Why did you decide to become a mentor?
I guess it was because my previous mentors have been a catalyst for my growth, and that's my way to "give it back." But it is also for egoistic reasons: as a mentor, I teach and learn from the mentee and vice versa. Helping others succeed gives me a deep sense of fulfillment.
How did you get your career start?
Early in my bachelor's degree in Computer Science, I had a close friend who managed a team at a Big Tech company. He saw potential in me and taught me the mindset that any problem can be solved with the right approach and time. He also gave me unconventional advice to explore beyond my technical field and nurture relationships. This advice opened many doors. While most of my colleagues, much more technically prepared than I was, struggled to find a paid internship, I had multiple job offers BEFORE finishing my bachelor's. The mentor helped me make this journey much more meaningful and fun. Years later, while completing my master's and PhD, I co-founded a company with my life partner. Most people put limits on themselves: "I can't do a PhD and build a company simultaneously." I reject that thinking. You should pursue what excites you and what benefits you.
What do mentees usually come to you for?
Many mentees have the right amount of skills but struggle to showcase them. In a world of AI obsession, it is easy to fall for the idea that social skills or community are unnecessary. Wrong! It's actually the opposite; the humanist, social approach is what distinguishes you from a chatbot or an agent. More than ever, we crave human connection. That is where we will focus on. I expect mentees to be active participants, not passive recipients. Mentorship works when there's honest feedback flowing both ways.
What’s been your favourite mentorship success story so far?
My first mentee came to me in a tough spot because his job required him to build a time-series classifier, but the data was messy, and he felt underqualified for the challenge. So he did what most people do when they feel they don't have the knowledge: information overconsumption.
So we worked through the technical challenges together, step-by-step. I helped him to get comfortable with this sense of inadequacy. "That's because you're learning!"
