Mentoring Across Borders
User Case Study
At Pladis, mentoring supports professional growth and connection across global teams. Rupa, based in Australia, became a mentor to share her experience, while Maria in the UK sought support stepping into her first leadership role.
Results
The mentoring relationship accelerated Maria’s progression into management, supported her through an MBA, and led to valuable international connections, including a visit to the Sydney office. Both continue to benefit from the ongoing exchange of insights and support.
Rupa
What inspired you to sign up as a mentor?
I've always been passionate about helping others, watching them grow, flourish, and learn. I've also been very lucky to have had formal and informal mentors in my career and so I believe in the power of mentorship. pladis is a company filled with incredible people and opportunities. I believe my positive experience here should be shared, especially with aspiring colleagues who are eager to grow and thrive.
What benefits have you seen from being in the mentoring relationship?
Being in a mentoring relationship has brought so many benefits. Personally, it's helped me grow my communication and leadership skills. There's nothing quite like seeing someone you've mentored succeed. Professionally, it's expanded my network and opened new opportunities especially since I am geographically based in Australia. I've also gained fresh perspectives and insights from my mentee Maria, which has been invaluable for my own learning. Overall, helping others achieve their goals has made my job even more satisfying and purposeful.
Maria
What inspired you to sign up as a mentee?
I am very big on learning and development, and I have always seen the mentoring relationship as something that the managerial relationship cannot offer. I see a mentor as being a true guide and someone who I aspire to be one day, and that's how I see Rupa.
What benefits have you seen from being in the mentoring relationship?
Oh – countless benefits, but I am going to mention two. First of all, coaching. Rupa has been superb at supporting me in the transition into my very first leadership role as Harlesden Regional Finance Manager. Secondly, networking. I have been so lucky to be able to travel to Australia in late 2024 and meet the pladis team based in Sydney. Mentoring has opened the doors to international professional connections and is facilitating my desire to move abroad within the business.
How did you find using the mentoring platform?
The platform was very easy to use. I was able to see all the mentors available at that point in time and selected the one who best matched my needs. Then rest is history... :)
What impact on your career do you think the mentoring will have?
Being mentored by a senior leader within the business is having a big impact on my career. Even though we do not work directly together (I do cost her Australian Digestives though...), I know how much she values me as a person and as a leader at the beginning of her career. In multiple occasions, she showcased me and my achievements to senior leaders, and she is doing everything in her power to support me in my next career move. It's crazy to think how strong our relationship is when we live on the opposite side of the world!
Broadly what sort of challenges did you work on with your mentor, did you set any goals?
Me and Rupa set SMART objectives right from the start when I was in my old role within the Procurement Finance team. We started working on communication and presentation skills initially and then we focused on managerial and leadership ones. I told Rupa that my goal was to become a line manager in the next 3 years and, also thanks to her, this happened only 1 year after joining pladis, in another function. Even though she had just come back from her maternity leave, she was there right from the start and supported me in what I considered to have been some of the toughest months in my life as I took on a completely new leadership and managerial role and started a part-time MBA – all at the same time! We are now working towards my next career goal – which is expanding my direct reports line and making an international move.
What was the outcome of this mentoring relationship?
Our relationship is growing and strengthening with time and right now we are great at supporting each other. I feel so blessed in having Rupa asking me and valuing my advice and points of views in the same way I do with her.
We are two very passionate and driven people – and I couldn't have asked for a better mentor!
