Mentoring with Purpose: The Inner Edge at Work
Over the past few months, I’ve been fortunate to mentor three bright, driven individuals at early yet pivotal stages in their careers. What’s made this experience especially meaningful is applying the principles of The Inner Edge — my own evolving framework focused on self-validation, clarity, and purposeful growth. Each of my mentees — Florence, Jenny, and Ruben is navigating a different set of challenges, and together we’ve been working through them one conversation, one exercise, and one reflection at a time.
Florence: Navigating the Workplace with Intent
Confidence ↔ Conviction
Florence is already in the workplace, which brings with it a different kind of mentoring dynamic. Our work has focused on helping her build confidence and presence — understanding how to negotiate relationships, boundaries, and opportunities as a young professional. We’ve explored topics like how to ask for feedback, how to spot and pursue growth moments, and how to develop a voice that’s both respectful and assertive. With Florence, The Inner Edge has been about fostering intentionality: brining that confidence and making conscious choices in how she shows up and engages at work.
Jenny: Structuring Uncertainty into Tangible Goals
Opportunism ↔ Outputs
Jenny is at an inflection point — faced with multiple paths and unsure how to navigate them. Rather than rushing into a decision, our sessions have centred around slowing down, zooming out, and building a structure for clarity. We’ve mapped out a 12–18 month outlook, breaking it down into digestible chunks: What are your core interests? What do you want to learn? What small steps will build momentum? In her case, The Inner Edge is about reflection and reframing — turning being overwhelmed and fragmented thoughts into opportunity through structured thinking.
Ruben: Refining Identity and Clarifying Direction
Procrastination ↔ Destinations
Ruben knows roughly where he wants to go — he has an industry in mind but the "how" and "who am I in this space?" still need shaping. We’ve been working on identifying his transferable strengths, mapping role types, and simulating interviews to help him articulate his story with greater impact. There’s also been a confidence-building layer — helping him internalise the value he brings, rather than just rehearsing the ‘right’ answers. For Ruben, The Inner Edge is about removing the doubt and cultivating self-belief through preparation and perspective, to get him to where he wants to be.
A Shared Journey of Growth
Relationships ↔ Results
What I’ve appreciated most is how engaged each mentee has been. They’ve been proactive in scheduling sessions, open to exercises and reflection prompts, and honest in asking questions. I’m now about five or six sessions in with each of them, and while progress is personal and nonlinear, I’ve seen real shifts in mindset, direction, and self-awareness.
As a mentor, I’m learning too about patience and relational depth — where to challenge, where to listen and not focusing on fixed outcomes. The Inner Edge isn’t a formula — it’s a lens. And through that lens, I see three individuals beginning to step into their own with greater clarity, confidence, and control.
