Why did you decide to become a mentor?
My motivation to become a mentor comes from several areas:
Ikigai: This is my reason for being—to help others find their best, most authentic selves while achieving work-life harmony.
Journey: I want to share the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of my experiences, including navigating stress and anxiety as a first-time leader, to help others avoid those same struggles.
Authentic Leadership: I’m passionate about helping new leaders build their teams on a foundation of trust, credibility, and mindfulness.
Community: Mentoring is my way of contributing to the community and "passing positive energy forward".
Fulfillment: I could do this for the rest of my life because it brings me joy and doesn't feel like "work".
How did you get your career start?
My career journey began with a technical foundation in engineering and cybersecurity before transitioning into marketing. After my MBA, I broke into the field through a Panasonic internship, where I discovered product marketing.
The path wasn't linear; I built a diverse toolkit through roles in sales enablement and business intelligence at UBM Tech and marketing communications at Applied Materials. It took several stepping stones and a "foot in the door" approach to finally land a technical PMM role at GoodData and led to my Product Marketing roles at Dell Boomi, Lenovo and Celigo. Finding my ikigai through this journey is what fuels my passion for mentoring product, marketing and design leaders today.
What do mentees usually come to you for?
Mentees typically come to me for guidance on navigating their careers with intention and finding their true purpose. My mentorship focuses on empowering leaders and product marketing professionals to bridge the gap between product strategy and go-to-market execution.
Whether you are a graduate, a career changer, or a senior professional, you can expect a structured yet flexible approach that blends professional development with mindfulness.
I'm here to provide an expert perspective on:
Alignment: Identify the right roles and culture fit to ensure your next move is the right one.
Feedback: Expert reviews of your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Targeted Guidance: Navigate specific job search hurdles or leadership challenges.
Mindful Awareness: Stay grounded and focused amidst the daily hustle.
What's been your favourite mentorship success story so far?
One of my favorite success stories isn’t just about a single career win, but about the ripple effect of fostering mindful leadership. A team leader I mentored once shared that she felt inspired to set firm boundaries, such as blocking time for lunch and avoiding meetings after work. Seeing her reclaim her "sacred time" and then pass that practice down to her own team—who started taking afternoon walks to refresh—was incredibly fulfilling. It proved that when a leader chooses to be their authentic self, it gives everyone else the permission to do the same.
In Product Marketing, I’ve witnessed "aha" moments that transform entire organizations. For example, during a Sales Kick Off, I used a simple restaurant analogy to explain the technical concept of APIs. Sales teams who had struggled for years to understand the technology suddenly felt empowered to have collaborative customer conversations. Whether it’s helping a mentee in Lisbon land their dream role or seeing a team move from "marketing speak" to true customer empathy, these moments remind me why I chose to be a mentor for life.
What are you getting out of being a mentor?
Mentoring is a journey of self-discovery that helps me reflect on my own experiences to provide actionable insights for others. It allows me to "pass the positive energy forward," turning my personal career path into a shared resource for the community.
Beyond helping others, it has sharpened my leadership and communication skills, pushing me to practice the mindfulness and trust I encourage in my mentees. Ultimately, mentoring makes me feel alive because it aligns with my purpose of helping people become their most authentic selves.
