From the CEO: Our mentor program this year is a bit Oprah, a lot Phil Collins

Feeling like I’ve added value is a great feeling. Be this to a person, a group, a business, whomever, knowing that because of me someone or something is doing a little bit better is for me soul enriching.

I’m confident this is also the case for everyone who participated in MEA’s mentor program this year. The insight we’ve gained in post program analysis suggests all stakeholder groups viewed being involved as a win. Our mentees have walked away happy. Our mentors have walked away happy. Our program sponsor Tourism Australia – thanks so much for your support – is happy. MEA is happy.

It reminds me of the iconic Oprah episode: “You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!”, only in our case ‘car’ = ‘fulfilment’. In fact, almost 90% of this year’s mentees and mentors have expressed their intention to maintain their mentoring relationship post-program.

First launched in 2008, the program has not lost its relevance for our sector. The uncertainty created in one of the industry’s toughest times meant that demand and need for professional support was probably stronger than it’s been since inception.

When we asked what participants gained from being involved, summarily they told us they now had increased understanding, boosted confidence, a more lateral perspective, critical analysis skills, informed tips, a renewed sense of usefulness, and new professional contacts.

Some of the specific comments we received were:

“One of the joys of being a 'senior' in the event industry is one's capacity to connect with a younger generation. The sharing of ideas, concepts and creativity gives spark to one's ongoing event journey.”

“I have absolutely loved the mentoring program and getting support from someone with more experience and external to my own organisation. It made me feel so supported.”

“I met an amazing mentor through the MEA Mentor Program who helped me work through my objectives and consider certain situations from a very different perspective. This program challenged my way of thinking and helped me grow as a leader. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to challenge themselves and improve.”

“This program gave me confidence that my experience and knowledge - of events and life in general - was relevant and vastly helpful to somebody else; I also found a new colleague who will continue to be a contact we will welcome helping each other into the future.”

“The MEA mentoring program provides the necessary wrap around support that enables professional conversations to occur naturally.”

“The program is a great way to meet someone new, share knowledge and workshop possible solutions to challenges that everyone is likely to encounter at some stage in their career.”

Every single mentor and mentee who responded to the evaluation questionnaire said that they would recommend the program to a colleague. That’s a literal 100% endorsement. I suggest making a mental note that if your soul’s feeling a little depleted come the time we bring the program back to market for 2023 rollout, MEA will have the opportunity for you. Whether that will be helping or being helped – and from what we saw again this year the helper actually ends up getting helped themselves without realising when they started that they needed it – we’re confident you’ll walk away feeling better for it if you sign up.

Loyalty is a virtue I hold strongly. The prospect of someone beyond your family having your back is very reassuring. Maybe it’s why I like the Tarzan theme song You’ll be in my heart by Phil Collins so much. The lyrics include:

My arms will hold you
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here don't you cry

It’s used is used in a scene when Tarzan's adoptive gorilla mother Kala seeks to comfort and bolster him and watch over him as he grows. Sounds like a good analogy anthem for this year’s mentoring program participant experience to me.

Source: Song – “You'll Be in My Heart”

Artist – Phil Collins

Album – “Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack”