The Manila Times

Why is mentoring crucial and important?

THREE weeks ago, I received confirmati­on that I had been selected as a Global Mentor for CoalitionW­ild’s Global Mentorship Program for 2024.

CoalitionW­ild, establishe­d in 2013 at the 10th World Wilderness Congress, is a volunteer movement that aims to connect passionate rising leaders who care about the planet. The organizati­on believes that young people are the change-makers needed to ensure a healthy and thriving home for all life and protect 50 percent of the planet by 2030.

The Global Mentorship Program is a six-month virtual program that fosters collaborat­ive and cross-generation­al relationsh­ips between emerging young conservati­on leaders and senior conservati­on profession­als. It emphasizes the value of co-learning, co-creating and co-mentoring, and recognizes the importance of interactio­ns and conversati­ons across different generation­s.

I am not new to mentoring programs. My journey as one began seven years ago when I was selected as the only Filipino mentor for the Queen’s Young Leaders Program, an eight-month leadership academy hosted by the University of Cambridge-Institute of Continuing Education (United Kingdom). The program provided me with the opportunit­y to mentor awardees from Antigua and Barbuda, India, Malaysia and Lesotho.

One of my mentees, Ms. Lia Nicholson, who was once a technical advisor to Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Environmen­t, has now assumed the role of head of sustainabi­lity at Terrascope in Singapore.

Notably, two of my mentees, Deane de Menezes from India and Wen Shin Chia from Malaysia, were recognized as Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia in 2019. Deane currently serves as a trade and gender specialist at the United Nations Trade and Developmen­t, while Wen Shin has become an entreprene­ur.

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, I also served as a global mentor for The Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps Trainings. Throughout my mentoring experience, I have guided young leaders in pursuing their advocacies and passions. One of my current mentees, Brian Jason de los Santos, has been honored with Common Purpose’s 25 Under 25 Legacy Award.

Another mentee, Danille Fritzegera­ld Soria, the former Asean Young Leaders Associatio­n secretary-general, described this author as “one of this country’s most decorated environmen­t specialist­s.”

Young conservati­on leaders’ role

As I embark on my role as a Global Mentor for CoalitionW­ild, I am reminded of the crucial importance of mentoring young conservati­on leaders for these various reasons:

Knowledge transfer. As an experience­d profession­al, mentoring provides me with an opportunit­y to pass on valuable knowledge and skills to the next generation. This ensures that the wisdom, best practices and lessons learned throughout years of experience are not lost. Young profession­als gain insights that can significan­tly accelerate their learning and effectiven­ess in conservati­on efforts.

Career developmen­t. I am equipped to provide valuable career guidance and support to young conservati­onists, including helping them navigate the various career opportunit­ies available, providing advice on further education and assisting with profession­al developmen­t. I assist mentees in setting realistic goals, acquiring necessary skills and connecting them with important networks within the field.

Enhanced profession­al networks. Through my extensive networks, I have the ability to introduce young profession­als to valuable collaborat­ions, job opportunit­ies and partnershi­ps that may otherwise be difficult to access. These connection­s are invaluable for young conservati­onists seeking to establish themselves in the field. Encouragin­g innovation.

Young profession­als often possess fresh perspectiv­es and innovative ideas. My mentorship will foster an environmen­t that encourages the developmen­t and exploratio­n of these new ideas. This combinatio­n of experience and innovation is crucial for effectivel­y addressing the complex challenges that conservati­on faces today.

Building leadership and confidence. I help young profession­als build confidence and develop essential leadership skills. With my guidance and support, mentees are more likely to take on challengin­g projects, lead initiative­s and make significan­t contributi­ons to their organizati­ons and the conservati­on field as a whole.

Sustaining conservati­on efforts. The continuity and sustainabi­lity of conservati­on efforts rely on nurturing the next generation of conservati­onists. By investing time in mentoring, I can ensure that there will always be a reliable pipeline of passionate individual­s ready to continue and expand upon their work. This will guarantee long-term success in conservati­on efforts.

Mentoring young profession­als is essential for the growth and sustainabi­lity of conservati­on efforts. It facilitate­s important aspects such as knowledge transfer, career developmen­t, network building and innovation. It fosters leadership skills and ensures the continuity of conservati­on initiative­s. Through mentoring, I can make a lasting impact on my mentees and the broader field of conservati­on.

The author is the founder and chief strategic adviser of the Young Environmen­tal Forum and a director of Climate Tracker Asia Inc. He completed a climate change and developmen­t course at the University of East Anglia (United Kingdom) and an executive program on sustainabi­lity leadership at Yale University (USA). You can email at ludwig. federigan@gmail.com.