Flash Mentorship Returns: A Chance to Share Wisdom Amongst Alumni

Some 30 IE University alumni gathered Saturday morning between the hours of 11 to 2 p.m. in the alumni-owned pastry shop 9 Lives, to learn from each other in small groups over gourmet brunch bites in the first Flash Mentorship event since returning from summer break.

"Being behind the scenes and hearing the stories from people, I know its importance," said Hollyn Galban, Global Alumni Relations Engagement Officer. "The best part about Flash Mentorship is seeing in real-time the impact it has not just on the mentees but also the mentors, because at the end of the day what we are doing is nurturing a community, not just as alumni but as people making friendships through personal growth."

Flash Mentorship rounds allotted 15 minutes for mentors to share their wisdom. The wisdom ranged from teaching how to strengthen individual identities, nurturing strengths, being flexible, to learning to harness control while knowing when and what to let go. The final hour was then saved for networking and asking more personal questions to deepen connections amongst participants.

Elizabeth Stallard, Alumni Integration and Engagement Director, started the initiative back in 2022 when she saw a need for mentorship without the big time commitment that traditional programs require.

"Flash Mentorship offers the benefits of mentorship, but catered to young professionals who might be busier on their day-to-day," Stallard said. 

The five mentors selected for the Flash Mentorship each worked in different sectors, ranging from marketing, technology, communications, HR strategy and government. These graduates are in the mid-stages of their careers and volunteered to impart actionable tips they felt were indispensable.

Mentors included Alejandro Rebolledo Dona, Partnership & Business Development Manager at Autoplay, Michelle Cherubin, Business Development Manager at Les Amis, James Woldringh, International Sustainability and Community Impact Communications Specialist at Amazon, Enrique Figallo, Human Capital & Future of Work Lead, and Atman Sandhu, Correspondent for the Government of India in Spain.

"My topic today was pivoting, not just in work, but also in our personal lives," said Sandhu. "IE likes to stress personal reinvention. We must be open to receiving; don’t have blinders on and see how opportunities come your way." 

Participants said they took away valuable insights. 

"I could tell the mentors were chosen intentionally, because there were five distinct personas who taught distinct skills," said attendee Esther Gail Fraser. "It is important to invest in spaces that allow you to meet people that can help you along the journey, and this event feels like one of those spaces."

Fellow alumna Ainoa Onatibia, who graduated in 2024 from the Executive Masters graduate in Strategic Marketing and Communication, agreed on the importance of IE’s networking events.

"We always need an external perspective in life, whether you are looking for a change or not, you’d be surprised by how much we can learn from others," said Onatibia.