Testimonials from satisfied clients and program participants
Feedback from clients
"We appreciate the assistance you and your team have given us in rolling out the Women@QANTAS program this year. This is an important program for the business and we are pleased with the results we have been getting. Thank you for your commitment and energy in working with us to make this program happen."
Karen Lonergan - QANTAS
GGM, Organisation Effectiveness & Management Development
"On behalf of Hewlett Packard, I would like to express my great appreciation for the work undertaken by Orijen. Orijen has developed and implemented mentoring programs for HP women in Australia for the past 3 years and most recently developed a pilot program for our high-potential women across Asia Pacific.
The feedback from our mentees is consistently outstanding. They have valued the opportunity and appreciated the quality of the mentors sourced by Orijen.
Orijen demonstrates an enthusiastic and proactive manner to ensure the success of our programs. They have also willingly responded to our requests for any changes to ensure relevance to individual business needs."
Katie Spearitt - HP Way Global Inclusion & Diversity
Feedback from mentees
"I have recently completed the my 12 month mentoring program and
know that I have benefited greatly from the experience. The program
has enabled me to clearly determine my future career plan which has
been accepted and endorsed by management. The program has also
assisted me in enhancing my interpersonal skills, enabling me to work
more effectively within and outside of HP".
Kirsty Mundy, Hewlett Packard mentee
"The benefits of participating in this program live with me today,
almost a year later. Whenever I have a challenging issue to address, or
I feel like I have come to a stop, I think "what would my mentor have
asked me at this point?". It helps me to look at things from a different
perspective or point of view and often results in a more creative and
interesting outcome. Thanks to my mentor and to Orijen!"
Wilma Walsh, Hewlett Packard mentee
"I was pregnant and faced with finishing work and having to
negotiate terms and roles to return to while I was in the program. My
mentor was invaluable in helping me understand my options and how to
best position myself for my desired outcome. My mentor also helped me
come to terms with entering this next phase of my life and the
expectations I felt were placed on me by my peers, managers and myself."
Jane Kirkhope, Hewlett Packard mentee
"I am very happy with my relationship with my mentor. I feel we are
well matched in terms of background and personality. My mentor has
provided me with a wealth of her industry knowledge; the benefit of her
perspective (always balanced and considered - incredibly helpful) and a
simple knowledge that others have experienced similar pressures;
stresses and doubts as I have/do/will. This has given me confidence not
to doubt myself. I feel I am respected and valued by my mentor and
Qantas."
QANTAS mentee
"I guess the success of a program of this nature is in the people and I've been very lucky to have been matched with an excellent mentor. My mentor has challenged me to think more deeply about issues, and having the structured approach of the program has been great for making me consider my working life outside of the frenetic pace of the working day. I would not have done this if I had not been on the program."
Dave Jones, Non Profit Australia mentee
"I am enjoying this program immensely and have already gained more than I thought I would over the entire 12 months. It has already had a seismic impact on the way I work and its impact on my professional growth and my organisation's sustainability and success will be profound. It has exceeded my most sanguine expectations and I have already made provision in next year's budget for at least three members of my senior management team to do the program next year and I intend, in the following year, making an even bigger investment. Non Profit Australia (and Orijen) should take great pride in the great opportunities they are providing to NGOs and those who lead and manage them."
Warren Johnson, Non Profit Australia mentee
"The most significant benefit for me has been the validation of my skills and ability as a senior manager / executive. Also my mentor has provided a fresh perspective on business concepts and assisted in fine tuning my skill set to deal with common issues."
Lesley Jordan, Non Profit Australia mentee
"This program has been a major contributing factor to my success and personal growth this year. I have a terrific Mentor who I admire and trust. I look forward to our time each month and value the time she makes for me. In the last 4 months she has been a key factor to my achievements. She makes me feel that she has confidence in my ability and provides that extra support, drive & guidance just when I need it. I am very grateful for this opportunity. Thank you Orijen for matching me with a wonderful mentor!"
Denise Murray, Sassall Aluminium
Constructive Mentoring mentee
"Having a business mentor has boosted my confidence in my business skills and helped hone areas needing attention both professionally and personally. Entering (and surviving) in an industry that has a predominance of men can be daunting and difficult; to have support from fellow women in similar situations is not only supportive in a business sense but also valuable on a personal level.
I would recommend the mentoring program, as the relationships you have the opportunity to build are difficult to establish without a structured introduction program. I have learned that having a business mentor is an invaluable tool in business and if one is lucky enough to secure a mentor, the future possibilities and advantages are endless."
Kim Liddell, Director, Non Destructive Excavation Australia Pty Ltd.
Constructive Mentoring mentee
"The Constructive Mentoring program has been a good forum to discuss ideas and issues in relation to the direction of my career and the profession. I was able to discuss and develop ideas with people who are at a similar stage career-wise and others who have experienced similar situations and they have offered great advice and insight. Personally this helped me develop skills to handle and manage my own expectations of my career. Most importantly, through participating in this program I have learned what I am capable of, and what I can do to keep learning.
For women in the building, design and construction industry I think this program is crucial to provide the opportunity to discuss and address important career management skills."
Ali Stynes, Tanner Architects
Constructive Mentoring mentee
Feedback from mentors
"Being part of the Orijen mentoring group brings for me multiple
rewards. The freshness and enthusiasm of the young women I meet with
as mentor, the friendly professionalism of the Orijen facilitators and
the open sharing of ideas with my co-mentors all contribute to what is
for me a most enjoyable and stimulating learning experience"
Anne Ellison - Director Human Resources ATO
Orijen external mentor
"I believe the program is invaluable to mentees from a number of
perspectives, but the most important aspect is the ability to talk
about issues with an impartial "outsider". It also gives the mentee an
understanding that issues they need to address are not "unique" and
gives them confidence that there is a solution to most of these issues."
Anne King
Orijen external mentor
"I found it to be a great motivator. As a mentor I had to step outside my comfort zone and listen to my mentee - the idea of helping someone to think it through for themselves, rather than telling them what they could do, enabled me to look at alternative solutions."
Kathy Byrne
Constructive Mentoring mentor
"My own journey has felt very lonely in terms of role models and support from other women in the industry, although I have some wonderful male sponsors and mentors, and I feel supporting women to be self-empowered is one way I can contribute back.
As a mentor I really enjoy meeting other women in the industry and connecting with them. Professionally it challenges my management and leadership skills as I need to step back and work with each individual mentee to allow them to work through situations to find solutions, yet also be a conduit for information and source of options, ideas and strategies. In this way I feel my own personal development occurring and I get such a joy when I see my involvement is making a difference for my mentee."
Christina Hobbes, Stockland
Constructive Mentoring mentor