Today, Friday 17th January, we celebrate International Mentoring Day—a day dedicated to recognising the transformative power of mentoring and its profound impact on individuals and organisations alike. As someone passionate about mentoring, I see this day as the perfect opportunity to lean into what we love most: sharing wisdom, insights, and experiences to empower others. Mentoring isn’t just about guidance; it’s about helping people find greater enjoyability in their work and enhancing their employability for the future.
So to kick things off I’m delighted to share a podcast I recently had the pleasure of being a part of. The Regional Training Center (LAC-RTC) and TDR Global Node for Latin America and the Caribbean have launched an inspiring podcast miniseries titled “Mentoring as a Tool for Professional Development and Strengthening Health Research Networks.”
They recognised the critical role mentoring plays in advancing health research and this miniseries was designed to share insights and provide practical tools for researchers, organisations, and institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean. Drawing from the lessons of the TDR Mentoring Programme, which Team AO was proud to lead, with support from the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases – TDR. This podcast is a valuable resource for the collaboration, sharing and empowerment of health researchers.
M-Power. A Practical Guide to Mentoring in the Workplace
Unlock the Power of Mentoring in Your Workplace with our free ebook
Engage. Retain. Develop.
Organisations lose thousands each year due to attrition, underperformance, and low engagement, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
With the right mentoring strategies, you can:
- Boost employee engagement
- Strengthen career development pathways
- Retain top talent and reduce costly recruitment
Download our FREE eBook tailored for Managers and HR Professionals: M-Power: A Practical Guide to Mentoring in the Workplace.
Inside, you’ll learn how mentoring can help you to build a stronger, more motivated workforce.
Webinar: The Role of Mentoring in Talent Development
We run a regular schedule of free-to-attend webinars on Career Development and Mentoring. Our next mentoring webinar is ‘The Role of Mentoring in Talent Development’ on Thursday 13th February 2025 10:00 UK. Find out more
Start the day with a spring in your step with these inspirational quotes
Quotes are a great way of summing up learning and experience in a way that inspires others. And the inspiration of others is a key role that mentors play. Here are some of my favourite quotes about positive mentoring. Watch the video below or read more here.
How can mentoring benefit your organisation?
Inspiring case studies
We believe in the transformative power of mentoring to drive personal growth, career development, and organisational success. Our real-world case studies showcase how tailored mentoring programmes can empower individuals and create meaningful change in organisations.
Case Study Highlight: HRP Alliance Pilot Mentoring Programme
Our partnership with the HRP Alliance demonstrates the profound impact mentoring can have on career development and leadership, this programme was designed for early-career female researchers in low- and middle-income countries.
Through our six-step MENTOR process, we helped HRP Alliance:
- Build a global network of female mentors across 7 regional hubs
- Equip mentors and mentees with tools to succeed through specialised training
- Deliver a structured, impactful programme that mentors described as transformative
With a 9.9/10 satisfaction score and plans to expand the programme, the results speak for themselves!
Case Study Highlight: AWP NHS Trust – Empowering Leadership Through Mentoring
The Avon and Wiltshire Partnership (AWP) NHS Trust faced a challenge: shifting from a top-down, directive leadership culture to one that was more empowering, supportive, and focused on mentoring.
By introducing the Solution-Focused Mentoring Framework and Toolkit and leveraging the OSKAR model, we developed a multi-level programme that trained, mentored, and supported leaders at all levels. The impact was transformative:
- Less negativity, fostering a positive workplace culture
- Teams becoming self-reliant and proactive
- Improved relationships, faster progress, and increased action
- Managers reporting higher confidence, less anxiety, and improved performance
The ripple effect of this mentoring initiative extended across the Trust, with participants describing the programme as career-changing and transformative.
These case studies demonstrate how mentoring can address complex challenges, improve leadership, drive collaboration and enhance organisational performance.
Interested in creating a mentoring programme tailored to your organisation’s needs? Let’s talk!
More Mentoring Insights
We have produced a huge amount of free-to-read blogs on mentoring, you can find these on our blog. Titles you may enjoy are:
