““If I had one word to describe Moving Ahead, it would be ‘transformative’.”

In 2021, Mary Yun, Senior Vice President, Data Platform, Technology at Brown Brothers Harriman, became a mentor for Moving Ahead’s 30% Club cross-company mentoring programme. Here, she talks about how she found it “enriching, empowering and fun”.

I really believe in women supporting women and putting women forward in technology. So when I was nominated for Moving Ahead’s 30% Club cross-company mentoring programme by senior leaders within my firm, and was told I was going to be participating, there was a real sense of anticipation. While I haven’t had a professional mentor in the past, I've had many individuals who’ve given me opportunities, who really set an example. And while I’ve previously participated in mentoring programmes in different forms, the maturity of this particular programme really benefited me.

From the start, I really enjoyed how the programme was structured. The cross-company aspect made it very interesting because it was a unique opportunity to get an insight into a different organisation; how they support creative development, as well as the high-potential individuals. And that insight really enriched the conversation.

In a mentoring relationship within your own organisation, even if you're paired with someone who's not in your direct line of management, there's always a perspective that comes into the conversation, influenced by that insider knowledge. Moving Ahead’s 30% Club cross-company mentoring programme was helpful in removing any preconceptions about the way the actual relationships were built in that organisation.

Confidence is key

The matching process between myself and my mentee worked really well; we connected very organically from the beginning. In our case, we’re actually from the same industry; we're both in technology, although in very different roles. So that was helpful because we shared a common interest from the start. But that personal aspect of what drives us, what our values are… in that respect we were both so amazed at how well we were matched. Not in the sense of finishing each other's sentences, but more from the standpoint that we had common drives and interests. And that really helped with our conversations.

In terms of my own learning and growth, the key thing was confidence. I think we underestimate our own experiences a lot of the time, and we're often reluctant to share them. However, by working through problems or situations with our mentees, we can really see the impact it has on them. I think that's a very empowering thing for each of us; whether it's building our own confidence or making a difference to somebody and getting real joy from that experience.

Advice for mentors and mentees

For mentees, and first-time mentors on this programme, I’d say go in with an open mind and don’t have too many expectations. It’s easy to have preconceptions about a mentor or mentee because of their job title, or the experience they have. But when you are paired up in this kind of programme, that mould is broken; you lose the preconceptions and it really allows you to make the most of the relationship.

The other key thing is to be really present when you're meeting. It’s so important to listen intently as a mentor. A lot of times, our minds wander. And when we hear a particular topic, we think about how we should respond, such as how best to relate a particular experience to something you’ve personally gone through. But that’s not the most important thing; we just need to listen and be present for our mentee.

Inclusion and opportunity

For mentees embarking on this programme for the first time, I’d say be brave – just immerse yourself in this experience and think about what it is you're nervous about. Is it about meeting a new person? Perhaps you have a preconception of who your mentor is going to be, and what they're going to be like, because you view them as a senior person. The reality is, I was new at one point in my career, and it’s these common experiences that really bring us together.

This is also about inclusion, about opportunity. Very often, people simply do not get opportunities, whether it’s because of unconscious bias, the way someone looks or the way someone presents, even on paper. If we give someone a chance, we’ll often be pleasantly surprised.

The three words I’d use for my experience on the programme would be enriching, empowering and fun. And if I had one word to describe Moving Ahead it would be ‘transformative’. This was a new experience for me, but these kinds of real-life interactions – which professionally, depending on your role, we may not always encounter – really help you to grow.

The mentoring programme not only impacted me within my work environment, it’s had a positive impact outside of work too. It has challenged me to communicate effectively in new relationships, where having something in common may not be immediately obvious. More importantly, it's built my confidence in what I am doing in areas for diversity and inclusion, as well as women in technology. It has underlined that what I do and what I represent, really does make a difference.

For more information click here or contact Maria.May@moving-ahead.org