Career decisions made at a young age can have a lasting impact, yet many students are expected to make important choices based on limited information and exposure to the realities of different professions.
Through her early-career mentoring programme, Di works with young people at critical points in their education and career development, helping them better understand their strengths, explore possibilities and make informed decisions about their future.
This mentoring relationship began when a highly capable 17-year-old student approached her future with complete certainty. She had one goal in mind: to become a pilot.
Challenge
While ambition and clarity can be powerful drivers, they can also mask important unanswered questions.
In this case, the challenge was not a lack of direction but a lack of exposure. Diya had developed a strong vision of her future career but had not yet had the opportunity to fully explore the practical realities of the profession or consider how well it aligned with the life she ultimately wanted to build.
At the same time, her strengths in mathematics, physics and economics suggested a much broader range of opportunities than she had considered.
The goal was not to persuade her away from a chosen path, but to ensure that whatever decision she made was informed, intentional and aligned with both her strengths and aspirations.
Approach
Rather than offering advice from a distance, Di focused on creating meaningful opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Recognising that first-hand insight would be far more valuable than speculation, she arranged for the student to speak directly with a professional pilot. The conversation provided an honest view of the profession, including the lifestyle, commitments and realities often overlooked by those considering the career from the outside.
That discussion became a catalyst for deeper reflection. Together, they explored a wider range of options that better aligned with the student's natural strengths and interests, particularly within STEM and analytical fields.
The support then moved beyond career exploration into practical preparation. Di worked closely with her mentee to build confidence, identify opportunities and prepare for internships and competitive recruitment processes, including interview preparation for Citibank.
Throughout the process, the focus remained on helping the student make decisions for herself, while providing the challenge, encouragement and perspective needed to do so with confidence.
Outcome
The mentoring relationship helped transform a narrow career ambition into a much broader understanding of future possibilities.
Armed with greater self-awareness and a clearer understanding of her strengths, the student pursued opportunities that were more closely aligned with her interests, capabilities and long-term goals.
Beyond individual career decisions, the experience also helped build confidence, resilience and decision-making skills that continue to influence her professional development today.
Several years later, she still describes the mentoring relationship as one of the most significant influences on her career journey.
Testimonial
“I met Di when I was 17 at a time when I felt certain about my future. I was determined to become a pilot. She challenged me to explore it properly and introduced me to a professional pilot. That conversation completely changed my perspective and I realised both the realities of the career and that it wasn’t the right fit for the life I wanted.
The way she invests herself and understands her mentees, it completely stands out. She was helping me find the right path, not just any path and knowing my strengths in maths, physics and economics, she opened my eyes to a range of STEM and analytical career options that I hadn’t seriously considered before.
She didn’t stop at advice, she took action. She guided me through the process of preparing for internships and personally helped me get ready for a Citibank interview, supporting me every step of the way.
Her belief in me gave me confidence and she is still someone I think about when I think of a good mentor – she is exemplary.
In hindsight, she didn’t just mentor me, she changed the direction of my career in the best possible way. Her ability to listen, challenge and guide with genuine care is something truly special. I can’t recommend her enough to anyone looking for honest, insightful and impactful mentorship.”