2023 Shortlist: Mentor of the Year Award nominees
news published date 9 October 2023Following our announcement on 14 September, we are delighted to share an overview for for each of the shortlisted nominees for the Mentor of the Year Award category. Again, before we do, here’s a reminder of the category:
This is someone who has consistently demonstrated the importance of mentoring, having given up time to support one or more mentees over the course of the last year, at a minimum. The submission should highlight how they have supported their mentees (including those in the past) in achieving their objectives and in what ways each mentee was able to progress/develop following their mentoring sessions. The submission should include endorsements from their mentee(s). The nominated mentor can be new to mentoring or a seasoned hand. Support for WIBF’s mentoring scheme is preferable although not vital.
But why did these nominees make the shortlist? Below we include a brief summary for each nominee so you can see why these men and women thoroughly deserve to be on the list. Scroll down to read the full list and some of the amazing successes already achieved to date.
| Duncan Parvin, Wells Fargo | Duncan is a Director in the commercial real estate team, responsible for managing a team of relationship managers. He is also a member of the team’s DE&I counsel which seeks to advance that agenda in the wider commercial real estate market. He is also an ally to the Bank’s European Black Connections Network, Pride Network, and Asian Connections Network and his 15 year tenure at the bank and breadth of experience has given Duncan a network that the uses to bring people together to further DE&I both throughout the organisation and externally. Beyond Wells Fargo, Duncan is a repeat mentor for Women in Banking & Finance and Career Ready, a UK social mobility charity. |
| Lisa Ardley-Price, NatWest | Lisa is managing legal counsel for commercial and institutional banking at NatWest, providing expertise on trade and supply chain finance. In addition to her legal role, she is also a member and volunteer for a number of the bank’s wellbeing and inclusion networks and provides coaching and mentoring to colleagues. That includes workshops for those from underrepresented groups to help them build confidence and engage in self-promotion. She has helped transform how the legal function operates for the bank’s trade and supply chain finance businesses, providing training and self-service tools to reduce low level legal queries, freeing up her time to focus on more strategic matters. Outside of NatWest, Lisa is currently supporting the Women in Banking & Finance teams develop mentoring circles across the country. |
| Lynne Harrison, Lloyds Banking Group | Lynne Harrison is currently a Product Owner and Scrum Master Chapter Lead for Ledger Lab at Finance Platform in Lloyds Banking Group, and uses her experience in the banking and finance sectors to coach and mentor peers and individuals of the wider community. Always willing to share skills, knowledge and expertise, Lynne’s submission stood out as she seeks to articulate her advice and experiences in a way that is easy to understand by the mentee and stresses the need to be a patient, active listener who is willing to answer questions, provide feedback, and help her mentees find solution on their own. |
| Mary Wright, Succession Wealth | Mary is seen as a dedicated and hardworking professional and, as a result, a sought-after coach and mentor. Since joining Succession, she has been instrumental in driving the development of both her direct team and people from the wider organisation, significantly contributing to creating a culture of empowerment, respect and collaboration. Taking on both formal and informal mentoring roles, Mary places a strong focus on developing people to be the best they can be and putting people first – even if that has negative impact on her own role. For example, Mary recently helped one of her direct reports change their career, despite this meaning the individual would leave her team as a result, by supporting the individual both professionally and personally to achieve formal qualifications. |
| Shona Kinsella, Wells Fargo | Shona is a Director and Strategic Initiatives Lead in the International Chief Operating Officer’s team. Working with senior leaders to shape and deliver the strategic plan for her function, Shona works collaboratively with the business and support functions to streamline activities and drive efficiencies. She has also mentored others for 15 years and currently acts as a mentor on an individual basis, both within and beyond Wells Fargo, as well as engaging in formal mentoring programmes. She has been described by many within her organisation as a role model and is recognised as someone that makes time for people, is extremely personable, approachable and shows a genuine passion for supporting other individuals’ development. |
| Vicky Soden, Deloitte | A busy mum of three, Vicky is also Deloitte’s Head of Financial Services Relationships and the Client Relationship Director for one of its largest global clients. Working part-time, she leads a large team of relationship specialists across the UK and India, from whom she receives exemplary feedback, and yet still finds time to mentors others, both at Deloitte and beyond. Her passion for mentoring was born from her own experience of returning from her first maternity leave, some 15 years ago, which led to a desire to ‘make things better for those who come after’. Vicky’s submission focuses on ‘doing the right thing for others’ and ensuring every individual can be the best they can be, encouraging and supporting them to take the next step on their own journey. |