The Marketors' Mentoring Programme at Royal Holloway

How will I find out if I have been successful? *Please refer to the timeline above

Students will be notified directly by email by Jarmila Yu whether they have been matched for the 1:1 format of mentoring or for the group mentoring format sessions.

Students must immediately confirm acceptance of their place on the programme by return email to Jarmila Yu.

If you are matched for 1:1 mentoring, you will be introduced by email to your mentor and you must make direct and immediate contact with your mentor. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange mentoring sessions at dates and times that work for both you and your mentor.

If you do not accept the offer extended to you, you will lose access to the programme and your place will be offered to another student.

When are the mentoring sessions? *Please refer to the timeline above

The Mentoring sessions will take place between January and March 2027.

For those matched for the 1:1 mentoring, session dates and times should be arranged between yourself (the mentee) and the mentor, at a time that works for both of you. Once you accept the offer, you should contact your mentor and set all 5 one hour session dates in your diaries.  

For the Group Mentoring sessions, times and dates will be provided to the students via email by Jarmila Yu, once you have been notified and accepted your place on the programme.

All mentees on the group mentoring or the 1:1 mentoring will be invited to a kickoff bonus session on campus in January. This is designed to cover foundational topics so that you can get into deeper conversations and make progress faster thereafter.

Who decides the content of the mentoring discussions, is there a structure to them?

These remote online sessions will be led by the mentee (student) and should be based on the needs and topics you raise, depending on where you are in your marketing career journey. Together with the mentor, you should agree the related topics to discuss and what issues you are interested in working through.  

What is the content and format of the Group Mentoring sessions if you don’t get a 1:1?

The group mentoring sessions held on campus in Egham will be based on common topics and issues that come up during the 1:1 sessions, as these will be subjects that are common to all mentees. However, there will also be opportunities for sessions to be led by the students, responding to your needs. These are interactive sessions and each session builds on the last. These are not available online and are not recorded.

What is the commitment? 

Similar to your studies at University, the expectation is that you will "show up, lean in and do the work". There is a commitment on both sides, from mentor and mentee.

The WCM Mentoring Handbook is a must read by both mentor and mentee - it's an aid to understand the expectations of, and for, both parties involved in the mentoring. Its guidance can provide the key to ensure both parties unlock the immense value that mentoring offers both mentor and mentee. 

Download a copy of the WCM Mentoring Handbook AKA The Mentoring Etiquette Guide here. 

Will I receive a certificate at the end of the programme?

All students participating in the mentoring programme will be invited to a celebration event held in May 2027 at the Egham campus, and those successfully fully completing the mentoring programme (= full attendance at all sessions allocated to them) will receive a certificate acknowledging your achievement. This is an additional value-add of programme participation and networking with your peers and the mentors from the Worshipful Company of Marketors.

“I was hesitant to apply for the mentor programme as I entered third year thinking it was too late, but I was wrong! Not only did I apply but I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the students paired with a one-on-one mentor, and that time was so valuable. The mentors (C-Level executives) on the scheme are incredibly busy people, so having their full attention for an hour every week or two meant I could ask questions without any distractions, and because their companies are growing and facing new challenges every day, I was hearing about it in real time. My mentor, Sam Fenton, always made time for me and was really receptive to my questions. He gave me tangible advice, like which skill sets matter in marketing now that AI is part of it, and he introduced me to his wider team, including the growth officers, the new business development team and the CMO. It felt less like a one-on-one mentorship and more like an insight into the whole company. The experience gave me a holistic picture of the agency side of the marketing industry. I think mentoring early on is so important, especially in our digital age where we are bombarded with information about what we should and shouldn't be doing. An experienced mentor helps you work out what's actually relevant, what to spend your time on and what to experiment with, so it really structures your thinking. Royal Holloway's career service was also really  approachable throughout the grad job hunting process and reassuring. I spoke with the Head of Employability, and they tried to connect me with other people too. I'd definitely recommend the programme because it connects you with someone who's relevant to your field and interests. For me, it led to an internship and then a full-time job straight out of graduation as a Founder's Associate!"

“This programme aided me in my development and further understanding of the Marketing world. Not only did it help me to understand what part of marketing most aligned with my skills and attributes, but it also helped me to get a deeper understanding of the industry and how to best enter it. This programme was essential in my development and preparation to getting my first role. I am now a Graduate Communications Analyst at Computacenter! Thank you to Jarmila and all of the mentors!”

“The Marketing Mentoring programme has allowed me to benefit from expert conversation with an industry professional, developing my industry knowledge and a strong insight into a marketing career. I am currently applying for marketing placements for 2025/26 and have found the application/interview tips extremely helpful.”

“I wish to express my appreciation for the sessions that you have organised for us. Each one was incredibly beneficial, and I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from it.”

“I have thoroughly enjoyed being mentored by Jarmila and I have learned very valuable lessons that I will take into my career. I absolutely love how interactive they are and how many quizzes and LinkedIn advice you have provided.”

"It has been a really value experience and I am very grateful for the opportunity!"

“After hearing more about the industry and Jarmila’s experience within the first session, it further ignited my enthusiasm to work in marketing.”

“I value this opportunity because marketing is a career I see as the future, especially digital marketing and being able to learn from the best mentor out there is a very valuable opportunity.”

