A mentee’s journey to success

Delve into the transformative journey of Chris Good CA, Senior Accountant at Geoactive Limited, as he tells us about his profound experience of having an ICAS mentor.

Mentoring unearthed unexpected opportunities, fostering personal and professional growth. As he shares in this interview, Chris gained greater career clarity, confidence, and profound development.

What did you find of most value from the mentoring relationship?

When I initially joined the mentoring programme it really helped to fill a gap in my professional life. I was working in a small company where I was the only qualified accountant. I reported directly to the Managing Director who wasn't from a finance background. It really helped me to have a mentoring relationship with an experienced CA who I could look to for guidance and support.

How has the mentoring relationship benefitted your career?

I have had two different mentors through the ICAS programme and I have benefitted greatly from both relationships in different ways.

My first mentor helped to provide clarity when I felt like I was at a crossroads in my career. The reassurance from my mentor gave me the confidence to embark on a search for my next role with a clear picture of the type of position I was looking for. Within a short period of time, I was successful in securing a role (my current role with Geoactive Limited) which matched exactly with what I was looking for.

With my second mentoring relationship, I’ve not only benefitted from great career advice but also in many other ways, some of which were unexpected. For example, through the mentoring relationship, I have been able to expand my network within ICAS after admittedly not being very proactive on this front for many years. I would also say that the mentoring relationship has helped me to ‘find my voice’.

Due to health challenges at previous points in my career, I would say that my career path as a CA has been non-linear. As a result, at times I’ve felt quite disengaged from the profession. However, my mentoring relationship has helped me to be open about my experiences and it has given me a platform to share this knowledge to hopefully benefit members and students facing similar challenges. Connected to this, I have recently become a member of ICAS' Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and look forward to being involved in the work of the Committee and ICAS over the coming years.

What would you say to other CAs who are unsure or haven't yet signed up for the mentoring platform?

I would definitely recommend signing up to the platform. There’s a large number of mentors to choose from with a vast array of skills and expertise. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by signing up. I signed up to the platform with a list of areas I wanted help with. However, as I’ve mentioned, I have ended up benefitting in unexpected ways and in areas I hadn't even considered when I signed up. The benefits have already exceeded my expectations of the programme.

What skills has your mentor been able to help you learn?

As I’ve just touched upon, gaining clarity (obviously not a skill in itself but hugely important) has been a major benefit. Definitely confidence. Gaining the confidence to get involved and to share my experiences and views. Networking skills. I've also learnt a lot about the inner workings of ICAS through my mentoring journey although that is quite unusual and is due to my mentor being very involved in the Institute. My mentoring relationships have helped to give me the confidence and self-assurance I need in order to progress my career despite past health challenges.

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