Mentoring
A thoughtful partnership for people navigating growth, transition, and complexity.
Mentoring has always been one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
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Across more than twenty-five years in corporate leadership, the women’s movement, and global advocacy spaces, I have had the privilege of walking alongside people as they navigated career decisions, life transitions, leadership challenges, and moments of personal growth.
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Mentoring is not about giving someone the answers.
It is about creating a space where questions can be explored honestly, decisions can be tested thoughtfully, and the next step forward becomes clearer.
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Over the past decade I have completed more than 40 year-long mentorships, primarily supporting women navigating professional and personal transitions, alongside a smaller number of men exploring their own growth and direction. I have also offered pro bono mentoring through organisations that support women and LGBTQ+ communities, reflecting the values that shape my work.
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Today I offer a limited number of mentoring engagements each year for individuals looking for a thoughtful partner as they work through important decisions or periods of change.
What Mentoring With Me Is (and Is Not)
Mentoring is often confused with coaching, consulting, or training. My work sits in a different space.
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Mentoring is a relationship built on trust, lived experience, reflection, and thoughtful conversation.
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It is not about instruction or performance management. It is about helping someone think more clearly about the situations they are navigating and the choices they want to make.
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Sometimes that means exploring a specific challenge.
Sometimes it means reflecting on patterns that have shaped someone’s path.
Sometimes it simply means creating space to pause, think, and consider what comes next.
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Sessions are conversational and reflective rather than prescriptive. Most mentoring conversations run approximately 45 minutes, allowing enough time to explore ideas without overwhelming the natural rhythm of the discussion.
Who This Mentoring Is For
People come to mentoring for many different reasons.
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Often it is because they are navigating a moment where perspective and thoughtful conversation can make a meaningful difference.
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This may include:
• professionals exploring career transitions
• founders or independent professionals building something new
• individuals navigating identity, belonging, or personal growth
• people working through complex decisions or crossroads
• leaders seeking a trusted sounding board outside their organisation
Some people arrive with a very clear question.
Others arrive with a feeling that something in their life or work is shifting and they want space to think it through.
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Both are valid starting points.
Mentoring Engagement Options
Because every mentoring relationship evolves differently, I offer a small number of flexible ways to work together. All engagements begin with a 30-minute Cultural Alignment Call to ensure the relationship feels right for both of us.
Single Mentoring Session
For those seeking perspective on a specific challenge or decision.
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These one-off conversations create space to unpack complex situations, explore possibilities, and identify potential next steps.
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Sessions typically last around 45 minutes.
Ongoing Mentoring Partnership
Some people benefit from regular conversations over a defined period of time.
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These mentoring relationships typically run for three or six months, allowing us to explore challenges more deeply and build momentum as new insights emerge.
Executive Mentoring Partnership
My most comprehensive mentoring relationship.
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This year-long engagement includes ten mentoring conversations across twelve months, allowing space for reflection, integration, and thoughtful progress as real-world decisions unfold.
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Participants also have expanded access between sessions when important moments arise.
The Cultural Alignment Call
Every mentoring relationship begins with a 30-minute Cultural Alignment Call.
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This is not a sales conversation.
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It is an opportunity for both of us to explore whether the mentoring relationship feels like the right fit.
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Mentoring works best when there is trust, curiosity, and mutual respect from the beginning. Sometimes that alignment is immediate. Sometimes it becomes clear that another mentor might serve you better.
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Both outcomes are valuable.
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The purpose of this conversation is simply to decide whether we would like to work together.
Mentoring engagements vary depending on the format and length of the partnership.
Individual mentoring sessions begin at £300, with longer mentoring relationships structured individually following the Cultural Alignment Call.
Strategic Partners
As a strategic partner to The Girls Club, I offer members access to mentoring through a dedicated pathway, including preferred terms, delivered through their Pay to Grow programme. Direct mentoring engagements remain available.
Let’s Work Together
E-Mail: mentor@cynthiafortlage.com
