On behalf of the ISCT Mentoring Group
We decided to write this piece for ISCT members to share what we felt was an overwhelmingly positive experience within our mentoring group. Through this article, we aim to describe the values-driven conversations and the unique opportunity the group provided, which was a secure and confidential space in which to explore deep and personal thoughts, experiences, and professional challenges alongside a peer group of like-minded colleagues.
We have chosen to publish this article anonymously so that the themes and perspectives presented are not influenced by readers' perceptions of us as individuals. In doing so, we hope the focus remains on the shared experience itself rather than on the identities of the authors.
In a sense, anonymity allows us to be perceived as anyone, or perhaps as the person each reader imagines while reading these reflections. We hope that by removing our individual identities from the narrative, the experiences and insights shared here will resonate more broadly.
When discussing how to write an article that did not come across as an amateur attempt at self-help literature, we found ourselves returning to the themes that consistently emerged from our conversations. Distilling these discussions to their essence, we identified two ideas that formed the foundation of our experience.
Firstly, values-driven decision-making: Much of our conversation centred on how personal values shape the choices we make in our professional and personal lives. We explored the often-competing demands of career, leadership, family, friendships, and community, and how a clearer understanding of our values can help guide priorities when these demands inevitably come into conflict.
Secondly, the value of vulnerability: The group provided a rare opportunity to openly discuss fears, anxieties, uncertainties, personality traits, and aspects of our lives that extend beyond the workplace. Many of these thoughts and feelings are often concealed, either because they are perceived as unhelpful in professional environments or because there are few psychologically safe spaces in which to share them. Yet it was through this openness that some of the most meaningful conversations occurred, fostering understanding, connection, and mutual support.
We hope you enjoy reading this article and find something within it that speaks to your own professional journey.
Anonymous
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Mentorship is a word often used without clearly defining the intentions of both the mentor and the mentees involved. These relationships typically involve a structured pairing of a more senior “advice provider” and a more junior “advice seeker,” with both parties accepting these complementary roles. While the most productive and authentic mentor–mentee relationships often involve some degree of bi-directional learning, the establishment of these “senior/junior” dynamics remains an important foundation for constructive engagement.
The challenge lies in the often less-discussed area of interpersonal dynamics, which directly influence the quality of interactions. This includes the motivations, intentions, and expectations that each individual brings to the relationship.
In my experience as a mentor, mentee, and facilitator of the ISCT mentoring program, these factors can vary significantly between participants. For this reason, I begin my group sessions with an open discussion of these elements - not to impose a particular direction, but to improve alignment and increase the likelihood of a meaningful and constructive experience. Where appropriate, and in the best interests of the mentee, I will also recommend re-pairing, recognising that each mentoring relationship must align with the motivations, intentions, and expectations of those involved.
To establish a baseline expectation and understanding of how I operate as a mentor, I sent the following message to mentees in my 2026 grouping. I expected that this upfront boundary setting would provide clarity for the group and potentially lead to some mentees opting out, given my somewhat quasi psychological approach to mentorship.
Instead, I was genuinely surprised by the responses and the quality of the subsequent conversations within the group. This article aims to share that experience, where we developed an honest connection based on thoughts and feelings that are often left unspoken, yet were clearly relatable to all involved.
This openness became the foundation for more constructive and meaningful discussions, allowing the approach to be adapted to each mentee’s personality - and, in doing so, making me seem a little less full of the proverbial shit.
My initial email to the mentees:
I would like to share my motivations as a mentor. I volunteer my time to contribute to our field by supporting the career and professional development of ISCT members. In a confidential environment, I am happy to share my experiences, insights, and opinions in the hope that even a small part of it may be useful. I believe in the value of collaboration, openness, and networking to build a community of peers who can support one another going forwards.
While I am happy to discuss technical matters and share expertise, I prefer to do so within conversations that are framed around career and professional development, as these sessions offer the opportunity to explore topics that may be difficult to raise in the workplace, especially with managers at times.
With that in mind, I kindly ask that each of you reflect on your motivations for participating in this group so that we can frame our conversations in a way that supports the shared values that will help all of us (including me) on our career journeys.
To put that into practice, I deliberately frame my conversations around more than just career progression or technical advice. I start by trying to understand the person behind the role. This includes candid discussions around work–life balance, job satisfaction, personality, and hobbies, because unlike CVs, these actually reveal who people are.
I try to lead by example, even if that means taking the risk of over sharing my own career journey - setbacks, failures, achievements, and the broader context of my family life, values, and priorities. This helps create space for more open and honest conversations, and sets the tone for the type of engagement I aim to foster within the group.
From there, the focus shifts to creating an environment of psychological safety, where people feel comfortable being honest about their challenges, coping mechanisms, and what they actually want out of the program. I approach these conversations with genuine interest and respect for their achievements, and often feel a sense of awe and reward when I hear about their journeys and outlook.
Ultimately, it is the experience of the mentees themselves that becomes the most meaningful reflection of whether this approach works in practice - and what continues to drive my commitment to supporting those who have the courage to ask for advice in an honest and vulnerable way, as we are all just humans sharing this occasionally chaotic planet together.
