Reflections on My Mentoring Journey: 6 Months of Guiding Agile Leaders

By Nehir Patel

With over ten years of experience in Agile delivery, I have been specialising in senior stakeholder management, optimising delivery processes, and leading high-performing teams. Throughout my career, I have mentored teams, helped bridge gaps between business and technical stakeholders, and driven Agile transformations.

I have always believed in the power of community and the impact of shared experiences. That belief led me to give back to the Women in Agile community. I put my name forward to see if my insights could benefit anyone in the network. That’s how I connected with Rita and Annie, and since then, our mentoring journey has been incredibly rewarding.

When I think about mentoring and why it is important to me, it’s because it creates a space for learning, connection, and mutual growth. It’s not just about offering guidance, it’s about listening, understanding, and helping others unlock their potential. Every session is an opportunity for me to support my mentees as they navigate challenges, gain clarity, and build confidence in their abilities.

Through mentoring, I’ve come to appreciate the depth of perspectives that each individual brings. Hearing my mentees share their experiences allows me to see leadership, problem-solving, and resilience through different lenses. It pushes me to reflect on my own journey and continuously improve how I support others.

Most importantly, mentoring reinforces the value of collaboration and shared experiences. Seeing my mentees grow, overcome obstacles, and embrace their strengths reminds me why I am passionate about people development. It’s a rewarding and humbling experience that challenges me just as much as it supports those I mentor.

I’ve had the privilege of mentoring two incredible Women in Agile leadership—Rita and Annie. Both are highly talented professionals committed to their craft.

• Rita, an Agile Delivery Manager, is deeply invested in her teams. She consistently goes the extra mile to support them, ensuring they are set up for success. Her people-first mindset and dedication to fostering a positive team culture are truly inspiring.
• Annie, an Agile Coach, focuses on helping individuals and teams unlock their potential. Her structured and results-driven approach enables her to make a significant impact, and she is constantly refining her methods to bring out the best in those she mentors.

Working with them has been an enriching experience, and I consider myself fortunate to be part of their professional journeys.

To ensure flexibility and accessibility, I share my availability, which often includes lunch breaks or evening sessions. The frequency varies based on need, sometimes bi-weekly, other times once a month, all depending on my mentees’ & my availability and the depth of support required at a given time.

I’ve designed my mentoring approach to be structured yet adaptable, allowing mentees to drive the conversation based on their priorities. The sessions typically follow below format:

1. Review Previous Actions – At the start of each session, I ask my mentees for an update of the actions that we agreed to at our last session. This helps us to track progress and identify areas that may need further exploration.
2. Defining the Focus – I ask, “What do you need from me today?” This simple question makes them set the direction of the session and prepares them ahead of time, ensuring they approach each session with a clear objective.
3. Exploring Solutions – We delve into their current challenges, discuss potential approaches, and identify actionable next steps.
4. Closing with Commitments – We wrap up by clarifying key takeaways and setting realistic actions for the next session.

This structure has been well received, offering a blend of coaching, strategic guidance, and actionable takeaways. Unless I receive feedback suggesting otherwise, I plan to continue with this approach.

My goal for each session is to use time efficiently and help my mentees navigate their challenges with clarity. I employ coaching techniques to guide them toward solutions that align with their goals.

Goals and expectations for my mentees, is to gain insights and actionable steps that address their unique challenges. They seek clarity, validation, and guidance in their leadership journeys.

Several strategies proved particularly effective during our sessions:

• Honest and Open Conversations – Creating a psychologically safe space allowed for authentic discussions.
• Asking the Right Questions – Instead of providing answers, I focused on prompting deeper thinking. Questions like “What is the most important thing we need to fix here?” encouraged them to pinpoint priorities.
• Empowering Mentees to Find Their Own Solutions – By guiding rather than prescribing, I helped them develop greater confidence in their decision-making.

One surprising takeaway was how often we underestimate our own capabilities. Through our sessions, both my mentees and I became more aware of the strengths we already have but had been hesitant to fully embrace. This realisation inspired me to be bolder and use my skills more effectively.

Over the past six months, I have witnessed tremendous growth in my mentees. Their dedication and commitment to applying what they learn, have been truly inspiring for me. They have become more focused, spending their energy on areas that drive value rather than getting caught up in distractions.

Mentoring has also had a profound impact on my own leadership growth:

• Enhanced Confidence – Guiding others reinforced my own expertise and deepened my self-assurance.
• Refined Communication & Coaching Skills – I have become more mindful of how I ask questions, listen, and challenge assumptions.
• Greater Patience & Perspective – Every mentee’s journey is different, and embracing that has made me a more adaptable leader.

Mentoring has been an incredibly fulfilling experience, one that has reinforced my passion for people development, Agile leadership, and continuous learning. Seeing my mentees grow, gain confidence, and make tangible improvements in their careers has been the most rewarding aspect of this journey.

What’s Next?

I absolutely plan to continue mentoring. Whether through structured programs or informal coaching, I want to keep contributing to the growth of future Agile leaders. I also intend to refine my mentoring techniques based on new insights and feedback.

If you’ve ever considered mentoring but hesitated, I encourage you to give it a try. You don’t need to have all the answers, sometimes just listening and providing a different perspective is enough to make a significant impact.

And if you’re on the other side, seeking a mentor, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone you admire. Growth accelerates when we learn from those who have walked the path before us.

Conclusion 

The past six months have been an incredible journey of learning, giving back, and personal growth. I am grateful for the opportunity to support Rita and Annie and look forward to many more enriching mentoring experiences in the future. Mentoring is not just about guiding others, it’s about evolving together.

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To learn more about our mentorship program, visit the our Mentorship page or email mentoring@womeninagile.org.