“

From my perspective the year has been very enjoyable and productive. I have certainly gained insights from our discussions and also been required to reflect upon and contemplate a variety of career aspects — both tangible and intangible — which all go into the pot of, for want of a better phrase, ‘succeeding on your terms in a world where you do not set the rules’. Our discussions have been very enjoyable and we have enjoyed each other’s company. We intend to continue the mentoring discussions. Great program — congratulations!

“

I have really enjoyed and value the mentoring I have received this year and doing the mentee program in parallel has been a great way to mirror those to provide benefit to others and improve my leadership skills along the way. I have discovered that there is value in having the mentee provide written feedback to the mentor after each session listing the key takeaways and what they would like to touch on in the next session.

“

I highly rated the SoCLA mentoring program. Personally, I found it to be the most valuable mentoring program I have been involved in to date. SoCLA’s ability to connect and tap into highly experienced individuals makes for a highly valuable program for the mentee. The program is accessible to non-lawyers.

“

Now in my second year of mentoring with SoCLA, I continue to be impressed with the knowledge and enthusiasm the mentees bring to the conversations. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to share the knowledge I have gained over my career and look forward to being a mentor for many years into the future.

“

I find mentoring very rewarding because not only do I get to share the hard lessons that I have learned in the last 25 years to hopefully ease and smooth the path to success for the mentees, but I learn a lot from the mentees as well. I invariably develop a genuine relationship with my mentees which I value.

“

It is beneficial having someone who I can talk to about my career aspirations outside of my workplace. My mentor is very easy to talk with and it is nice having a third-party perspective. More broadly, the mentoring program is prompting me to take stock of my career. It is easy to become so busy with day-to-day work that one forgets to look up and see the big picture. Having regular mentoring check-ins is keeping me on track.

“

I have always endeavoured to be a good mentor and to pass down my knowledge and experience to our future generations and leaders of tomorrow. I was therefore inspired to participate in the SoCLA Mentorship Programme, which I personally found to be incredibly fulfilling and humbling. I highly recommend the programme to everyone involved in construction disputes, mentors and mentees alike.

“

The mentoring program has been a blessing in that direction, as it shed light on a lot of focus areas. A special thanks and a huge shout out to my mentor for his time and effort, constant guidance and industry insights. I am already looking forward to being part of future programs. Thanks also to the SoCLA team for managing the structure, timing and the flexibility of the program so well.

“

I found the SoCLA mentorship program highly valuable for developing my knowledge and expanding my professional network. In every meeting, new ideas and aspects of the construction industry were discussed, tailored to the student’s areas of interest. I was also able to identify new skills to develop as part of my professional development. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is considering it.

“

I am fortunate to have participated in the SoCLA Mentoring Program and, in particular, to have had the opportunity to meet and learn from a very senior and respected member of the legal profession. I am grateful for the time that Caroline took to speak with me about career development and change. Caroline’s honest guidance and encouragement remains invaluable and motivates me to be ambitious and aim high.

“

It was a pleasure to participate as a mentor in the SoCLA mentoring program. I found the experience rewarding and I greatly enjoyed my meetings with my mentee. I look forward to participating again as a mentor.

“

Mentoring of young members of SoCLA across the professions is at the core of its objectives. The structured approach that has been implemented provides a clear guide for the participants and encourages their participation. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to share ideas and encourage initiatives for professional development of younger members of SoCLA. I look forward to further involvement.

“

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the SoCLA Mentoring Program. The mentoring experience offered me a fresh perspective on our industry and the profession and another connection with the next generation of practitioners. I am hopeful that the exchange of information and experiences was mutually beneficial. SoCLA is to be commended for this initiative and I would recommend it to all.

“

Participating as a mentee for the first time in the SoCLA mentoring program was a privilege that I will forever cherish. Fortunately for myself, I was able to collaborate with my assigned mentor, plus via an informal arrangement, with a previous mentee of theirs also — such a great honour. What a fantastic opportunity for this Construction Management student to engage with knowledgeable, accomplished industry leaders who were generous with their time, and graciously engaged in a diverse range of topics enabling open conversations which challenged, complemented, reinforced and supported my comprehension of the industry, former employment and studies; and ultimately improved upon mechanisms I had previously applied to elevate my efforts and direction. Part of my future successes will always be attributable to knowledge gained during this endeavour.

Whilst the thoughts of partaking were intimidating at first, my mentors proved very approachable and welcoming. Scenarios where one can remove the defence shield usually in place to prevent derision or embarrassment are rare — however in this exclusion zone the barrier could be lowered with full knowledge that the experience was a chance to interact and discuss my fears, apprehensions, philosophies and shortcomings, and seek advice on how my mentor’s studies, journey, inhibitions and accomplishments had helped them achieve their dreams and propel them towards their next objectives. It was fantastic to learn of the motivations that inspired my mentors, as they were very authentic in communicating challenges they once faced and techniques they have adopted to conquer obstacles which I encounter and will continue to encounter as I transition from tertiary study to employment.

“

I have been involved in the SoCLA mentoring program since its inception as a mentor. Even though I am a lawyer the mentees selected for me were not lawyers and I found the interaction with the mentees enlightening indeed. It gave me a broader insight into other sections of the construction industry and, most importantly, a better idea of the pressures placed on the younger members of the industry who, I am sure, will be the leaders of the future.

During the period of the mentoring program the construction industry was going through difficult times and we had discussions that extended our thought processes to examine present and future options. We also covered topics such as further education, the nuances of specialisation, paying attention to disruptive technology and work/life balance.

Apart from opening my mind to new ways of thinking I believe that the mentees were better equipped to face the future than if they did not participate in the SoCLA mentoring program. I also feel that the mere fact that they sought to participate was an indication in itself that I was dealing with people who cared for themselves, their professions and the community; who wanted to improve themselves; and who wanted to get the most out of life. I believe that they will.