Your Shortcut to Growth: What Mentors Wish You Knew

9 Dec 2024, 3:00 AM By Siew Ching

Ever wondered how a mentorship can shape your career? We spoke to CGC staffers who’ve experienced both sides – as mentees and mentors – and learned why they believe in paying it forward.

Mentorship can feel like a buzzword, but for those who’ve embraced it, it’s a game-changer. It’s not just about career advice – it’s about connection, growth, and sometimes, life-changing guidance.

For Nazral Safril, Chief Human Resources Officer at CGC, mentorship played a pivotal role in shaping his career. Reflecting on his early days, he shared, “During the early stage of my career, my then-boss would always push me to improve myself. I was fresh out of college with a diploma, and she was doing her Master’s. She often asks, ‘Nazral, when are you going to do your degree?’ I’d brush it off, but she was insistent, saying, ‘If I can do my Master’s, why not you?”

Eventually, he took her advice and pursued his degree. But she didn’t stop there. “When I needed more time to complete my degree, she pushed me to complete it sooner. She said I’d see the difference when I graduated – and she was right. My career progressed quickly after that. I owe it all to her,” shared Nazral.

This belief in mentorship is echoed across CGC, where many employees credit their growth to these invaluable relationships. It's also why they advocate for fresh graduates to actively seek mentorship opportunities.

Why Mentorship Matters
Ariff Fahmi, Lead Strategy at CGC Digital, emphasised on the importance of guidance when starting out. “When you enter a new environment, you need someone to guide you and provide knowledge. Mentorship accelerates your transition into new territory. Plus, it creates a sense of safety and support for employees, which can help with staff retention,” he explained.

For Uma Mageswary, Head of Compliance, mentorship is crucial for helping young graduates find their footing. “When you start out, you don’t know everything. Even if you are a first-class honours graduate, what you learn in university might not apply to the corporate world. You need someone to guide you, especially in navigating things like communication, presentation, and corporate etiquette. CEOs and senior management have done the hours; to emulate them, you need to learn from their experience. This is where mentorship comes in.”

A Two-Way Street
Interestingly, all three CGC leaders agree that mentorship isn’t just beneficial for mentees – it’s a learning experience for mentors too. Nazral describes this as “reverse mentorship.” “It doesn’t mean that just because I am a leader, I know everything. Leaders can seek guidance from their mentees to help make better decisions. Plus, working with individuals who have diverse perspectives helps you build skills like adaptability and people management,” he shared.

Uma highlighted how mentorship helps shape better leaders. “As a mentor, you’re nurturing your team. You are there to support them and help them succeed. Through this process, you develop key leadership skills.”

Ariff also finds value in the mentor-mentee dynamic, especially in learning from younger generations. “I admire Gen Z for their digital skills, and this is something I can leverage as a mentor. In return, I share my experience in navigating the corporate world. Everyone gains something in this relationship.”

Seize It To Reap It!
Having a mentor is one thing, but making the most of that relationship? That’s when the magic happens. A mentor can open doors, share insights, and guide you through challenges – but only if you’re ready to engage and commit.

Ariff’s advice is simple: “You need to be proactive. When a mentor invests in you, take that opportunity. That is when you can fully benefit from their knowledge, experience, and networking opportunities.”

Uma’s tip for mentees is equally straightforward: Ask questions. When I was a mentee, I wish I had asked more. If you don’t ask, you won’t know. Don’t hold back. Take every chance to learn.”

Watch the full podcast on YouTube or Spotify.

Photo by Diana Parkhouse on Unsplash.

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