The Power of Mentoring

Last month marked the end of the 4th edition of the Dare IT Mentoring Program, where I had the great pleasure—once again—of participating as a mentor for the UX/UI Design path. This is a 3-month program run by female IT experts, dedicated to supporting women in landing their first job in a chosen tech field. According to both research and my personal experience, quality mentoring is one of the most effective ways to learn and grow.

Interestingly, research has shown that mentors who work with mentees they perceive as similar to themselves report higher quality mentoring relationships and better learning outcomes (Allen & Eby, 2003). That’s why, instead of telling you how great mentoring can be for your growth in design, development, or any other field, I want to share feedback from some of the amazing women I’ve mentored over the years. Let’s dive in 🚀

At what stage in your development did you start mentoring with me?

Ania: Our journey began when I was recovering from a tough experience as the sole designer in a product company. I wanted to settle into a new organization with support from a seasoned designer—and that’s how I came under your wing.

Natalia: We started working together during my internship—you were my Development Partner.

Ola: When I joined the Dare IT mentoring program on the UX Design track, I was just beginning my career switch. I had completed a UX bootcamp and attended workshops on color psychology and accessibility, along with a few small freelance projects. My skills—especially in UI—were still very basic. I needed practical guidance and direction from someone more experienced. The sheer volume of information was overwhelming—what should I focus on? How should I plan my next steps? Who could I discuss my solutions and doubts with? These were just a few of the questions swirling in my mind.

How long did the mentoring process last? What did the collaboration look like?

Ania: Mentoring sessions are most valuable when based on real-life challenges. In my case, we worked on a project together for several months. The project itself was complex, so depending on the situation, we’d meet even several times a week.

Natalia: We worked together for three months, meeting every two weeks, and I could also message you anytime with development or design questions. I had done UI mentoring before, but with you, I got a more holistic view of my growth. You taught me goal-setting frameworks and gave me tools I can now use independently. One of the most helpful tools was the 12-week year, which really supported my work.

Ola: The Dare IT mentoring program lasted from November 2021 to February 2022. We had seven one-hour online sessions via Zoom and also communicated through Slack. At the beginning, I wrote down my goals, which we reviewed and used to plan the topics and timeline of our sessions.

The collaboration went both ways. Natalia would prepare and walk me through topics I wanted to dive deeper into from her perspective. On my end, I worked on tasks to refine my portfolio and develop new skills in UI and running UX workshops with clients.

How did these sessions impact your professional life?

Ania: I gained practical advice that helps me communicate better with American clients. I’ve also noticed improvements in how I organize my day and prioritize tasks, which makes me more effective.

Natalia: Before, I would just list my to-dos and tick them off. Working with you helped me learn to prioritize and view tasks from a higher level.

Ola: Shortly after starting the mentoring program, I landed a remote internship at a Berlin-based startup where I work on optimizing user flows and designing icons and screen content. Things progressed faster than I expected 🙂 By the end of the program, I got a job at a software house as a UX/UI Designer, where I continue to grow my skills in practice. I’m beyond excited and can’t wait for new challenges 🙂

What did you gain from these sessions?

Ania: Responsibility, courage to make mistakes, and a focus on win-win solutions—those were key takeaways that have made me a better designer. I also became more mindful of team collaboration, user testing, and how I justify my design choices.

Natalia: Tons of book recommendations 🙂 and tools for self-directed work. I often go back to what we established together and tweak things as I grow.

Ola: I gained practical knowledge across different stages of the design process. I learned how to:

• improve my portfolio
• run UX workshops
• identify UI trends
• collaborate with developers
• build components, use variants, and apply auto layout
• adjust shadows and content hierarchy
• collect data for analysis
• use design and task management tools
• create a Value Proposition Canvas

In terms of soft skills, I’ve gained confidence and feel more empowered to explore diverse UX solutions. Even though I’m just starting out, I’m full of energy and passion to keep learning and building meaningful user-centered solutions.

Switching careers turned out to be harder than I imagined. But I’m incredibly grateful that even during the tough moments, I met people who gave me a chance and the motivation to keep going.

What stuck with you the most from our sessions?

Ania: You recognize potential and skills in people that they wouldn’t be able to develop alone. I’ve come to value support that goes beyond wireframes—because being a designer is much more than that. Natalia, I can’t leave out your strategic thinking and process optimization skills. Working with you in workshops was incredibly valuable!

Natalia: Our regular meetings helped me accept that it’s okay not to get everything right the first time, and that it’s okay to try a different approach sometimes 🙂

Ola: I think my biggest success was improving my prototyping skills. When I look back at my early attempts, I smile knowing how far I’ve come. I’m thrilled that my learning journey is gaining momentum 🙂

The vibe of our sessions was super motivating—friendly and clear, yet very substantive and intense. After each session, I felt energized and ready to take action, and even tough challenges became easier to face 🙂

What would you say to someone considering mentoring but still unsure?

Ania: Don’t waste time hesitating—if you have the chance to learn from someone experienced, take it. You’ll see the benefits in your current or future job. Joining a mentoring program isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength!

Natalia: Be open to the meetings and development methods—you’ll leave with tools that empower you to keep growing long after the mentoring ends.

Ola: If anyone out there is still undecided, I strongly encourage you to try mentoring 🙂 The opportunity to receive tailored, practical knowledge from someone experienced is priceless—and its benefits show up fast. I’m living proof 🙂

And what about you?

Do you want to expand your knowledge and skills in Product Design? Or maybe you’ve been thinking about switching careers and starting this journey from scratch? Then stop hesitating and drop me a message 😉