Mentoring Stories

Justin Field

Justin's Mentoring Story

I would like to share my stories about two of my professional mentors.

Earlier this year at Oracle, I was asked to lead a global project to build a new HR dashboard.  The project team is composed of 27 people in 10 time zones.  I selected a mentor, Eileen, from our HR Information Systems group – she had extensive project management experience and extensive political experience with most of the key players that would be influential in the new project.  I have known Eileen for approximately four years, having worked with her on several previous projects.  Our previous collaboration established my credentials with her and so she was happy to mentor me.  We do not have a regularly scheduled meeting, but I reach out to her as difficult situations come up, when I need her insight and her advice.  We keep in touch over email and through Zoom.  It has been extremely helpful because she knows how work gets done at Oracle, and what sort of political pitfalls to avoid, and so I listen closely to the advice she gives me.

At UNE, my mentor is Professor Alison Sheridan.  She was also my PhD supervisor and so I have known her for more than a decade.  In my role as adjunct lecturer, I seek her advice on how to deal with teaching and learning issues, especially some of the trickier issues with challenging students.  I rely on her extensive experience and her knowledge of the University's procedures to give me guidance.  Sometimes our relationship extends to emotional support – when things get difficult. 

These two mentors have helped me this year to achieve much more effective performance, by way of their insights, their advice, and their differing perspectives.