At Alchemy, our mentorship programme is more than just a professional development tool—it's a cornerstone of our culture. Today, we delve into the mentorship journey of Daryl Mallett, Mentor, and Ruairi Harkin, Mentee, exploring how this relationship exemplifies our people-first values.
The Power of Connection
Daryl discusses the importance of like-mindedness in mentorship: "I think mentoring works best when you work with like-minded individuals. Ruairi has shown a real eagerness to learn and improve himself since joining Alchemy. We have a lot of similar traits and behaviours, and as such have similar learning styles." This sentiment is echoed by Ruairi, who shares, "When Daryl became my mentor, we instantly clicked as our personalities are very similar. We exchanged goals and aims for my first year at Alchemy, and he has really aided me throughout my journey here."
Fostering Growth and Development
For Daryl, mentoring is a two-way street that benefits both parties. He elaborates, "Mentoring allows the mentor to develop interpersonal skills, teaching skills, and ultimately provide a sense of pride and accomplishment in seeing your mentee develop and start to find their own path." Ruairi has experienced this growth firsthand: "I've become a lot more confident in asking difficult questions, and I've become more comfortable with presenting my skills. Daryl greatly helped me prepare for project interviews and give me an insight into what it would be like."
Key Learnings
Both mentor and mentee emphasise the importance of honesty, patience, and embracing feedback. Daryl points out, "Everyone develops in different ways, at different speeds, and on different paths – it's important to be patient, understanding, and have confidence in yourself and your mentee." Ruairi adds, "Daryl has always asked me to be honest in all situations so that he can accurately help or guide me. Without honesty, there is no trust, and I believe that trust is the foundation for any healthy relationship between a mentor and mentee."
Enhancing Teamwork and Collaboration
Daryl discusses how mentorship contributes to Alchemy's culture: "At Alchemy, we avoid competitive behaviour, instead focusing on pushing each other forward to get the best out of one another, and that's how I approach mentoring." Ruairi highlights the broader impact of the mentorship program: "I believe the mentorship programme significantly enhances teamwork and collaboration within Alchemy's organisational culture, particularly through monthly mentor group meetings."
Constructive Feedback and Goal Setting
The pair utilises Alchemy's Career Development Plan for structured feedback and goal setting. Daryl explains, "We attain quarterly feedback and log all data into our professional development plan. The best way to deliver or action anything is in person or over a call." Ruairi appreciates this approach: "I really like Daryl's approach as he praises me on any positive feedback I received, but we really delve into my constructive feedback and what I can improve on."
Creating a Sense of Belonging
For Ruairi, the mentorship program eased his transition into Alchemy: "It's never easy walking into a new job not knowing anyone, it's daunting and scary. However, I really didn't experience this when I joined Alchemy. Everyone is so welcoming, and having a familiar face from the start really helps." Daryl recognises this as a crucial aspect of mentoring: "I think mentoring helps to alleviate some of the imposter syndrome or early day stress some people get when starting a new role or a new company. It provides you with a safety net and someone to turn to whenever things get stressful or difficult."
The mentorship journey of Daryl and Ruairi exemplifies how Alchemy's Mentorship programme aligns with our values, creating a supportive environment where every Alchemist can truly shine. It demonstrates the power of mentorship in unlocking potential, fostering personal and professional growth, and building a strong, inclusive community within our organisation.