Empowering future leaders through AusIMM's Mentoring Program
AusIMM's Mentoring Program has played a pivotal role in past mentee's Tsitsi Taruvinga (Superintendent Fixed Plant Maintenance, Roy Hill) career development. With the guidance of an experienced mentor, Tsitsi gained valuable leadership insights, enhanced her communication skills, and learned to drive better team outcomes. Learn more about her experiences below.
Applications for the 2025 Program close soon, don’t miss your chance to benefit from the same transformative experience. Apply now!
Why did you choose to apply for the AusIMM Mentoring Program?
AusIMM’s Mentoring Program is well structured and easy to follow giving clear guidelines on how the mentorship relationship should flow and also giving a tangible way to measure progress.
The mentors on the program are individuals who have vast experiences and have led or are leading different departments in the industry and they generously share with mentees what they have gleaned over a long career. Having someone to share what you are going through and your thoughts without fear of judgement really helps in evaluating next steps or solving a seemingly overwhelming situation.
What new skills or competencies did you develop through the mentoring program, and how have they impacted your career?
The greatest lesson for me was that an individual's performance correlates to how the situation occurs to them. Changing how they viewed the situation would change their response to it or their performance. I am grateful for the support from my mentor to explore a different way of looking at the same situations and choosing the correct language to create the perspective that would be beneficial and would create a different outcome.
Have you been able to put into practice the insights from your mentor?
I have learnt different types of conversations for different situations and my influence as a leader has increased as the understanding between myself and my team and peers has improved. Leadership is influence and what better way to influence someone than through a conversation. I have been able to get support through conversation, for business objectives even from individuals that usually resist change and struggle to move forward with initiatives. You could almost say I am a better 'Salesperson' and am better at explaining the why to get support and engagement from the team.
What do you think is an important take-away from your mentoring experience?
For any area that one wants to see growth, get a mentor. There are people who have gone before us and climbed mountains that we are now trying to summit so the best strategy is speak to them first and let them guide you. It's like standing on the shoulders of giants and together you achieve great things. Both my mentor and I felt our journey together was purposeful and rewarding.
Is there a key benefit you have had from the AusIMM Mentorship Program you can tell us about?
When I choose to participate in a mentoring program I look for two things. Is there structure to this program so that we can keep on track and maximise the defined time we have together? Secondly, is there a tangible way to measure progress? The two questions help me get what I need from the program in the stipulated time frame and I believe I got this from the AusIMM Mentoring Program. I am grateful to have been a part of it and to have met my mentor.
Applications for the AusIMM Mentoring Program are closing soon. Apply today and take the next step in your career!