something bigger.
Mentoring helped me take a step back and ask: What is the wider pattern here? What could I change so that I do not need to keep putting out the same small fires again and again?
That shift - from reacting to individual problems to looking at the system behind them, was very impactful for me.
I did not expect to get as much from the experience as I did. We were able to work through immediate, everyday challenges, but at the same time, I was also growing much more deliberately as a professional.
Even though the mentoring meetings have concluded, I still have many ideas left to action and lessons I continue to return to. In that sense, it feels like the mentoring is still ongoing.
If Liina's story resonates with you, maybe it is time to write your own. Whether you are navigating a career transition, looking to step into your next level, or simply ready for that external perspective that changes everything, our mentoring program is here for you.
Your story could be the next one we tell. Explore the Femme Palette mentoring program and take the first step today.
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