/ 2 October 2007

All primped and ready to mentor

Veronica Devine is passionate about the upliftment and empowerment of people, in particular women.

The CEO of Virgin Cosmetics and Jewellery Africa considers mentoring important and an investment in an individual’s future.

‘It gives the mentee an opportunity to select a role model of her choice, to guide her, a person who has a personal and professional interest in her success. This puts her in touch with invaluable life experience she can draw on and utilise in her own development,” says Devine.

‘I don’t believe one applies for this position but, as the adage goes, ‘to whom much has been given, much shall be required”. You become available to be a mentor; you make time to assist someone else.”

Devine recalls one particularly rewarding mentoring process: ‘A young lady approached me and asked that I be her mentor. She was facing big career decisions coupled with uncertainty in her personal life.

‘After four months of working closely with her as her mentor, she was confident enough to make the necessary decisions and become reunited with her family.

‘The joy of it was when she called and said, ‘Thank you … Can we always please stay in touch? I won’t take much of your time as I realise others need you.’”

Devine says that to make the mentoring process successful, it is important to establish at the very onset clearly what both parties hoped to achieve.

‘Estimate how many hourly sessions you’ll need, for how many months. Listening with my ears, eyes, heart and mind is important. As is concentrating exclusively on this person. I share parts of my journey, where it is applicable, where the mentee can gain insight.

‘Also maintain a holistic view. I try and imagine what I would do in this person’s shoes, and guide them on how to approach these challenges.”

Devine believes that you can mentor any woman, but indeed do much for empowerment by mentoring young women within your own industry.

‘Although we have come a long way, we still have a very long way to go.”

IWFSA Calendar of Events

  • 2007 IWF World Leadership Conference and 25th Anniversary Celebration from October 10 to 12 2007 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Members only.
  • The IWFSA Board meeting, on October 15 2007, at the IWFSA Office, Rosebank. Board members only.
  • JSE Workshop on October 23 2007 at the JSE, Sandton, Gauteng. Members and fellows.
  • Top Women Investors Seminar (Middle East and SA) in Cape Town during October 2007. Date and time to be announced.
  • Zanele Mbeki Leadership Cup at the Pebble Rock Golf Club in Gauteng on November 23 2007. Members, fellows and current and potential sponsors.
  • Year-end function on November 23 in Gauteng. Date and time to be announced. Members only.
  • IWFSA Office Board meeting on January 29 2008 in Gauteng.
  • Budget Day, Parliament, Cape Town. February 2008. Members and fellows.
  • South African Reserve Bank workshop to be held in Pretoria. Date and time to be announced. Members and fellows.
  • International Women’s Day and launching of IWFSA International Census on women leaders in Gauteng. Date and time to be announced. Members, fellows and sponsors.
  • IWFSA Board meeting and AGM in Pretoria on March 13 2008. Members only.
  • IWF Buenos Aires Cornerstone Conference in Argentina from May 6 to 8 2008. Members only.
  • Africa Day, Durban, May 22 2008. Members and fellows.
  • Board meeting on June 10 2008 at the IWFSA office in Gauteng. Board Members
  • Board meeting on September 9 2008 at the IWFSA office in Gauteng. Board members only.
  • IWFSA Leadership Seminar on September 25 2008 at Vodaworld, Gauteng. Members and fellows.
  • Annual IWFSA Gala Dinner honouring women leaders on September 25 2008 at Vodaworld, Gauteng. Members and fellows.
  • Zanele Mbeki Leadership Cup on September 26 2008 at the Presidential Guest House, Gauteng. Members, fellows, current and potential sponsors.
  • IWF World Leadership Conference in Pittsburg, US, from October 15 to 17 2008. Members only.
  • Board meeting on November 6 2008 at IWFSA office, Gauteng. Board members only.
  • Year-end function on November 20 2008. Venue to be announced. Members, fellows and sponsors.