Mentorship has the power to transform careers and open doors to new opportunities, providing invaluable guidance and support. At Games Global, our Mentorship Programme fosters these meaningful connections, bringing employees together across departments to share insights, build confidence, and inspire growth.

Today, we’re highlighting the perspectives of two mentees, Christene Scott and Jay Kinrade, who share their experiences, lessons learned, and the profound impact their mentorship journeys have had on their personal and professional development.

Q&A with Christene and Jay

Q: What initially attracted you to the mentorship programme?

Christene: I was drawn to the mentorship programme because I wanted guidance in navigating specific challenges in my role. Additionally, I saw it as an opportunity to gain an external perspective, build my confidence, and enhance my professional growth by learning from someone with more experience in areas I aim to develop.

Jay: The mentorship programme sounded like such a brilliant way to learn from someone who’s been there and done it! Plus, the pairing process was so straightforward—no faff, just a simple match based on my goals and interests. Games Global University also has a course on ‘Globalite Mentorship,’ which prepared me for my responsibility as a mentee.

Q: How has the mentorship programme impacted your personal and professional growth and development?

Christene: The mentorship programme has enhanced my confidence in managing upwards and sharpened my people management skills. The guidance and fresh perspective from my mentor have been invaluable, fostering both personal and professional growth. Having a mentor as a sounding board has brought greater clarity and self-awareness.

Jay: It’s been such a positive experience—it’s hard to overstate the impact! On a personal level, I’ve become a lot more confident in my abilities, and on the professional side, it’s given me a clearer vision of where I want to go in my career. My mentor’s guidance has helped me approach challenges with a fresh perspective.

Q: What has been the most valuable aspect of your mentorship relationship, and how did you build trust and rapport with your mentor?

Christene: The most valuable aspect has been the open and honest feedback from my mentor. Their ability to challenge me constructively while providing actionable advice has been profound. Building trust came from consistent communication, active listening, and setting clear expectations early on. Sharing my career aspirations and being vulnerable about my challenges also fostered a deeper connection.

Jay: For me, it’s been honest conversations. My mentor has been fantastic at offering constructive feedback while also taking my past experiences into consideration. We built trust by being open with each other. Plus, we share a bit of a laugh, which makes the whole process feel less formal and more natural.

Q: How have your sessions been structured? Are there any activities or methods that you found particularly effective?

Christene: Our sessions are structured around specific challenges or goals I want to address. We start with a quick recap of progress since the last session, followed by an in-depth discussion of current challenges or specific goals. My mentor often provides actionable takeaways, such as frameworks to try, articles to read, or strategies to implement. One particularly effective method was initiating a 360-degree feedback survey, which provided valuable insights to align my improvement efforts with real needs.

Jay: Our sessions are pretty straightforward—we’d start with a quick catch-up on what’s happened since our last chat, then dive into whatever topic or challenge was top of my mind. One thing that really worked for me was breaking down bigger goals into smaller, actionable steps. We have a very flexible agreement on when we have our meet-ups, which may not be ideal for most, but it works for us!

Q: What is the most valuable piece of advice or guidance you’ve received during this programme?

Christene: The best advice I received from my mentor was to start with a sense check, which I implemented by initiating a 360-degree feedback survey. This provided valuable insights, ensuring my focus areas aligned with others' perspectives rather than being influenced solely by my inner critic. The feedback not only clarified my priorities, but also helped me feel more confident and strengthened trust and collaboration within my team and peers.

Jay: My mentor encouraged me to stop overthinking and start taking action, whether it was reaching out for more responsibilities or speaking up with new ideas or concerns. It’s advice I’ll carry with me throughout my career.

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering joining the mentorship programme?

Christene: Go for it! It’s a unique opportunity to gain tailored guidance and insights that you won’t get elsewhere. Be open, honest, and proactive in sharing your challenges and aspirations. The more you put into the programme, the more you’ll get out of it. It’s also a fantastic way to build meaningful professional relationships that can benefit you long after the programme ends.

Jay: Absolutely go for it! It’s such a supportive environment, and the talent team at Games Global makes it so easy to get started. Be open about what you’re hoping to get out of it, and don’t be shy about asking questions or setting goals. Oh, and having a manager who encourages you to make time for it really helps—it’s worth chatting to them about how it fits into your development plan.

Are you ready to take the leap?

Whether you’re looking for guidance as a mentee or seeking to share your expertise as a mentor, Games Global’s Mentorship Programme offers an incredible opportunity to connect, grow, and inspire. Don’t wait—join the programme today!