Growing together: The mentoring journey

Posted on: 1 October 2026 by Anshuman Singh Hada and Enes Akdemir in Community

During his time as a Masters in Management student, Anshuman Singh Hada had the support of an alumni mentor. Now as Customer Insights Analyst at Aviva, he is paying it forward. Anshuman and current student Enes Akdemir, give their perspectives.

Anshuman, Mentor

What has been the most rewarding aspect of mentoring?

Watching a mentee gain clarity and confidence in real time. Knowing that sharing my past experiences, both the successes and the missteps, helps someone else navigate their own career with greater assurance is deeply fulfilling. It’s a privilege to play even a small role in their professional journey. It’s my way of giving back to the ULMS community who have helped me navigate my career journey when I was a student and mentee in 2022-23.

How has mentoring helped you develop as a leader?

It has really sharpened my active listening and coaching skills. As a leader, it’s easy to jump straight into problem-solving mode, but mentoring reminds you of the power of asking the right questions and giving someone space to find their own solutions. It’s made me a more empathetic, patient and adaptable communicator.

Have you learned anything unexpected from your mentee?

Absolutely. Mentoring is never a one-way street. Enes has brought fresh perspectives and new ways of looking at challenges, particularly around current industry trends and emerging cultural shifts. It’s been a great reminder to stay curious and constantly challenge my own assumptions.

What leadership skill do you believe professionals should focus on developing today?

Adaptability combined with genuine empathy. The pace of change across every industry requires leaders who can navigate uncertainty with confidence while keeping people supported and motivated through that change requires real emotional intelligence.

Enes Akdemir, mentee

What were you hoping to gain from the experience?

I was looking to make a deliberate career change coming from a financial background, specifically targeting a sales role in a fast-moving environment. I wanted guidance to help position my university studies in business to break into this new sector.

What has been the biggest benefit of mentoring for you?

The programme helped me ensure that my academic background and current skill set were a genuinely strong fit for the types of roles I was chasing, giving me the clarity and confidence to make that pivot successfully.

How has mentoring complemented your learning?

It bridged the gap by showing me the day-to-day realities of energy sales on the ground, complementing the core theoretical side of business that I already mastered through my studies.

What would you say to the next cohort of students considering joining the mentoring programme?

I definitely recommend getting involved in the mentor programme and all the other opportunities offered by the School. The School genuinely tries to maximize your employability in the best sense, especially nowadays when the job market is more competitive than ever, so I strongly encourage people to sign up for these kinds of programmes, whether within or outside the university.

If you would like to find out more information about becoming one of our postgraduate alumni mentors, please contact ULMSalumni@liverpool.ac.uk