Celebrating 12 months of the APM mentoring programme

[edit] Introduction

The Association for Project Management (APM) Mentoring Programme was launched in 2022. This initiative has benefitted hundreds of people, enabling mentors drawn from APM’s global membership to support and guide people in the early stages of their career, returning to work or who are new to the project profession. To mark this milestone, we asked some our mentors about their experiences and memories of the programme so far.

[edit] Clare Hornsby, Head Office Project Manager

What attracted you to becoming an APM mentor?

“I have been helped by various mentors throughout my career, and I realised I’d got to the stage in my career where people were seeking my advice.”

What have you found most enjoyable about the programme?

“Not only do I enjoy helping people achieve whatever it is they want me to help them with, I also learn a lot from the mentee…about different people, different industries and different cultures. I really enjoy getting a different perspective and getting diversity of thought. I get enormous satisfaction knowing that I’ve helped someone.”

How would you say being a mentor has benefitted you?

“Being a mentor has helped me reflect on my own experience and capabilities. It’s also allowed me the time away from the “day job” to consider project management theory.”

Which success stories stand out for you?

“My initial mentee gained her Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) accreditation. I have been working with another mentee for over a year, helping him identify competence gaps, create a development and action plan, and he’s recently had the confidence to apply for a new role.”

What have you learned from being a mentor?

“No matter what your level of experience, there is generally always someone who is looking to learn from, or gain from, your experience.”

What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming an APM mentor?

“I’d encourage anyone to do it! Everyone has something to give to a mentoring relationship, even more experienced PMs can gain help, advice and development from less experienced PMs, through ‘reverse mentoring’.”

[edit] John-Paul Ashton, Senior Project Manager

Why did you want to become an APM mentor?

“I have had various informal mentors over the years, and mentoring has helped me to develop and grow. I really wanted to help others who don’t have the connections or the bravery to ask for help.”

Which success stories stand out for you?

“I have four APM mentors at the moment. One has changed jobs into the project management environment following mentoring advice from me, which is a huge win.”

How has being a mentor helped you?

“Being a mentor has helped me develop my people skills, learn new ways of doing things and encourage others into project management environment where the world really is their oyster.”

What has your key takeaway been?

“That everyone is different. As such, you need to tailor your mentoring to the person, though you can use similar frameworks for the bulk of their learning.”

What is your message to people thinking about becoming an APM mentor?

“It takes less than an hour a month to help someone change their lives for the better.”

[edit] How to get involved

If you’re interested in being mentored or becoming an APM mentor yourself, you can visit the APM Mentoring Programme page on our website.

This article originally appeared on the APM website on 1 February 2023.

--Association for Project Management

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