The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and Taylor Bennett Foundation launches the Reverse Mentoring Scheme 2023 following another successful run. Over the following 10-months, the scheme will challenge the general organisational infrastructure and representation in PR and communications. Championing diversity and inclusion will help to build trust and transparency for inclusive cultures and change in the industry.
The scheme supports progressive learning as senior leaders are paired with a PR and comms professional from the Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. Our participants will exchange insight, challenges and experiences as a minority and discuss forward thinking ideas to encourage diversity, equality and inclusion to reflect modern society.
The launch event for the Reverse Mentoring Scheme 2023 will be on Thursday 9th February at 3 Monkeys Zero London Offices. Mentors and mentees will meet for the first time and be given the opportunity to network and cross-collaborate on future diversity and inclusion planning. Participants on the scheme are listed below:
Mentors:
- Eduvie Martin, Global Internal Comms Manager, British American Tobacco
- Gafa Kuku, Account Director, Outcast
- Janelle Feliciano, Creative Director, The Roman
- Jayna Mistry, Global PR Lead, Omnipresent
- Kandace Williamson, Account Director, The Romans
- Kiran Collier, Head of Communications – Aviation, maritime and international, Department for Transport
- Kristianah Fasunloye, Founder and Managing Director, Astraea Public Relations
- Lequan Johnson, Senior Associate, Atai Life Sciences
- Nasar Haq, Head of Marketing & Communications, Spectrum Community Health CIC
- Risha Parmar, Press Officer, Citizens Advice
- Sabrina Lynch, SVP, Brand Strategy, M&C Saatchi Sport Entertainment
- Samiah Anderson, Public Affairs Account Manager, Hill Knowlton Strategies
- Shaline Manhertz, Founder and Managing Director, Exceeding Your Potential Limited
- Sonia Malhotra, External Communications: Executive Manager, Clifford Chance
- Svetlana Leu, Head of Communications and Partnerships
Mentees:
- Alex Belardinelli, Communications Director – Northern Europe, Meta
- Claire Bloomer, Director of Operations, Chartered Institute of Public Relations
- Clare Wareing, EMEA Comms Director, Meta
- David Hamilton, Director of Communications and Marketing, NSPCC
- David Lucas, Head of Technology, 3 Monkeys Zeno
- Elizabeth Jones, Managing Director, With Public Relations Ltd
- Jo Carr, Co-founder and Chief Client Officer, Hope & Glory PR
- Joshua Breckman, Head of Communications, EMEA, WhatsApp, Meta
- Julie Jupe, Head of Communications, British Antarctic Survey
- Kate Reynolds, UK Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications, National Express
- Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Meta
- Madeleine Hallward, Non-Executive Director, Office of Rail and Road
- Mary Whenman, Director of Communications, British Business Bank
- Rebecca Muncaster, Communications Director, EMEA, Meta
- Rebecca Williams, Director, WPR
We piloted the Reverse Mentoring Scheme across 2021-2022 and we are very excited to see it launch into its first year. This is a great opportunity to encourage more conversation on individual experience as an ethnically diverse person in PR and comms. Another positive step toward diversifying the industry.
Melissa Lawrence, CEO of Taylor Bennett Foundation
Reverse mentoring is the opposite of a traditional mentoring format. Senior leaders in the PR and communications industry will receive mentoring from a PR professional with at least 5 years’ experience.
All participants were interviewed and screened by the CIPR and the Taylor Bennett Foundation from a broad range of agencies, in-house and independent consultants working in a variety of sectors.
The scheme is expected to end November 2023 and CIPR and the Taylor Bennett Foundation will continue to assess the findings and apply more initiatives to ongoing programmes.
