At TenU, we believe the most profound professional growth happens through connection and reflection. Our recent coaching sessions brought together TenU RISE mentors and mentees for candid conversations, and the insights that emerged were too valuable not to share. These discussions moved far beyond simple advice, uncovering the core of what makes mentoring a transformative tool in technology transfer.

Here are the key themes that defined our conversations.

The Ripple Effect: Mentoring as a Two-Way Street

A powerful consensus emerged: mentoring is not a one-way transaction. While mentees gained clarity and confidence, mentors also experienced significant professional development.

Reflective Leadership: Mentors found that the process of guiding others forced them to articulate their own knowledge and re-examine their assumptions. The act of being a "thinking partner," rather than just an advice-giver, honed their coaching skills and fostered a more reflective leadership style in their daily work.

Renewed Perspective: Hearing fresh challenges and perspectives from mentees provided mentors with new insights into their own teams and practices. As one mentor shared, "It prompted me to step back and reassess my own career path and the direction of my team."

Bridging the Gap: The Unique Value of Small and Large TTO Insights

A significant portion of our dialogue explored the contrasting landscapes of different-sized tech transfer offices. This peer-to-peer exchange proved to be incredibly validating, especially for professionals in smaller institutions.

The "Whole Chain" Advantage: Colleagues from smaller TTOs highlighted their experience managing the entire commercialisation value chain—from research contracts to licensing and spinout creation. This breeds remarkable versatility and a deep understanding of the entire innovation lifecycle.
Combating Isolation with Connection: Mentees acknowledged the potential for isolation in smaller offices and highlighted mentoring relationships as an important source of connection and support. They further reported that connecting with peers from larger institutions helped them appreciate the strategic value of their broad roles and provided a vital support network.

Informed Career Choices: These discussions helped mentees objectively weigh the pros and cons of different working environments. Mentors provided guidance on how to leverage their diverse skill sets, whether they aspired to.

The Human Core: Emotional Intelligence in Practice

The most resonant theme was the critical role of soft skills. We moved beyond theory to explore the practical application of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in mentoring and team leadership.

From Theory to Action: Drawing on research from Vanessa Druskat and Daniel Goleman, we discussed how foundational EI practices—like creating psychological safety and fostering a shared understanding—are essential for high-performing teams. Mentors shared how they are applying these concepts to team formation and managing cross-functional challenges.

Navigating Difficult Conversations: A compelling example was shared where a mentor helped a mentee work through irritation with a colleague. By exploring the emotional triggers behind the frustration, the mentee gained self-awareness and developed a more constructive strategy for interaction, demonstrating EI in action.

Our Collective Way Forward

These conversations have directly shaped our next steps. The community voiced a clear need for more shared, practical resources. In response, we are actively exploring the creation of a sector-wide repository of "cheat sheets" and how-to guides, designed to support professionals, particularly those in resource-constrained environments.

Furthermore, we are embedding these learnings—on reflective leadership, the value of peer support, and the practical application of EI—into the fabric of our Future Leaders Programme.

The success of these sessions reaffirms that mentoring is less about having all the answers and more about asking the right questions together. It’s a powerful relationship that builds not only stronger professionals but a more resilient, connected, and empathetic tech transfer community.

We welcome you to join the conversation. What has been your most valuable experience with mentoring, either as a mentor or a mentee? Share your thoughts with us.