In the eighth and final article in our Mentorship Series for 2024, in partnership with LEAD Network Ireland, Maria Victoria Simas from Kraft Heinz Ireland reflects on the hugely positive impact that mentors have had, both on her career and personal development.
According to Gartner, people who are mentored are five times more likely to get promoted than those who aren't.
Mentoring is essential for personal and professional growth, as experienced individuals can offer guidance, support, and insight to those still developing their skills.
For organisations, it is a strategic tool to nurture talent, promote inclusion, and build future leaders.
Yet, despite all of that, only 37% of professionals have a mentor and 63% of women have never had a formal mentor.*
'Transformed'
Reflecting on my own journey, the guidance that I received from mentors completely transformed the trajectory of my professional life.
By listening, sharing their experiences, and helping me identify my strengths and areas for improvement, my mentors gave me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone.
I’m fortunate to work for Kraft Heinz, a company that values the power of mentorship.
With the ambitious goal of having women in 50% of all global management roles by 2025, mentorship is seen as a key enabler in achieving this target.
One pivotal moment in my career came when my mentor recognised the potential in me to grow within sales, which was something I hadn’t previously considered.
Fast forward a few years, and I am thriving in a role that I love, having progressed at pace with newfound confidence in my abilities.
Personal Growth And Professional Development
Mentorship also gave me the space to reflect and work through my thoughts, leading to a self-awareness that is vital for my current role.
This balance of personal growth and professional development is what makes mentorship so impactful.
I am proud to extend these opportunities to others in Ireland’s FMCG and retail sectors by launching the mentoring programme with LEAD Network Ireland.
This initiative facilitates cross-company mentoring across the industry and is based on the award-winning LEAD Network Europe Mentorship Programme.
Mentorship is most effective as a two-way relationship, where both mentor and mentee learn and grow together.
This reciprocity creates a dynamic and mutually rewarding experience.
What Makes A Good Mentor?
Active listening: Understanding the challenges and opportunities your mentee faces starts with truly listening.
Sharing experiences: Be open and vulnerable about your journey, helping mentees gain confidence from your learnings.
Building trust: Trust and confidentiality are the foundation of a successful mentor-mentee relationship.
Providing feedback: Impartial, honest feedback can offer new perspectives and help mentees make better decisions.
What Makes A Good Mentee?
Openness and vulnerability: Being clear about your strengths and development areas ensures productive conversations.
Commitment: Plan sessions, set goals, and follow through on agreed actions.
Accountability: Mentorship works best when mentees act on feedback and push themselves to grow.
Tracking progress: Consistency is key. Document your progress to share your journey with your mentor. Mentorship is more than a professional relationship; it’s a catalyst for growth, innovation, and connection.
By embracing mentorship as a two-way journey of shared learning and development, we create opportunities to inspire, empower, and leave a legacy of support.
Whether as a mentor, mentee, or both, investing in these relationships helps build stronger individuals, organisations, and communities.
LEAD Network Ireland is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive network across Ireland’s retail and FMCG sector.
This mentorship programme is open to men and women, and matches pairs from different non-competing companies across the industry.
About LEAD Network Ireland
LEAD Network Ireland Chapter is the fastest growing Chapter across Europe with over 800 members.
In their first year they were awarded for their Chapter Achievement & Leadership at the Annual European LEAD Network Conference in Budapest.
To date, they have launched a pilot cross company mentorship programme with 14 mentors and mentees, and held a policy ‘roundtable,’ which brought together some of the top HR professionals in our industry to discuss what we could do at a structural level to drive change to advance female leadership.
This group will deliver their first industry playbook by Q1 of 2025.
They held a virtual event on confidence and self-belief, attended by one third of their members.
In June, they hosted a full house, with 130 people, at an in-person event on Fostering & Embedding Allyship in your business, and in September, they hosted a virtual event on building your personal brand, with over 350 registrations.
In November, on their one year anniversary, LEAD Network Ireland brought together 50 companies from our industry and four different retailers to unpack the Power of Connections in a practical and interactive event.
About the LEAD Network
LEAD Network is a European, volunteer led organisation, operating in the retail/FMCG industry.
With over 22,000 members across 15 countries and over 65 partner companies, they are working to advance female leadership participation in our sector, through education, leadership and business development.
The LEAD Network offers networking opportunities, training, inspiring workshops, and insights into the successful implementation of diversity and inclusion programmes.
