MUSUBI Mentorship Programme Mentee Testimonials

If I were to describe the impact of my mentoring sessions with my mentor in one phrase, it would be ‘a stronger sense of self-efficacy.’ Hearing him repeatedly tell me that I have strong EQ and leadership potential has helped me believe in myself and lead my team with greater confidence than ever before.

Through our sessions, my mentor has helped me reflect deeply on my leadership style, my strengths, and the kind of leader I want to become. One of the biggest insights I gained was being able to put into words that I want to become a ‘dependable leader’.

The programme helped me redefine my cultural background and life experiences as sources of my own leadership strength, rather than something I needed to change in order to succeed globally.

The mentor introduced through MUSUBI understands both my background and values, enabling honest and constructive conversations about current challenges and future aspirations. The insights I have gained have been highly practical and directly relevant to decision-making.

My mentor challenged me to be much more ruthless about prioritisation. Rather than trying to do everything well, I have started asking myself: what are the few things that are really going to matter?

I received a great deal of concrete and practical guidance on how to build understanding and buy-in within the complex relationships inherent in a matrix organisation. I have found these insights genuinely useful regardless of organisational setting.

My mentor is excellent with a lot of experience at senior leadership level. She listens well, asks good questions and has provided me with an excellent sounding board during a time of transition.

I received practical advice based on my mentor’s own experience, including how to use time effectively and navigate relationships with senior stakeholders. These insights were extremely valuable in helping me address my own challenges.

I am finding my sessions with my mentor very productive. She is giving me insights into the Japanese market, but also advice on how to manage situations where we have shared common experiences.

I gained valuable advice on building a career beyond Japan at the APAC and global level, as well as how to communicate more effectively with people from different cultures and nationalities.

The opportunity to connect with a female executive leader who is active globally across industries and countries was both rare and inspiring.

By discussing my strengths, weaknesses and career aspirations with a leader from a completely different industry, I have been able to reconsider my own career and development from a new perspective.

She has a knack for asking the question that somehow presses exactly the right button, without telling you what the answer should be. She gives you the space to work that out for yourself, with a huge amount of genuine care and encouragement along the way.

My mentor's advice has been extremely practical and encouraging. Since starting the mentorship, I feel I have become more self-aware as a leader and am beginning to see meaningful changes around me.