MHD MENTORING
SCLAA’S MENTORS GUIDING MENTEES MHD speaks to SCLAA members and mentors, Brett McGowran, Supply Chain Deployment Director at Schneider Electric and Rakesh Bandipelli, Supply Chain Manager at La Marzocco about their experiences as mentors to newcomers and those moving within the supply chain and logistics industry. They also reveal what the SCLAA Mentorship Program entails.
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he Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA) offers mentorships for those working in the industry who wish to gain expertise and progress their career, or for recent graduates or those who are looking to enter the supply chain and logistics industry. SCLAA says the role of the mentee involves being responsible for driving the relationship and scheduling meetings with the mentor. It adds that the benefits of the mentorship are one-on-one coaching from an experienced mentor; gaining a sharper focus on what is needed to grow professionally; that the mentorship complements ongoing formal study and/ or training and development activities; mentees receive assistance with ideas and honest feedback; and increasing their career networks. Brett McGowran, Supply Chain Deployment Director at Schneider Electric has been mentoring up to four people every year since 2009 when he started his first senior role. Rakesh Bandipelli, Supply Chain Manager at La Marzocco has been mentoring the same number of people for just as long. Brett says mentees need somebody trustworthy who they can ask for advice. He recommends university students and graduates, or anyone entering the workforce for the first time, would certainly gain valuable insights from the mentoring program. He also adds that someone who may be promoted at their current workplace, or may be changing roles or functions, or are moving over to another organisation, will benefit from a mentorship. “People that are seeking a deeper
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understanding of a specialised skillset can seek out a mentor to help them,” Brett says. “And anybody who just wants to develop themselves and have the benefit of someone independent to support them on their personal development journey.” He notes there are mutual benefits from the mentor-mentee relationship. Mentors can develop greater connections to different industries or internal departments across larger organisations, and in different functions, Brett says. “Mentors can better understand how different generations tick,” he explains. “You often notice there’s a significant age gap between the mentor and mentee. Mentees often seek out far more experienced, more senior individuals.” He says the difference in age enables mentors to get to know and understand younger employees better and recognise what motivates them. Additionally, he says it gives mentors an insight into the new ways younger people want to work, especially during the pandemic, and reveals what career development opportunities they’re seeking. The younger mentee usually exposes the mentor to new digital technologies that they’re using during their day-today lives or at work, notes Brett. He says it’s valuable for mentees to receive open and honest feedback. Mentors also can provide the mentee with specific knowledge and skills to support their early development and increase their visibility in an organisation as well as help them with networking. Rakesh says SCLAA has been running its mentorship program for the past three or four years. He says it strengthens the mentee’s confidence
Rakesh Bandipelli, Supply Chain Manager at La Marzocco and SCLAA mentor.
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I’ve seen all these young graduates coming from universities and working with me for six months, and the amount of energy and this new talent they’ve got. They look at things differently.
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and allows industry experts in their fields to give back. He adds that anyone who is studying supply chain or is in the industry but would like to know more, should apply for a mentorship. He says he still has a mentor although
