Ashley, Insight2Uni Mentor
Ashley, a Business Management (Human Resources) graduate from the University of Leeds, joined Insight2Uni with a genuine desire to provide the guidance she wished she had received during her own transition into university. What began as a personal commitment to give back quickly became a formative professional experience, one that would directly shape the coaching and advisory skills she carried into her HR career.
"It helped a lot with developing my coaching skills. As an HR advisor, you need to be able to coach managers and employees, and this programme gave me the space to do that."
Ashley, Insight2Uni Mentor
Outcomes
Through nine months of mentoring, Ashley developed a range of transferable skills that proved directly relevant to her professional path in HR. Supporting her mentee through key decisions, from choosing the right course to writing their personal statement, required her to ask the right questions, build confidence and enable independent thinking rather than simply providing answers.
A pivotal moment came when her mentee was struggling to balance personal interests with career aspirations. Ashley encouraged her to think long term: "Your course choice can have a real impact on your career options. You can still pursue your hobbies at university through discovery modules, but make sure your course is working towards where you actually want to go." That ability to offer person-centred guidance reflects the kind of trusted partnership that sits at the heart of effective HR practice.
Lasting Legacy
The impact of Ashley's mentorship extended well beyond the programme itself, with her mentee reaching out independently after it ended to seek advice on university applications and course decisions. "That showed me that she had found a safe space," Ashley reflected.
The experience sharpened her emotional intelligence, her ability to adapt communication to different stages of confidence, and her coaching instincts, all competencies she has carried directly into her HR career.