Know your worth, be true to yourself and don’t be afraid to use your networks are all pieces of advice scholarship recipients have held onto from their mentoring experience years later.
Designed to strengthen capability and amplify the impact of leaders in the not-for-profit sector, the annual McCarthy Mentoring NFP Executive Scholarship has successfully supported talented executives to achieve their career and leadership goals for the past 10 years.
To celebrate a decade since inception, past recipients Karen Bevan, Kathy Poulton, Brett McDonald and Tom Hull shared the impact of the scholarship for them.
“It was life changing” says Karen Bevan, the first scholarship recipient who is now running her own strategy and coaching practice while mentoring at the Women’s & Girls Emergency Centre and serving on a range of boards. “It came at a time of significant transition so it was such a gift to develop some goals and have the accountability and support to see them through. I achieved my first goal to become a CEO within six months of the scholarship and I absolutely believe that it was the mentoring with Richard Spencer – which gave me such joy, confidence and wise counsel – that got me there.”
“I took my goals seriously in a way that I’d never done before and it was the confidence boost that has propelled me forward over the last 10 years,” she added.
For Kathy Poulton, General Manager of suicide prevention organisation, Roses in the Ocean, “the guidance and support I received from my mentor was invaluable. My mentor helped me grow my confidence and expand my skills, knowledge and perspective as I took on my new management position.”
Brett McDonald, Founder of DryJuly is now the Managing Director of Ezy Raise which offers a peer-to-peer fundraising platform and digital marketing expertise to help charities acquire more donors and supporters. Brett attributes the scholarship as laying the strategic foundation for the growth of Dry July. “Ezy Raise was born out of this growth and learning. My mentor, Ian Elliott, now the Chair, was instrumental in achieving personal and organisational outcomes.”
“It certainly helped with connections and advice,” agreed Tom Hull who was working with The Funding Network and now consults to strong social purpose enterprise, Grumpy Sailor Creative. “I learnt to believe in myself and understand that inviting individuals who have the means to support social change is a gift in itself and making an ask is really offering someone an opportunity.”
