Pass the Mic: From Mentee to Mentor

I’ve always believed in the power of people and place, I think it is the Derry Girl in me — and believed in technology as a force that can connect them. That belief led me to co-found Elemental Software, the UK and Ireland’s leading social prescribing platform, where Leeann Monk Ozgul and I set out to bridge the gap between communities, those health, housing and social care professionals who support and empower them and the actual support they need. It wasn’t just about building tech — it was about building trust.

Along the way, I was fortunate to see the difference that Elemental made and its widespread roll out across cities and regions across England, Scotland, Wales, the Island of Ireland and more recently, Australia thanks to The Access Group buying our Derry based tech for good company which is now called Access Elemental. I won awards, most recently I was voted tech UK’s Society Award winner and previous to that Elemental Software won UK wide awards like Tech Nation Rising Stars and Digital Leaders 100 Overall winners. Post acquisition of Elemental Software by The Access Group, I find myself in a different stage of my life. One where the questions I used to ask are now being asked of me. One where young founders, purpose driven entrepreneurs, and place makers are sitting beside me, not just looking for answers — but for a spark, motivation and encouragement, and a listening ear. That’s when I realised: I’ve gone from being the mentee to becoming the mentor. It’s not a title I chased — it’s a transition that happened quietly, over time. And now, I’m here for it. Because I know what it’s like to have someone pass you the mic before you’re even sure you’re ready to speak. And now? I get to do the same for others through my role as Entrepreneur in Residence at The AMP Growth Incubator and as I launch my new venture, Hightop, a youth focused accelerator for social innovators and entrepreneurs in the NW. 

Hightop is supporting TechTides, a brand new tech conference to be held in Derry on Tuesday 18 November 2025, led by Alastair Cameron, Founder of Startacus, as a Gold Sponsor, and is helping co design and deliver TechTides Youth. It is important to me that our young people have space, support and encouragement to build solutions to real life challenges faced by our society.

The First Time I Realised I Was Mentoring

It didn’t come with a badge or a title. It came with a conversation. I was speaking with some students who were passionate about making a difference, full of ideas but were looking for the right outlet to channel their creativity and entrepreneurship. I asked a question — not to test them, but to hold up a mirror. Their eyes lit up. And just like that, I realised I wasn’t there to give them answers — I was there to make space. That’s when it hit me: this mentoring is all about empowering. Not a formal thing. Not a power dynamic. Just a moment of connection, reflection, and encouragement. And it stuck.

What My Mentors Taught Me (That I Didn't Know I Was Learning)

I’ve had mentors who didn’t even realise they were mentoring me. People who led by example — who showed up with integrity, consistency, and care. People like Aideen McGinley, (Former Permanent Secretary in the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and subsequently the Department of Employment and Learning), wise, considered and driven by doing better for and with communities, like Ryan Williams, (CEO and Shareholder at Connected Health and co-founder of The AMP Incubator and Conscia Talent), who always made time to listen and who, 20 years on, still does, or Ken Perry, (Founder of Do-Well (UK) Ltd), who once told me, “Know yourself and what activates your emotions as it is central to good judgement”.

What they all had in common was this: they saw something in me before I did. And they didn’t try to mould me into a copy of themselves — they gave me the tools and space to shape my own path. Looking back, I realise those moments planted seeds. And now those same lessons are blooming in how I show up for others.

Mentoring Isn't About Being the Expert

What I’ve learned is this: mentoring is mostly listening. It’s asking the right questions. It’s seeing the gaps and gently inviting someone to step into them. There’s power in simply showing up and saying, “I don’t have it all figured out either — but I’m here, and I see you.” Some of the most meaningful feedback I receive isn’t about advice I gave — it is about the confidence I help people build just by backing them quietly, consistently, and without agenda. It is about how I make them feel.

From Mentee to Mentor: What Changes (And What Doesn't)

There’s a quiet identity shift that happens when you realise people are looking to you for guidance. It comes with responsibility, but also with clarity. What changes: the way you frame your own experiences, knowing they might serve someone else. What stays the same: the curiosity, the hunger to learn, the deep belief in what’s possible when people are backed properly. I still see myself as a learner — mentoring hasn’t ended my growth, it’s deepened it.

Why Passing the Mic Matters

Mentoring isn’t about legacy in the traditional sense. It’s not about cementing your place at the top — it’s about making space at the table for someone else. It’s about noticing when someone has something to say, and handing them the mic before they have to ask for it. For me, it’s never been about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about being the one who says: “You’ve got something. Let’s work out how to shape it, back it, and share it all”. I think back to the people who did that for me. The ones who didn’t just open doors — they waited to make sure I walked through. They offered honesty, encouragement, and time. That kind of belief is gold. And it sticks. That’s the kind of mentor I want to be — someone who shows up, listens deeply, and reflects the best back to you before you’re even sure it’s there. Because when we all pass the mic, we build something better than individual success. We build momentum. We build communities where leadership isn’t about holding power — it’s about sharing it.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever felt like mentoring is for “later” — once you’ve made it, figured it all out, or hit some milestone — here’s the truth: you’re probably already doing it. If you’ve ever shared your time, your story, or your belief in someone else, you’ve passed the mic.

Join me on Friday 29 August at The AMP Growth Incubator in Derry from 2-6pm at Innofest, our annual celebration of local success, big ideas, and the amazing work our community has accomplished!