Did you have a one-to-one mentor with Urban Synergy?
I didn’t have a one-to-one mentor, but I was invited to Urban Synergy events, and I used to speak quite a lot with Nigel, who does the photography and videography for Urban Synergy. At the time, I wanted to be a photojournalist, so Nigel would share photography tips and insights he’d learned over the years. Through an Urban Synergy connection, someone actually gave me a camera to use, which I still have today! I used it to capture some of the Urban Synergy events, which was such a great experience.
What kind of workplace experiences did you have through Urban Synergy?
The regular trips to Thomson Reuters were really valuable. Along with two of my schoolmates, I went to the news desk there with Urban Synergy to film content. That hands-on exposure was really eye-opening.
How did your time with Urban Synergy influence your career aspirations?
Urban Synergy helped me understand more about the career I thought I wanted to pursue. One of the events at our school, where Urban Synergy invited professionals to talk about their careers, really opened my eyes. For example, I didn’t even know photojournalism was a career path until Urban Synergy introduced me to it. Experiences like that helped me see the wide range of possibilities out there and more importantly, helped me believe that I could actually achieve them. That was one of the biggest takeaways for me.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a mentee with Urban Synergy?
I’d say come in with an open mind and don’t worry if you don’t yet know what you want to do. You can have a mentor who isn’t in your field of interest and still learn so much, because skills are transferable. Someone could be a pilot and still teach you things that will benefit you no matter what career you choose. Also, never underestimate the power of your network. Just because someone doesn’t do what you want to do doesn’t mean they don’t know someone who can help you. The way you treat people and how you carry yourself can open doors you never expected