‘The only thing stopping me was myself’ – How mentoring transforms careers

At a pivotal moment in her career, Shannon Devlin CA was ready to take the next step in her career. Like many others, she faced uncertainty about how to leverage her experience in a new direction. That’s when she joined the ICAS Mentoring programme and connected with Katherine Ritchie, an experienced fellow CA based in New York, proving that meaningful mentoring knows no borders.

More than advice: A partnership built on shared experience 

From their first conversations, Shannon and Katherine found common ground. They didn’t just talk about roles or CVs - they talked honestly about challenges, ambitions and what it takes to back yourself. 

“Our interactions were based on mutual respect and shared experiences,” says Shannon. “Being a woman in more male dominated areas, you’re bound to come across a degree of unconscious bias, so it was good to know that these challenges I’d faced weren’t in silo, nor in vain.” 

For Katherine, it was also a chance to give back in a way that felt real and rewarding. 

“Shannon was clear about what she needed, and I was honest about what I could offer,” she says. “We approached it as a shared learning journey, not a one-way exchange. We made a good partnership as Shannon was also curious about my career journey.” 

That openness laid the foundation for trust. 

“Shannon took ownership of her path forward,” Katherine adds. “That gave me space to ask meaningful questions and offer guidance without the pressure to have all the answers.” 

The turning point 

As their mentoring relationship developed, Shannon’s confidence grew. She began exploring new opportunities, including one that once felt out of reach: Private Equity. 

Shannon said, “I knew I wanted to use the experience I had gained to date in professional services to sit on the other side of the table and work closer with management teams and entrepreneurs.” 

Having transparent conversations with Katherine helped Shannon make that career shift. She states, “It helped me to realise I could trust my own intuition and my past experience, even if it didn’t fit the stereotypical model or path, this was actually a strength not a weakness.” 

 Mentoring matters at every career stage 

Shannon believes mentoring is especially valuable during the middle stages of a career. “These times are where your experience is still being built upon but you’re not coming with an entirely clean slate and sometimes a little helping hand is all you need to steer you in the right direction - or confirm you are already on the right path.” 

Katherine encourages more CAs to become mentors, even if they feel uncertain. “Often, the most valuable thing you can offer is your presence - someone who listens, asks thought-provoking questions."  

She also points out that mentoring doesn’t require a major time commitment, it can be as simple as a WhatsApp check-in. “Even short conversations - or a one-off chat on a specific topic - can make a real difference." 

Not just a programme 

For Shannon and Katherine, the ICAS Mentoring programme was more than professional advice, it became a source of clarity, confidence and mutual growth. 

Shannon summed it up: “Sometimes a little helping hand is all you need to steer you in the right direction or confirm you’re already on the right path.” 

Katherine added, “Many assume it’s a one-way exchange, but mentoring is mutually enriching. It’s not defined by seniority, titles or years in practice - it's about genuine connection.”