On the shortlist: Neil Dunlop

Neil Dunlop has been shortlisted for WIBF’s Mentor of the Year Award in recognition of his exceptional commitment to mentorship, with a particular focus on diversity, inclusion, and professional development. Over the past year, he has guided his mentee through significant career challenges, offering tailored advice, building confidence, and encouraging them to seize opportunities they might otherwise have overlooked.

Neil’s mentoring style is rooted in empathy, practicality, and allyship. Drawing on his own lived experiences, including navigating barriers as someone with Achondroplasia (Dwarfism), he brings a unique perspective to supporting underrepresented groups in the workplace. He is passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces where people feel heard, supported, and empowered to progress in their careers.

For Neil, mentoring is about more than professional advice – it is about listening, building resilience, and inspiring confidence. His ability to break challenges into manageable steps, often with fresh analogies or creative perspectives, has left a lasting impact on his mentee’s growth and development.

We caught up with him to find out more.

How does it feel to be nominated for this award?

It’s a real honour to be nominated especially knowing it came from my mentee. That means a great deal to me.

A year or two ago, I saw a male colleague being recognised as a mentor within the Women’s Network, and it really struck a chord. Not because he was male, but because it showed that allyship and meaningful support can come from anyone. It made me reflect on how I could contribute too, and that moment stayed with me.

Everyone nominated has made a difference in their own way, and that’s something we should all feel proud of. Mentoring isn’t always about big, dramatic gestures it’s often the small, consistent support that helps someone grow. What’s truly rewarding is knowing that your mentee might carry that forward and support others in turn. That ripple effect is what makes mentoring so powerful.

Mentoring has become a very fulfilling part of my career. It wasn’t something I actively sought out at first, but once I started, I saw how much impact even a simple conversation can have. Being nominated for this award has given me a chance to reflect on that journey and on the people, who’ve helped shape it along the way.

“Mentoring is often about small, consistent support – the ripple effect is what makes it so powerful.”

Your nomination mentions the tailored insights you share from your own career journey. How do you strike the balance between offering guidance and letting your mentees find their own path?

I’ve faced a lot of barriers in my own life, even since the protections of the Equality Act. That’s why I always try to approach mentoring with empathy and practicality. I often ask: what are the barriers stopping you from getting where you want to be? Which ones are easy to fix, and which will take more time or support? Then we break them down and figure out what’s needed whether it’s a course, a conversation, or just a bit of encouragement.

I also use visual analogies ones I share not just with my mentee, but with friends too. We’ve all heard the classic phrases like “take one step at a time,” and while they’re well-meaning, they can become so familiar that we stop really thinking about what they mean. That’s why I like to freshen them up or create new ones sometimes quite random! If I can mentally picture them and they help me make sense of things, then hopefully they’ll help my mentee too. And if not, at least they spark a useful conversation.

One I often use is the motorway analogy. The motorway represents your long-term career journey from Point A to Point B. That destination is always there, even if the road ahead isn’t fully visible yet. Running alongside it is an A-road, which represents the short-term steps and experiences like passing through towns along the way.

Sometimes, you must come off the motorway. It might not make sense at the time, but those detours whether it’s taking on a project, doing a training course, or exploring a different role can offer valuable experience and help build confidence. The key is knowing the motorway is still running parallel. You can always find your way back to it when the time is right.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, so I try to help my mentee keep things in manageable chunks. Career development doesn’t have to be a sprint it’s about steady progress, reflection, and building resilience along the way.

What do you think mentors can do to help break down barriers that underrepresented groups often face?

I was born with Achondroplasia (Dwarfism), and I’ve faced barriers my entire life. Unfortunately, barriers whether related to gender, race, disability, or other factors will always exist to some extent. But they don’t have to define us.

As mentors, we can help by preparing our mentees for what might happen and supporting them in navigating or confronting those challenges. It’s about building resilience and encouraging them not to get disheartened when a barrier appears. Instead, question it, raise awareness, and if needed speak to someone more senior. It’s not always easy but having someone in your corner makes a big difference.

I’ve had mentors who helped me navigate difficult conversations or moments of doubt. That’s why I try to be that person for someone else especially when they feel like they don’t belong or aren’t being heard. Sometimes, just knowing someone has your back can give you the confidence to speak up or take that next step.

Male allies play a crucial role in advancing gender equity in the workplace. How do you see your role as a mentor supporting women and other underrepresented groups?

I’m part of an underrepresented group myself, and I’ve seen firsthand how important allyship is. Supporting gender equality also helps raise awareness around disability and other forms of diversity. The more allies we have across all areas the quicker we can break down the remaining barriers.

As a mentor, I see my role as helping others feel seen, heard, and supported, regardless of their background. It’s about creating safe spaces where people can be themselves, ask questions, and grow without fear of judgment. Allyship isn’t just about speaking up it’s about listening, learning, and showing up consistently.

What have you personally gained from being a mentor – whether in terms of perspective, skills, or leadership style?

I found myself speaking to my mentee like I would to a friend encouraging them when needed and helping them think things through. When a decision had to be made, I’d ask small, open-ended questions like “What if?” or “Do you think this would work?” just enough to guide their thinking without influencing the outcome.

It helped me develop a more thoughtful and supportive approach to leadership. Mentoring has also helped me grow personally. It’s made me more reflective, more patient, and more aware of the different ways people approach challenges. I’ve learned that listening is just as important as advice and that sometimes, the best support you can offer is simply being there.

“Sometimes, just knowing someone has your back gives you the confidence to take the next step.”

What would you say to colleagues who feel they don’t have the time or experience to mentor, but might actually have more to offer than they realise?

That was me. I used to think I had to be a Senior Manager before I could even consider mentoring. I was focused on progressing through Operations plus, I had my day-to-day job to manage. I didn’t think I had the time or the experience.

Then someone pointed out that mentoring only takes an hour or two a month. That really shifted my thinking. Everyone has valuable experience, it’s not about your title, it’s about what makes you, you. Think about how often you help a friend by offering advice mentoring is just an extension of that.

If you’ve ever supported a colleague, helped someone prepare for an interview, or just listened when they needed to talk you’ve already started mentoring. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to care, be curious, and be willing to share what you’ve learned along the way.