Why Mentoring is Important
Returning to Tunisia after a decade was an amazing experience. In the last week, I was part of the kickoff of the OUISSAL program the second time as a mentor. We were a group of twenty-four strong women making twelve mentor-mentee tandems.
One of the most exciting moments of the whole program so far was the “reveal” of the mentor/mentee tandems. I arrived in Tunisia not knowing who my mentee will be, the industry or business she is in or the challenges she is facing.
Learning About my Mentee
She is an early joiner in a SaaS startup catering to the needs of small retailers and restaurants in Tunisia. As a young professional she needs to grow quickly into a senior role in a growing business.
Understanding her as a person is just as important as understanding her business. Building trust was key for our mentoring relationship. I want her to feel safe to share her thoughts and struggles with me.
We also focused on learning about her professional side:
- What her role is in the business
- The important projects and topics she was handling
- Any special or challenging aspects
- How to tackle these challenges
How Can I Support Her?
Mainly by asking the right questions, providing a safe environment, sharing my own experiences and learnings and being available to talk when there is a need.
We also quickly realized why we were paired together. We both are working in positions with lots of interfaces, juggling different requests from various sides and having to make the connections and finding the optimal way forward for the business.
Topics like Customer Value Proposition, Go-to-Market plans, and Design Thinking were our common ground and discussing on how to come up with prioritization on the product market fit journey of a startup.
Looking ahead, the next twelve months will be an interesting journey.
Difference Between Mentoring and Coaching
In mentoring, it's essential to understand the difference between mentoring and coaching. Mentoring is more about sharing experiences and giving guidance based on personal experiences and providing a safe space. It's like a big sister or friend offering advice. On the other hand, coaching is more about specific skills and tasks. It’s like a sports coach helping you improve your game. In my mentoring role, I aim to share my experiences and help my mentee grow based on what I've been through.
Building Strong Relationships
Building a strong relationship on a personal level is key. It's not just about work – it's about understanding each other as people. Listening and sharing personal stories helped us connect beyond our professional roles. It's about creating a comfortable space where we can talk openly. Building this personal connection makes the mentoring journey more meaningful and allows us to understand each other better. It's like building a friendship where trust and understanding are the pillars holding it all together.
The program wasn’t just about mentorship. It allowed us to connect with different people such as the German ambassador to Tunisia, representatives from AHK and learn more about Tunisia.
I believe this experience will stay with us for a long time, no matter what happens in the future.
Feeling Grateful
I'm grateful for this experience, which has left me with a lasting impact. The lessons I learned and the friendships I made are reminders of the incredible things that happen when women come together to help and empower each other. My heart is still full of joy about the incredible energy we had throughout the whole week and the lovely new connections I made.
To the amazing women I met through this program: your strength, dedication, and passion are inspiring. Our shared journey shows the power of women supporting each other.
Love you all, Ladies!