Mentoring – a gateway to opportunity

Relationship building, embedding trust, stretching and growing, and forming a bond that will linger long afterwards are just some of the benefits of mentoring, says Sina Wendt OMNZ, MInstD.

Wendt has been mentoring others throughout her career. She describes a ‘proud parent’ moment when she sees former mentees step into new leadership roles or join a board they have long aspired to be part of. 

As a mentor in the Institute of Directors’ Tautua Pasifika Mentoring Programme (which was launched in October), Wendt is hoping to have more of those moments when the first round of mentoring takes place in 2025.

The programme will provide Pasifika people with an opportunity to sharpen their governance skills and increase their governance experience. The aim is to deepen the pool of talent available in New Zealand’s governance community, she says.

Data is not available on the ethnic make-up of New Zealand’s listed company boards, but in the public sector Pasifika people make up 7 per cent of board members (vs 9 per cent of the population in the 2023 Census). Based on gender patterns, it is likely the percentage of Pasifika on listed company boards is lower than in the public sector.

Wendt says mentoring can help people understand and express the value they bring to the board table. This will improve a mentee’s chance or securing a coveted board role.

“In my experience, a mentor is someone who is helping to champion you, to assist with your development and to act as a sounding board. They can test, and maybe challenge, you a safe way.” 

Having somebody to go to who can offer the wisdom of experience can also build a mentee’s skills and confidence, according to Wendt.

The Institute of Directors is committed to diversifying governance and supporting boards and directors to get the benefits that come from it. Diverse boards have been shown to avoid groupthink, which results in better decision-making through a respectful contest of ideas.

Applications for the 2025 Tautua Pasifika Mentoring Programme are now open. Find out more here.