With that said, I hand over to the mentees:
Mentee 1:
As a first-time mentee, I was unsure of what to expect initially. Navigating the industry as an ESP can be an interesting and confusing task at times. An introduction to a high-level industry professional, who is very generously offering their time, is something I felt should be taken very seriously; in the sense that you don’t want to waste their time. My immediate experience with my mentor was on a more personal level. Immediately stripping away the anxiety by the sharing of personal experiences and connecting not only as professionals, but also people, created a foundation for conversation that I had not expected before commencing these sessions. I appreciated the openness and honesty of experiences when navigating what felt like different but similar challenges. My mentor has created a space to ask questions I would never have thought to ask in a professional setting and has been incredibly rewarding for my personal and professional development. I have found conversations meaningful and thought provoking, often translating into deep discussions at home afterwards. I actively look forward to sessions and continue to learn more about navigating the industry not only in a professional sense but also personally. I could not recommend my experience more; the program has been wonderful as a result of his approach and openness. I look forward to continuing an ongoing relationship after the program has completed. I would like to thank him for his openness and willingness to share experiences, as well as his time.
Mentee 2:
My initial expectations about the ISCT Mentoring Program revolved around being able to make a professional connection that could either help me and my peers with technical work issues or a resource in the industry that we could go to for career development advice, we had our first session, and I quickly found out that this program can be much more than that.
Being an ESP in the cell therapy space is already daunting enough as it is, but not readily having the support outside of your work circle to talk through the “things unsaid” is something that we probably don’t even consider. From personal experience, the pressure of being a people leader in a high-stakes cell therapy start-up is something that no one really prepares you for or something that just no one can actually prepare for.
Then we had our first mentoring session. Meeting our mentor for the first time, he immediately made us feel comfortable and supported without even fully knowing him. In the ISCT space he has gone through what we’re currently going through, he’s someone who has an idea of how we’re feeling and can provide a more “outside-looking-in” perspective with their own experiences, he’s someone who can be supportive and respectful in their approach based on similar scenarios they’ve gone through, our mentor was somehow able to convey these through the digital medium where we came out of our initial session thinking about our own perspectives and priorities, and this was not something that I expected from this program.
This became an overall theme to my experience with this mentoring program, there was always a feeling of safety in the openness of being able to talk about navigating my personal experiences as an ESP in the ISCT space, with insightful input from a professional in our, sometimes isolating field. Also just having peers alongside you that are willing to be as vulnerable but at the same time, be of the same mindset. This might sound like our group got free therapy sessions from this program, and that may have well been the case, but having this space was something I needed, and I’m very grateful to have been a part of this program and can strongly advocate for more people in the ISCT space to be involved.
Mentee 3:
When the opportunity for the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) Mentorship Program came up, I decided to apply. My main motivation was to better support my team. Having worked in cellular therapy for five years, I felt this was an opportunity to broaden my knowledge and gain insights into different aspects of the field.
I was fortunate to be accepted into the mentorship program. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I assumed it would mainly focus on formal topics such as laboratory management, quality systems, process improvement and career development.
During the first meeting, it was just my mentor and me. As someone who isn’t naturally confident in speaking, I was quite nervous, and my voice trembled throughout the conversation. After the meeting, I found myself wondering where this mentorship would lead and what I would gain from attending the monthly sessions.
When I attended the third meeting, I finally met the other two mentees in the group. My mentor asked what I hoped to gain from the program. I shared that I wanted to challenge myself, continue growing professionally and keep learning. I asked for advice for study opportunities and pathways or qualification recommendations.
My mentor offered advice that changed my perspective. Rather than focusing solely on further study, he encouraged me to seek opportunities that would challenge me within my profession. He suggested joining committees, participating in webinars and building connections with people who could share their knowledge and experiences. This advice helped me realise that professional growth comes in many forms, not just though formal education.
I am grateful to be part of this mentorship group. Throughout the meetings, we have openly shared our personal experiences, challenges, fears and aspirations. One of the greatest takeaways for me has been the opportunity to connect with this group of intelligent, thoughtful and passionate professional who willing to share their knowledge to support one another.
The mentorship provided a safe space where I feel comfortable expressing my thoughts. It has increased my confidence and inspired me with new ideas on how I can continue to grow in my career.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my mentor for the time, effort and energy he has invested in our group. I do appreciate the honest, practical and genuine advice. I’m also thankful to my fellow mentees for sharing their experiences, and for giving thoughtful feedback. I look forward to our future meetings and to continuing to build meaningful professional relationships and friendships with such talented and inspiring individuals. This mentorship experience has reminded me that professional growth is not only about gaining knowledge, but also building meaningful connections, embracing new challenges and learning from the experience of others.
In closing, each of us works in a competitive, hierarchical, and meritocratic field where the realities of human experience and emotion can sometimes be overlooked in the pursuit of measurable outcomes, objective reporting, and pressing deadlines. We have no desire to leave our respective professions; indeed, many of these characteristics align closely with our personalities, motivations, and sense of purpose. Nevertheless, we deeply valued the opportunity this program provided to share vulnerabilities, reflect openly, and build meaningful connections with peers who understood our experiences.
If this article encourages even one reader to participate in the mentoring program and seek out that same sense of support, connection, and personal growth, then it will have been worth writing.
We leave with the question which we were all left to ponder after our first meeting:
At what cost are you willing to continue carrying, or increasing, the stress and burden of responsibility in pursuit of your goals?
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