Meet winners from City St George’s Professional Mentoring awards ceremony and discover how the scheme prepares students to succeed and break into industry.
City St George’s Professional Mentoring scheme connects students and recent graduates with industry professionals who are passionate about giving back and supporting the next generation. Starting in March and November, the six-month programme helps students develop career skills, boost their confidence, and become highly employable.
Many mentors are City alumni, who are dedicated to guiding students through early career challenges by providing advice from their own journeys. With one-to-one support, students gain insights into their chosen field, the recruitment process, and how to improve their CVs and career plans, giving them the tools to thrive.
Inemesit Emmanuel lands role at City Interaction Lab with guidance from alumni mentor Habibur Rahman.
When Inemesit Emmanuel, MSc Human-Computer Interaction Design, joined City St George’s Professional Mentoring scheme, she felt unsure about how to start her career.
"I signed up because I was feeling pretty lost about how to start my career, especially as an international student. What really drew me to the programme was having someone experienced to guide me through this tricky transition."
Inemesit was paired with Habibur Rahman, a UX Designer at Ford Motor Company and former City St George’s student. Through their mentorship, she gained practical insights.
"Shadowing Habibur at Ford was a wonderful experience. I got to see how theoretical concepts from my studies applied in a real-world setting. I also saw how he collaborated with teams and used various design tools and processes. It gave me a clear understanding of the UX field."
Inemesit found the interview preparation especially valuable. Through mock interviews, Habibur supported Inemesit to refine answers and feel more confident.
“Thanks to Habibur’s support, I landed a contract role at City St George's. It feels like a huge win and a direct result of the skills and confidence I gained.
"Habibur’s belief in my abilities helped me overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome, allowing me to embrace my potential. I’m much more confident now, especially with public speaking and presentations.”
Habibur knows the impact of mentoring, having been inspired by role models in his workplace.
Habibur explains, “From the beginning, I could tell Inemesit was passionate and driven. Helping Inemesit with mock interviews and reviewing job applications resulted in her landing various roles which then culminated in her working in City Interaction Lab."
"This has been because of her sheer determination and desire to be part of the UX world and make a huge difference.
“As a minority, we’ve always had to work harder. Now that I’m in a position to help others, I felt it was my responsibility to give back.
"In the two years I’ve been part of the programme, I’ve worked with amazing mentees that have been recognised with awards. The real achievement for me is making a positive impact on someone's life.”
Habibur and Inemesit were both honoured with the Mentoring Excellence Award.
Irene Hsu wins Breakthrough Mentee of the Year and lands Data Analyst role with support from alumni mentor Lucy Sabelnikova.
When Irene Hsu, an international graduate with a Master’s in Business Analytics from Bayes Business School, joined City’s Professional Mentoring Programme, she found it challenging to navigate the UK job market.
“After graduation, I started looking for a job, but without work experience and as an international graduate, it was very hard to find one in the UK. That’s why I joined a mentoring scheme, I needed a mentor to guide me through the job application process and help me understand the UK job market.”
Irene was paired with Lucy Sabelnikova, a Data Engineer and City alumna, who helped her translate her skills into job opportunities.
“Having Lucy as my mentor has been incredibly helpful. She has a similar background to mine, so we ‘speak the same language,’ which has helped me understand how professionals in Data Analytics fit into the industry today. With this insight, I’m better able to tailor my CV and prepare for interviews.”
Lucy and Irene met regularly to discuss applications and career strategies.
“Lucy encouraged me to accept the internship offer from my current company, and I became a full-time Data Analyst after the internship ended.
"One of the most important things I’ve learned from Lucy is the importance of always thinking about the next step and continuously improving myself for career growth.”
Lucy found it incredibly rewarding to see Irene thrive in her career journey. She says, "The most rewarding part has been seeing Irene's impressive growth, both personally and professionally. Watching her secure an internship in the UK from Taiwan, and then a permanent job, move countries for this opportunity, and then actively build her professional network has been incredibly fulfilling.
“Being a mentor had a positive impact on my life, as it allowed me to learn from Irene by gaining new perspectives and develop my coaching and listening skills.
"Having studied at City, where I had an amazing time, I wanted to give back to the City community. I felt I could share advice and experience that would be helpful to students.”
Xenia Kotova, Student Development Leader, highlights the impact of the Professional Mentoring scheme:
“One of the most remarkable aspects of mentoring is the opportunity to connect with individuals from all walks of life, across diverse backgrounds, careers, and corners of the globe—people you might never have encountered otherwise.
"Every participant, whether a student or mentor, brings their unique story, enriching the experience for everyone involved.
“It’s eye-opening and encouraging to discover how many people can understand, support, and inspire you. This is what makes our programme so impactful: the people, their stories, and a shared desire to help one another.”
Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up at the Professional Mentoring scheme awards ceremony.
Applications are now open for students to apply to the Autumn 2024 Mentoring cohort by Sunday 6 October 2024.