When Graeme Sutherland, of Tourism Property, offered his leadership experience to JCI Illawarra's MentorMe program three years ago he was inspired himself while sharing his knowledge and experience with Soutara Potter.
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Mr Sutherland is now encouraging more business leaders to get involved.
"It has been a very valuable process for me. It provides a real human element to what you are doing professionally," he said.
"The first couple of meetings are about finding out about each other. If you develop that trust it provides the mentee the opportunity to speak about anything they want to do.
"Then as a mentor you can really start to think about how you can add value for the mentee and really get stuck into stuff that matters and is important to the individual.
"And you can help them develop confidence and allow them to believe they can achieve their objectives."
Mr Sutherland said the program really complimented what JCI Illawarra does with personal development and networking.
He said being involved helped him stay in touch with what they emerging generation has to offer and what is important to future leaders.
"And when you get paired off with someone with as much energy and enthusiasm as Soutara that enthusiasm rubs off. We have kept in touch ever since," he said.
"MentorMe is about forging relationships that are meaningful going forward. It was an absolute delight sharing Soutara's journey."
Ms Potter joined the Illawarra branch of Junior Chamber International when she heard about the mentoring initiative from a friend.
She is now enjoying networking and connecting with 30 other JCI members and continues to benefit from the contact she made with Mr Sutherland three years ago.
"Being as young as I was at the time I was a bit hesitant at first but I decided just to go for it," she said.
"I was in the second last year of my undergraduate degree. It gave me that confidence to actually apply for jobs and internships.
I wish I knew about this in my first year at uni. It would have given me confidence earlier on
- Mentee Soutara Potter
"The value I got from the program has helped move me forward in JCI and I am now on the Board.
"Without MentorMe I would never have had the opportunity to do that and all the personal and professional development that comes with being a member of JCI."
Ms Potter is now doing a masters in public health.
"I am studying full time and also holding down three casual jobs," she said.
"And I am on the organising committee this year for MentorMe."
Ms Potter is encouraging other university students to consider joining JCI and doing the MentorMe program.
"I wish I knew about this in my first year. It would have given me confidence earlier on," she said.
JCI Illawarra vice president and Stockland Shellharbour retail manager Amy Lewis said the MentorMe program is presently calling for mentors and mentees.
Ms Lewis, Stockland Shellharbour's retail manager, said JCI also provides opportunities for emerging leaders to engage with their community, through volunteering networking, and professional development.
She said the structured mentoring program opened to expressions of interest in mid May and will launch on June 9.
It will then run until September 15 and over the 13 weeks mentors will meet mentees regularly to offer advice and guidance.
"How often they meet is up to them. The expectation is that over three months they will at least meet six times but everyone's schedule is different," she said.
"We have people who go on walks or have coffees, lunches or breakfasts."
Anyone interested in being involved can complete an expression of interest form before June 4.
Ms Lewis said it was great to be able to offer the mentoring face-to-face again after COVID.
"Last year we ran it a discounted rate and made it virtual," she said.
"We did this whole content distribution where people were paired with their mentor virtually and then we gave them topics to talk about.
"While it was very successful. This year is obviously going to be a lot better because you always get more out of meeting face-to-face."
This year mentors will be matched to mentees after the launch on June 9.
"We already have five mentors and the goal is to get between 13 and 15," Ms Lewis said.
"We are also really trying to push for mentee applications. To be a mentee you have to be a member of JCI. The Illawarra chapter presently has just over 30 members."
Some mentees from the past have gone on to represent the Illawarra branch on the national board and become mentors themselves.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