“Being selected for this prestigious mentoring programme has enabled me to authentically connect with a seasoned marketing specialist and gain a well-rounded insight into the facets of marketing. I think it is valuable for students (like me, who are typically underrepresented within the field) to fruitfully apply their conceptual knowledge to practical real-world scenarios, and I have thankfully already been able to achieve that. I am really excited for what is to come over the next few months as I continue to develop my analytical and interpersonal skills.”

“It’s very nice to hear that I have been selected as a mentee and it’s my great honour to participate in this opportunity.”

"Thank you both so much for organising this and for all the support throughout the programme, it’s been such a valuable experience."

“I'm really excited about the opportunity and am fully ready to partake in it. I'm really looking forward to the guidance on how to make the most of this experience and to meeting my mentor. I can't wait to get started!”

"Thank you so much for organising this programme. I really appreciated getting to know Moira, and I'm very grateful that she helped me navigate job applications with her expertise!”

"Thank you so much, I truly appreciate you taking the time to connect me with Adeline, it genuinely means so much to me. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak with someone with her experience, and I really appreciate all the support and guidance you’ve given me throughout this process. Thank you for continuing to support me."

“Thank you for leading the Worshipful Company of Marketors Mentorship Programme last year. I participated in the group mentoring cohort, and I found the experience incredibly valuable for my professional development.”

"I’m so excited to share that I’ll be kickstarting my career with Shiseido next month! It honestly still feels surreal. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without both of your support, and I’m incredibly grateful. Sarah, thank you for encouraging me to think differently and to create opportunities instead of simply waiting for them. Jarmila, thank you for believing in me so much, that you went out of your way to find me a place on the mentoring programme. More than anything, this experience taught me to keep putting myself out there, to be resilient, and to build genuine relationships. Thank you both again for believing in me.”

"Thank you again, and I really appreciate the opportunity and support."

"It was a great program and I've really loved how prepared Daniella came for each session (I asked her to suggest a topic for each and she had great ideas) and how much she remembered what I had told her from previous sessions and infusing it in our discussions. Many thanks for your help throughout the program Jarmila."

"I was fortunate enough to be guided by senior leaders when I was starting out - I want to pay it forward to the future generation of talent!”

"Mentoring lets me give back to a profession that has given me so much, and to learn from the fresh thinking students bring. Marketing is changing faster than ever. Through my work at Nexuss9, I see daily how AI is reshaping the way buyers discover brands. I want to help the next generation enter the profession curious, adaptable and ready to lead that change.”

"I believe mentoring plays an important role in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice, helping aspiring marketers build confidence, develop their skills and navigate their early careers. I am keen to share my experience, offer practical guidance and contribute to developing the next generation of marketing professionals.”

"Having benefitted from a number of great career mentors myself over the years, I find it very rewarding to help upcoming professionals achieve their potential.  I joined the Company in part to give back to the profession and I find this is a great way to help do this.”

"I began my marketing career without formal training, but I was fortunate to learn from outstanding mentors who helped shape the professional I am today. I now want to give back by sharing those lessons with the next generation of industry leaders.”

"Career mentoring matters to me because I know first-hand how transformative it can be when someone gives you their time, honest feedback and confidence, sometimes before you can fully see your own potential. I have benefited from generous leaders throughout my career, and I want to pay that forward by helping emerging marketers find their voice, navigate challenges and create opportunities of their own.”

"I believe career mentoring is one of the most meaningful ways to give back to the profession. I'm grateful for the guidance I received throughout my own career, and I enjoy helping students build confidence, broaden their perspective beyond the digital world we live and work in, and navigate the transition from university into the marketing industry.”

"I had a mentor early in my career and found it really helpful. I have since mentored and coached many students and professionals, and two years ago my Queen Mary mentee won the Overall Mentee of the Year Award - just another benefit from being a mentor. In my Masterclasses and as a mentor I learn alongside my students and mentees...it is a terrific experience and I am looking forward to the Royal Holloway experience next year."

Launched on National Mentoring Day 2023 (27 October), the Business School, in partnership with The Worshipful Company of Marketors, was pleased to offer an exciting new opportunity for those of its students who were interested in pursuing a career in Marketing. 

Supported by senior stakeholders, both at Royal Holloway and the WCM, as well as internal advocates from the university’s Careers services and teaching team within the School, the pilot year saw applications from over 60 students, with 33 selected to benefit from the 1:1 and group mentoring sessions.

Mentoring matters! The Marketors’ Mentoring programme is a valuable way for those in the marketing profession to support and attract new talent, while bringing additional personal fulfilment, satisfaction and success to both the mentee and the mentor.  Through participating in the scheme students are inspired to embark on a career in marketing, providing them with advice on how to break into the industry as their first step out of education.  

Meet the Mentors - 2023-24

These are the current Marketors who are kindly volunteering their time to support the Marketors’ Mentoring Programme for the Royal Holloway Business School:

• Bob Burgess, Head of Category Management Europe, Melitta Group
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• Jarmila Yu Founder, MD & Consulting CMO, YUnique Marketing Ltd
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• Kevin Harris,  Founder & MD, MDSG
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• Matt Antos-Lewis, Strategic Marketing & Operations Consultant
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• Nicky Oliver, Client & Marketing Director, E3 Consulting
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