QLD Source: Building Bridges - The Impact of Mentorship on Emerging Water Leaders

We caught up with Cassandra Mai about her experience in the 2024 Mentor Program, here's what she had to say: 

Having the privilege of being mentored by two exceptional leaders in the Queensland water industry, here is my experience on the 2024 mentoring program as a young water professional and YWP sub-committee Chair. Their diverse insights have not only expanded my perspectives but also inspired me to navigate my career with newfound clarity.

I have been fortunate to be involved in the Queensland AWA mentoring program for the past two years as a mentee. One key lesson I’ve learned from this experience is that our water industry is filled with knowledgeable leaders eager to share their experience, stories and advice. The opportunity is ours to make the most of it and embrace this wealth of experience.

This year’s mentoring program enrolment commenced in January 2024, with the program officially launching in March. I was matched with a female mentor (Mentor 1) whom I had previous known and admired, but never had the opportunity to properly know well. Naturally, I was very excited! As the launch event had a networking component with everyone, I also met another male mentor (Mentor 2) who expressed interest in taking on additional mentees. I seized this opportunity to connect with him and reached out after the event to establish a second mentor relationship during the program.

Both mentors offered incredible value and experience in their own ways. To date, I have had four catch ups with Mentor 1 and two catch ups with Mentor 2, with ongoing meetings planned. Mentor 1, a thriving and successful female leader, was closer to my years of experience, which enabled me to garner career advice focused on the shorter term. Our shared experiences made it easy to connect, share stories and understand each other’s challenges. She offered fascinating perspectives when it came to networking, leadership and career advice, which significantly broadened my viewpoints.

In contrast, Mentor 2 is a retired water engineer with an incredibly successful career and legacy. He provided valuable experience and advice from a whole-of-career perspective and has helped me look at the bigger picture when it came to career direction and mapping. He had always followed his values in his career, teaching me how this approach can clarify career decision-making. With his wealth of experience, I am able to ask an array of varied questions, and he offers thoughtful responses and advice tailored to me.

The most valuable takeaways from both mentoring relationships are the new perspectives and advice they provide, offering new ways of thinking I had not considered before. By listening to how their career journey has shaped who they are today, it helps me reflect on my own career and consider how to make the most of it. I’m incredibly grateful for these mentor relationships which were made possible through the AWA mentoring program.

Part of the success of the QLD mentoring program is due to the long-term support from Brian McIntosh, who helped facilitate the launch event and mid-year program catch up. As the 2024 mentoring program approaches its conclusion, the enrolment for the 2025 program will open in December 2024. I’m thrilled about the upcoming 2025 program, which will be delivered as a national AWA initiative. This change means there will be better connectivity amongst water industry leaders across various sectors and states. I look forward to seeing both mentees and mentors take advantage of this new program to foster relationships that promote knowledge sharing and growth.