Before I jump into a topic I feel passionately about, let me give you a bit of my backstory … born in South Africa and raised by a single mom. We couldn’t afford tertiary education, but I was lucky enough to get a job as a receptionist for an advertising agency straight out of school. I spent the next 13 years gradually working my way up the advertising ladder, eventually discovering my true passion in the TV Department.
In 2003, I was offered a position as Agency Producer at Team/Y&R in Dubai and, so, the next chapter of my life started. After a couple of years, I moved into freelancing and over to the production house side. Jump cut to 22 years later – I’m still here, still doing what I love, but I’m no longer the same person who first walked through the door.
Mentorship. Why?
Because I wouldn’t be who I am today without the incredible mentors who guided and supported me along the way. I’m a firm believer in paying it forward. So, here we go …
In an industry fuelled by creativity, collaboration and connection, mentorship stands out as one of our most powerful tools. It empowers individuals to navigate and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. This is especially true in the Middle East region, where cultural transformation and creative ambition are growing side by side.
Contrary to popular belief, mentorship isn’t just about giving advice. Truly impactful mentorship is intentional, engaged and mutually rewarding. When anchored in purpose, mentorship becomes a legacy and shapes the industries and cultures we’re part of.
So, how can you mentor with meaning? Here are my top tips.
1. Be intentional: Start by understanding why you’re mentoring. Do it for the right reasons. To support women navigating a space you know well. To help emerging talent avoid the mistakes you made. Once your purpose is clear, co-create goals – whether it’s building skills, boosting confidence or navigating career paths. Then, define the structure: How often will you meet? What’s the preferred method of communication? What’s the desired outcome? Intentionality and clarity build trust.
2. Create a safe space: Real learning only happens when people feel safe. Mentees need to know they can ask ‘stupid’ questions, own up to mistakes and speak honestly – without fear of judgment. Celebrate their small wins. Normalise setbacks. Especially in creative industries, where rejection, rework and risk are daily realities, be the voice that says, “I’ve been there too”. Your empathy becomes their safety net.
3. Be consistent and reliable: Trust is not built overnight – it’s earned through steady, dependable actions. If you commit to reviewing something or attending a meeting, honour that promise. Even a quick check-in can go a long way. It’s not about how often you show up, but that you consistently do. Reliability reinforces respect.
4. Listen more than you speak: Great mentors know when to simply listen, and when to offer insight. Focus on understanding your mentee’s world before sharing advice. Ask open-ended questions like:
- What are you working on right now?
- What are you struggling with?
- What does success look like for you at this stage?
Be fully present. Sometimes, what they need most is simply to feel heard and validated.
5. Guide, then step back: Mentorship isn’t about moulding someone into your likeness – it’s about helping them discover and define their own path. Offer guidance, share experiences and present options. Then step back and support them through the outcomes. Growth happens when they learn to lead themselves.
6. Share real stories: Experience is your superpower, but its power lies in honesty, not perfection. Share your failures as much as your wins. Talk about the grey areas, the moments of doubt, the lessons you had to learn the hard way. Be authentic, vulnerable, and generous with what you’ve learned. Real stories build real connection – and that’s where the learning sticks.
7. Give constructive feedback: Many mentees grapple with self-doubt. What they need is a balance of encouragement and challenge. Deliver feedback that is honest, specific and respectful. Use simple frameworks such as:
- Start, stop and continue: What should they start doing, stop doing and keep doing?
- Situation, behaviour and impact: “In this situation, you did X, which led to Y…”
When feedback is constructive and compassionate, it becomes a catalyst for growth.
8. Encourage self-reflection: Mentorship isn’t just about building skills; it’s about nurturing self-awareness. After a project or key decision, prompt reflection with questions like:
- What did you learn from that?
- What would you do differently next time?
By encouraging thoughtful reflection, you help your mentee build emotional intelligence, sharpen their judgment and develop a strong internal compass for future growth
9. Make introductions: Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can offer isn’t advice – it’s access. Recommend your mentee for projects, panels, internships or communities. A thoughtful email or LinkedIn intro can open doors they didn’t even know existed.
- Connections create opportunities – and opportunities change careers.
To wrap it up, mentorship isn’t about perfection – it’s about presence. It’s about showing up and helping someone else see the power in their potential. You make space for others who didn’t see themselves in the room until you opened the door. And when your mentee goes on to mentor someone else, your impact multiplies. It’s a gamechanger.
In film, as in life, we don’t succeed alone. We succeed when someone ahead of us believes in us – when someone walks beside us, even for a short while, and says: “You’ve got this.”
That’s mentorship. That’s legacy.
By Jax Dyer-Donaldson, Independent Production Consultant
