2025 Mentorship Event 1 - Recap

“The mentorship kickoff was such a meaningful experience! It was inspiring to connect with so many driven people and to see how thoughtfully the “Empowering Your Career Through Goals” workshop, led by Mariana Field, PhD., was designed. It helped me truly reflect on my values and set clear, intentional goals I’m genuinely excited to pursue. I especially loved getting to connect with the women at my table and hearing about the goals they’ve set for themselves, how they plan to grow, and the creative ways they’re preparing to tackle any challenges ahead. I wasn’t sure how open people would be, but it was amazing to hear both the thoughtful conversations happening in small groups and the powerful insights shared with the entire room. If I felt unsure about a challenge I might face, it was incredibly valuable to hear how others – some more experienced, some with similar goals – had navigated those same struggles. I left the event feeling both supported and challenged, and overall, extremely excited to continue growing through this mentorship program.” – Nidhia K. 2025 Mentee

“I am so privileged and honored to be a part of this year’s WICT Mentorship program. While I was nervous at first, entering the room I saw some familiar faces and got to meet many other new colleagues! That experience set the tone for our kick-off: taking the familiar and using it to launch us into deep learning about goal setting, marking the path for the program. I honestly wish everyone could experience Dr. Field’s session before we choose our yearly goals and expand our career growth plans. The work challenged all of us to dig deep, and really craft meaningful direction for this mentorship. The best part was seeing how common my struggles were. Knowing that I was not alone, in a room full of successful people, has given me the confidence to dig in and earnestly work towards my goals.” – Renae G. 2025 Mentee  

"Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending the kickoff mentoring workshop for The WICT Network’s 2025 Mentorship Programme, led by the inspiring Marina Field. The session centred on the power of intentional goal setting, more than just creating goals, we explored how to evaluate them meaningfully and ensure they are relevant, achievable, and supported by actionable milestones.

One standout theme was the importance of aligning goals with personal growth. A quote shared during the session by Zig Ziglar deeply resonated with me: “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Through thoughtful conversations with my peers, I reflected on how the journey toward a goal often shapes us far more than the destination itself. That shift in mindset and seeing value in the progress, not just the outcome was a key takeaway for me.

We also focused on developing personal action plans and setting practical steps to initiate immediate change. This structured approach helped me define three clear goals I’m committed to working on over the rest of the year, each with milestones that will keep me accountable and focused.

This session was incredibly insightful and energising. I left feeling empowered, aligned, and ready to take meaningful action. The programme is already proving to be an invaluable experience, and I’m excited to continue learning, growing, and connecting through this journey."  —  Sophie Duncan, Head of Partnerships, GCS, 2025 Mentee