Creating space for reflection and learning: Maisie's story

When Maisie first began thinking about mentoring, she was looking for support as she considered what might come next in her career. Her role was approaching a point of change, and she wanted to understand what would support her growth and which areas she could develop next. That curiosity led her to mentoring, giving her space to explore her strengths, consider new possibilities and build confidence in taking ownership of her own development.  

'I hoped to gain a fresh perspective on my development and explore new ideas.'

Maisie’s journey at Oxford began in 2020 when she joined as an HR apprentice. From day one she was eager to learn, moving through HR roles in the Mathematical Institute and the Department of Engineering Science before joining the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences as an HR Advisor. Each step gave her experience across different teams and ways of working, all of which she continues to draw on today.

Her role now covers the full employee journey. She supports managers and contributes to departmental projects focused on staff experience and equality. She enjoys the variety of her work, and it was this enthusiasm for learning and expanding her skills that made mentoring feel like a natural next step.

When Maisie considered mentoring, she wanted someone outside her immediate workplace who could offer a fresh perspective. She hoped for an honest space to explore questions about her future, reflect on what she had achieved and think about where she could grow next.  

She chose a mentor whose experience reached beyond her own, someone who could help her imagine what the next stage in her career might look like. From their first meeting, she felt encouraged to take the lead, shape the conversation and bring forward the areas she wanted to focus on.

The mentoring relationship developed naturally over five meetings across the year, held mostly online. Maisie appreciated how flexible it felt. She could reach out when she needed support and take time between conversations to try out new ideas. Getting started was simple: through the Professional Services Mentoring Scheme, she could browse profiles, reach out to a mentor and quickly set up that first meeting.

Together they explored ways she could continue building her skills. They identified practical actions, small learning opportunities and alternative ways to keep progressing.

'Mentoring helped me to feel more confident in the next steps of my development. It made me realise that there are small wins which will help me develop and widen my knowledge. My mentor offered solutions such as different podcasts and reading materials which would keep me up to date on key changes happening in the HR world.'

A memorable moment came when she and her mentor met in person at the annual HR conference. After speaking online for months, meeting face to face added depth to the relationship and gave Maisie the chance to introduce her mentor to her team.

Looking back, Maisie sees mentoring as a valuable moment of pause. It gave her space to reflect, recognise her progress and feel clearer about leading her own development. She believes mentoring can support anyone, whether they are seeking clarity, building confidence or simply wanting dedicated time to think about their growth.

Her advice is to start by asking yourself what you hope to gain, be open to new ideas and set aside time to follow through on actions between meetings. Most importantly, she encourages colleagues to reach out. Making a new connection and giving yourself time to reflect can be incredibly valuable at any stage of your career.  

'It might be daunting at the start, but it does really benefit you. I would recommend it to anyone.'

Please visit the RECOGNISE Mentoring Scheme page on the Staff Gateway (SSO required) if you are interested in mentoring, either as a mentor or mentee. RECOGNISE is an interdepartmental scheme, ran with the Department of Oncology, designed to support your professional development and help you navigate key career transition points.