Page 45 - Gi flipbook April 2018

IGEM NEWS | Mentoring

BOTH SIDES OF

THE STORY

Ben Kuchta,
Managing
To mentor, or not to mentor? Find out what IGEM mentoring Director of
means to our volunteers and to the people it benefits Quantic
Corporation,
is one of
IGEM’s
youngest
Chartered Engineers. He talks
about what it was like to have
Bob as a mentor
“I became a Chartered Engineer via the
technical report option in order to
validate and gain recognition for my
knowledge and competencies
developed over a number of years
within the gas industry.
“The process also validated my
experience as a professional. By
successfully completing the report,
the subsequent interviews and
becoming a Chartered Engineer in
November of 2017, I have discovered
new prospects, strengthened my
position as a leading engineer and
maintained the highest standards
within industry.
“I had been made aware during my
interview for EngTech that to achieve
the status of CEng I’d have to bridge
Bob Murray, registration or just helping them in the academic gap from my GCSEs to
Global Head their future career options. the equivalent of a Masters in
of “Ben was paired with me by IGEM’s Engineering via a technical report and
Operations academic panel who decided I would peer review.
for Enzen, make a good mentor for him as he “Having built the knowledge,
mentored was working on his own innovation experience and competencies over a
Ben Kuchta project. I always meet with my number of years, I sought a mentor to
on his path mentees beforehand to make sure we help me fully realise the extent of my
to becoming are a good fit and that I have abilities and achievements so that I
a Chartered Engineer with IGEM. something to teach them. Ben was could articulate my experience and
Here, he share his experiences the perfect mentee, he was a dream academic knowledge consistently
“There’s a number of reasons why I to work with. He is diligent, throughout the process.
decided to become a mentor. IGEM is committed and really wants to “The right mentor can easily and
a learned institution and I think we achieve. I normally draw up an readily communicate their
have to be able to offer future agreement with my mentees and he understanding of industry values and
generations the chance to rise up and met every deadline, did everything I wisdom. By doing so, they contribute
fill the positions that are required by asked of him. In fact, he was such a toward your overall development
the industry. People with industry pleasure to mentor, I’ve continued to through positive encouragement and
experience have a lot to offer – if I’d mentor him in his career, even after realisation. This was wholly necessary
had a mentor in my early career, life he became a Chartered Engineer. when endeavouring to complete the
would have been a lot easier and I “As for the benefits to me, my technical report route, as I was
think I would have achieved my network of talented people continues expected to bridge both the academic
career goals a lot quicker. I also to grow, it helps with my CPD as I have and professional gap, which can be
wanted to give something back to to do more research to make sure I can extremely difficult without the
the industry; I felt I had a duty to support my mentees, and it allows me guidance and motivation of a mentor.
help others to get where they need to give something back to the industry “I’d like to thank IGEM and Bob for
to be, whether that’s professional that has given me everything.” their patience and support.” ■

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