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Back Posted on: 22 January 2025

This National Mentoring Month, we're sharing the story of two colleagues who embody what mentorship means at Alchemy: Siobhan McCafferty, HR Business Partner, and Enya O'Doherty, Marketing.


Where It All Began

Both Siobhan and Enya started their Alchemy journey through Ulster University's Talent Hub, an initiative connecting talented students with local employers to help them build their professional networks whilst committing future talent to the North West Region.


Siobhan says “"My mentoring journey has a particularly meaningful connection for me—my mentee, Enya, came to Alchemy through the same path as myself. Enya joined us through Ulster University's Talent Hub for her placement year, mirroring my own entry to Alchemy. This shared experience created an immediate point of connection between us."


Enya shares similar thoughts “As the first person to welcome me to Alchemy, Siobhan quickly became a trusted guide who has helped me expand my perspective and approach to work. Having joined Alchemy 4 years before me, Siobhan has demonstrated the kind of professional and personal growth that inspires me daily. Her leadership abilities, thoughtful approach to challenges, and comprehensive understanding of the business continue to serve as a model for my own professional development.”


Learning Goes Both Ways

The strength of their pairing lies in the mutual learning they share. The cross-functional mentor mentee pair learn from each other, their unique insights bringing fresh perspectives to their work.


"During our mentoring sessions, I often find myself genuinely appreciative of Enya's perspective and advice. Her marketing insights have opened my eyes to new ways of thinking about challenges and opportunities, particularly in how we approach people-focused initiatives. What stands out is her ability to bring fresh viewpoints that help me see situations through a different lens," Siobhan explains.


For Enya, these sessions have helped build her confidence: "Working with Siobhan has encouraged deeper self-reflection, particularly when setting and pursuing my professional goals. Through our discussions, she has helped me uncover strengths I hadn't recognised in myself, giving me the confidence to further develop these capabilities. What makes her mentorship especially effective is her balanced approach – while she excels at building confidence and reaffirming abilities, she also creates a safe space for honest discussions about areas for growth."


Beyond One-on-One Mentoring

At Alchemy, mentorship extends beyond individual pairs. All mentor and mentees are part of a wider group of employees who meet regularly, providing a cascading model of mentoring from Director and Platinum to Bronze. The aim of these groups is to drive successful mentoring relationships through regular communication, advice and signposting. This approach helps create genuine connections throughout Alchemy.


Enya describes it this way: "The mentorship programme at Alchemy has been a huge part of fostering inclusion and belonging throughout the company. Outside of our mentor and mentee pairing, we have a dedicated mentor group that stretches from all levels to the organisation up to the senior leadership team and our board. This format means you know people in close proximity throughout the organisation, have space to have conversations through our mentor head meetings for open discussion about things happening in the business and sometimes just to catch-up and grab some food."


Siobhan adds: "Mentoring isn't just a programme at Alchemy– it really is woven into our organisational culture. As a mentor myself, I'm also mentored by a member of our Senior Leadership Team and Board, creating a continuous chain of learning and development. As a company, we are committed to open and honest dialogue that mirrors the transparent communication we encourage at all levels of the business. The multi-level mentoring approach creates a cascade effect of positive cultural influence. This commitment from the top demonstrates that continuous learning and development are truly valued, not just talked about."


Building Bridges Across Teams

This mentorship approach helps different departments work better together. As Enya explains: "The mentorship programme plays a key role in fostering a collaborative culture, particularly through its emphasis on knowledge sharing. My mentorship with Siobhan has shown me this – it's truly a two-way exchange that benefits us both. Siobhan's guidance has helped me navigate both team-level dynamics and broader organisational relationships. What's stands out is how this model creates a ripple effect: the best practices and knowledge shared through these relationships strengthen connections across areas of the business, creating a more cohesive work environment."


Siobhan sees the same benefits: "The cross-functional learning between my HR background and Enya's marketing expertise exemplifies how Alchemy encourages diverse perspectives and collaborative growth. The mentoring relationships create a continuous cycle of development, where both mentor and mentee grow, while also contributing to the growth of the wider organisation."


Creating Space for Constructive Feedback

Their regular catch-ups have become a cornerstone of their mentor mentee relationship. "In our biweekly mentoring sessions, Siobhan creates a comfortable environment where feedback feels like a natural part of our conversation rather than criticism. I find it helpful to take notes during our discussions, which lets me reflect on her insights and track my progress over time. When she shares feedback, I ask specific questions to understand her perspective better and identify practical ways to implement her suggestions," Enya shares.


Siobhan emphasises the importance of trust: "I strive to ensure that feedback is always given in a way that's supportive. It's important to me that Enya feels supported in her growth, and that the feedback we exchange comes from a genuine place of trust and desire for development."


Looking Forward

Siobhan and Enya's story shows how mentorship at Alchemy goes beyond career guidance. It's about building relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. Their experience highlights why having mentor groups at all levels matters – it helps create a community where learning and growth happen naturally. As we mark National Mentoring Month, we're reminded that great mentoring isn't just about helping others succeed – it's about growing together as a community.