NIBA Mentoring Program: Chatting with past mentors and mentees

The NIBA Mentoring Program brings together seasoned industry leaders and young professionals for 12 weeks of professional support and development.

NIBA caught up with past mentee Lydia Wu, Principal, Marsh, and mentor Gemma Dehn, Partner, Hall & Willcox, about their experience of taking part in the program.

MENTEE

Lydia Wu 

Principal, Marsh

What made you decide to take part in the NIBA Mentoring Program?  

I have been working in insurance for about 17 years now, and in that time, we have seen so many changes that have had a huge impact on many industries, such as the technological revolution. 

Insurance may be a relatively conservative industry, but the world is changing. It’s important for us to learn and adapt to new things, and to talk to new people and absorb new concepts. 

In this ever-changing environment, I wanted to be proactive rather than reactive about learning more about the industry and getting external advice. Even though I have been in the industry for so long, I believe that learning never stops. It doesn’t matter what age you are, there's always new things to learn from different people. 

What has your experience in the NIBA Mentoring Program been like, with Gemma as your mentor?  

The NIBA Mentoring Program was a very memorable experience for me.  

My mentor Gemma was amazing – she shared her knowledge and experience with me, and she worked with me to determine my goals and helped me develop strategies to achieve them. 

For example, we worked together to position my gender and cultural background as positive attributes. As I come from a different country and can speak multiple languages, we spoke about how I can use this as an advantage both in the workplace and in our industry. We also worked on updating my profile on LinkedIn and using social media as a tool to connect with the wider industry. What was most important for me was that Gemma spent the time getting to know me. We had many regular meetings, even a catch-up when she was on holiday in England. Her level of dedication was incredible. 

The Mentoring Program was 12 weeks in total, but I still have a lot of learning to do and room for improvement. Gemma and I will continue to catch up regularly in the future and keep the relationship going.  

My biggest learning coming out of the NIBA Mentoring Program is to be brave.  

I really appreciate NIBA for providing this opportunity, because it gives many brokers, in particular juniors and new entrants, a platform to progress in the industry. It’s really encouraging for brokers to know that there is a support system out there that they can rely on.  

MENTOR 

Gemma Dehn 
Partner, Hall & Wilcox 

What made you decide to take part in the NIBA Mentoring Program?  

I became a partner recently and having had an excellent mentor who supported me through the entire process, I wanted to give back and help others making their way in the industry.  

Also, in my practice as an insurance lawyer, I work closely with brokers and other industry professionals. I saw this as a great opportunity for me to hopefully learn something along the way. 

What has your experience in the NIBA Mentoring Program been like?  

Really valuable. It was great to see a variety of mentees in different stages of their career getting involved in the program for different reasons.  

The direction of the program is different for each mentee and my observation was that its success is really contingent on what the mentee (and mentor) wants to put in and what they want to get out. My mentee Lydia was an experienced broker who was looking for some quite specific direction and guidance in her career journey. In Lydia's case, she was very organised and proactive and put a lot of effort into prioritising working on her goals. As a result, her progress and achievements throughout the duration of the program were very tangible. 

The program was also very flexible, which meant that Lydia and I could work out a schedule that suited both of us, our work commitments, and our busy lives.  

Looking back, I wasn't prepared for how invested I would become in my mentee’s progress. It was really rewarding to mentor someone who put her all into the program and see her progress and work towards achieving her goals because of her efforts.  

The mentees’ presentations at the end of the program were also a highlight. Seeing the mentees present so well, despite how nervous they were, was wonderful and it was quite touching to see that the program really meant something to them.  

I would highly recommend the program to mentees and mentors. My advice for mentees is to come in with an open mind, be fearless, and use the program as an opportunity to learn from the mentors and other mentees, network and also ask the questions that you may not be comfortable asking in your workplace. 

Have you also personally benefited from being a mentor in the program? 

I found the experience of being a mentor extremely rewarding. I look forward to staying in touch with my mentee and following her continued growth and progression. 

I also learnt a lot from Lydia. Watching her journey caused me to reflect on my own goals and ambitions and I was humbled by Lydia’s patience, resilience and drive. Lydia also shared with me the influence that her cultural background has had on her career, which has made me much more aware and appreciative of different cultural experiences in the workplace and insurance industry.

Applications to be a mentor or a mentee for the NIBA Mentoring Program are open, and will close on Friday 14 July. For more information, please visit the NIBA Mentoring Program page.