A Stepping Stone

14 May 2018

Phase 4 of Meet a Mentor is currently underway. Mentee, Gintare Einoryte, tells us about her experience.

I first heard about Meet a Mentor from my friend Danielle who took part in one of the earlier programmes. I had recently graduated with a Commercial Music Performance degree, looking for entry level jobs and my path in the music industry. After about half a year and dozens of unsuccessful applications, Danielle told me that Meet a Mentor (this amazing programme that changed her life, gave her valuable skills and a new approach to networking, self-development, and practical skills around being a professional in the creative industries) was taking applications for the next bunch of young, ambitious and creative minds seeking mentors.

I applied, put down my goals, got accepted and paired with Lucy Wood – a Talent Buyer for Latitude Festival.

First of all, it was great to have the opportunity to gain insights into different roles in the music industry and look into where my experience and interests could take me. Lucy has also introduced me to some other industry professionals, who were happy to share their journey and experiences, and built a bigger picture of the industry. I had a strong interest in music festivals and when an opportunity opened up Lucy helped me apply, displaying my experiences in the best light. She also gave me some interview tips and I recently got accepted on the BST Hyde Park internship.

Apart from getting a job or placement in the industry, I came to this programme to meet like-minded individuals, understand the creative industries better and work on my personal skills, such as networking. Lucy always has great tips for all of my questions and it is nice to have conversations with other mentors and mentees, who are all moving forward and discovering new things. The talks held at each Meet a Mentor session are usually very inspiring, informative and full of practical advice – I became a lot more confident at work and I have a few tips in my pocket for the future.

The programme is soon coming to an end and I am very grateful to Fran – the mastermind behind this project – for this experience. It is an open and supportive space where people come together to share their experience, grow, challenge themselves and make special connections. Meet a Mentor is a stepping stone for young, talented and ambitious creatives towards the opportunities and jobs that will allow them to grow and live up to their full potential in the right industry for them.

To read other blogs from mentors and mentees, click here.