WIBF Mentoring and Lloyds Banking Group

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) recently hosted a mentoring panel event at their London office in the Barbican, which had over 50 attendees. The event was a huge success, allowing attendees to learn more about a mentoring relationship from the perspective of a mentee, as well as the mentoring programme itself. A follow up event is scheduled for 23 May, so please keep an eye out for this.

Nicola Mills – Head of Personal Banking Performance & Operations for LBG was on this panel. She has also kindly agreed to share some insights below, from the perspective of a WIBF mentee:

Why did you join the WIBF mentoring programme?

I was looking to broaden my skill set, I saw that WIBF offered an external mentor and I felt this was the right time for me explore this option as I’d never had an external mentor before.

What did you gain most from the WIBF mentoring programme?

External mentoring opened up my thinking and personal development opportunities. The mentoring also opened up my networking options externally.

Did you set objectives at the outset of the mentoring programme with your mentor or adopt another approach? 

Yes when I first met my mentor my focus was about looking at career progression, personal branding and assessing how do I make the next step to a more senior role within the business. As a result my mentoring session has then evolved to me completing a development programme all around shifting my mindset and removing personal barrier that prevented me from putting myself forward.

How frequently did you meet your mentor?

Initially we met fortnightly. However, during the 6 weeks of my development programme, this moved to weekly.

What is the one thing you find most rewarding about the WIBF mentoring programme?

The opening up of possibilities – gaining additional confidence that anything is possible, I have come away feeling more empowered personally.

What advice would you give someone thinking about getting a mentor, either via the WIBF mentoring programme or other route?

I’d hugely recommend a mentor both internally and externally and the guidance and support is invaluable. The key, I believe, to a successful mentoring relationship is being clear on what it is you really want to achieve which enables the mentor to best support you.

In addition, two more LBG colleagues have also shared their insights from the perspective of the mentor.

Kwaku Osafo – Head of Economic Crime Prevention & Money Laundering Reporting Officer

What inspired you to become a mentor?

The opportunity to give to others what other people have generously given to me along my career – their time, a listening ear and lessons from their life experiences.

What is your number 1 piece of advice to anyone who wants to become a mentor?

Get to know the person you are mentoring. Not just who they are at work but outside of work. People are a product of our whole environment, most of which is shaped outside of work.

What do you think a mentor can gain from a mentoring relationship?

Mentoring is more than a one-way sharing of advice. A mentor can learn more and broaden their thinking by being exposed to different views and perspectives. Mentoring also develops you as an enabler of people. It helps you to listen and work together with the mentee to apply their learnings through who they are and their natural traits.   

What is the one thing you find most rewarding about the WIBF mentoring programme?

Working together with someone in an area they want to develop and seeing them fulfil what they set out to achieve.  

Carla Wilde – Senior Manager, Schroders Personal Wealth Customer & Colleague Experience

What inspired you to become a mentor? 

Know the value of mentoring for me personally and everyone, and love to be involved and make a difference.

What is your number 1 piece of advice to anyone who wants to become a mentor?

Go for it, so long as you have some time to offer, get involved.

What do you think a mentor can gain from a mentoring relationship?

Two-way benefits – a mentor gains new perspective and insights, as well as the satisfaction of supporting someone with whatever they need.

What is the one thing you find most rewarding about the WIBF mentoring programme?

Making a difference in whatever way the mentee is looking for (or sometimes now), I’m delighted to have helped with confidence in my mentee re-entering the workplace post Covid and now they are doing brilliant things.

Any other feedback on the programme itself? 

Good framework, well managed with freedom for a unique mentoring relationship.

Mentoring is without a doubt a beneficial two-way street offering immeasurable value to both the mentor and mentee. If this sounds like something you would like to become involved in, please sign up here.

No prior experience of mentoring is required. All that WIBF asks is that you commit to a minimum of 1 hour per month for 6 months.