For Elise that had been trains and for Diane it was bridges. During their mentoring relationship they connected over their shared experiences as women of color in an industry that is often dominated by their male counterparts. The richness of the mentoring experience was enhanced by both Elise and Diane being members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Elise Schumacher
For Elise, the program wasn't just about career guidance; it was a transformative journey. Diane's mentorship dismantled Elise's imposter syndrome, instilling confidence and reframing her perspective on self-worth. Through candid conversations, they navigated gender-based barriers and Diane challenged Elise to recognise her leadership potential. “Diane is tenacious and quite resilient and hasn’t let anything define her – which I really respect. She planted the seed of me wanting to do courses in leadership and setting goals with my manager.”
Reflecting on her experience, Elise acknowledges the program's profound impact on her career planning. Diane made her set goals then attack each one, week by week.
Beyond the one-on-one mentoring sessions, the WiT Mentoring Program offers valuable networking opportunities. Face-to-face events facilitated connections across the industry, bolstering confidence and expanding horizons. “Attending the face-to-face events gave me the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people across the industry, as well as learn about the skills of building my network and making new friends.”
Looking ahead, Elise is grateful that Diane helped her envision an ongoing career in the transport industry. “Diane really helped prove to me that this is where my heart is. I know this is where I want to be. It’s so exciting. “
Elise said “Diane made me feel a lot more skilled than I did going into the program. I couldn’t recommend the program more highly overall, and I hope to become a WiT mentor one day.”
Diane Riley
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