Marley Ahmed, Business and Management Studies BSc student and ASPIRE mentee

Jess Kistnasamy, Marketing Officer and ASPIRE mentor

ASPIRE is a mentoring initiative to connect students with staff volunteer mentors. While all staff and students can participate, the scheme particularly encourages staff and students of colour to apply. We speak to Business and Management Studies BSc student Marley Ahmed, and his mentor Jess Kistnasamy, about the scheme and why you should get involved.

Tell us about yourself.

Marley: I’m in my final year of studying Business and Management. In 2020, I did my placement at the Sussex Innovation Centre after finishing a summer internship with the Home Office. Outside of Sussex, I’ve set up a mentoring project at my old school in South London, providing coaching and educational opportunities to 14-16 year olds.

Jess: I graduated with a Marketing and Management BSc in 2019 and am now Marketing Officer for the Business School, working on student recruitment and building the School brand. I also volunteer with the local RAF Air Cadets, working with 12-19 year olds to develop their leadership skills and gain qualifications.

What motivates you?

Marley: I’m motivated by being a catalyst for change within my family. I’m a first-generation student, so take a lot of pride in knowing that I’m paving the way for my siblings and cousins. I’m going to be the one who gives them the advice that I wasn’t fortunate to have myself.

Jess: Working with young people and supporting them in achieving as much as they can, to help them recognise their full potential. Mentoring Marley has given me so much insight into how amazing young people are, especially when dealing with the challenges of university. The fact he’s motivated to do extracurricular activities and wants to be the best version of himself is inspiring and makes me want to do better too.

Why did you get involved with ASPIRE?

Marley: I wanted to connect more to the School and the University as a whole. I saw there was a great range of mentors who could add value to my educational journey, and thought I’d also be able to offer something back, such as a different outlook on life.

Jess: As a recent graduate, I felt I had the experience to help students. Being mixed-race, I don’t think I’ve ever felt like I totally belong in many spaces. It can be really challenging. Being mixed-race is so diverse, and everyone has a unique insight — so when you’re put into this box where it’s expected everyone will have the same experience, it just isn’t the case. As a student I struggled with my identity, so I wanted to find a way to give back, to encourage and provide support to someone who might be going through a similar thing.

Why did you choose Jess as your mentor?

Marley: Jess is a similar age and a recent graduate, so I knew she’d been through the process of university. She had a friendly face and just seemed approachable. Another important reason is that we both have a mixed background. At that stage in my life, I was going through an identity crisis and didn’t know where I fit and felt that she'd be able to support me. Mixed-race people are often underrepresented — although Sussex is quite a diverse campus, which is good to see.

What qualities should a mentor have?

Marley: It's important to be an attentive listener. You also need to be very organised! Something I’ve learnt from Jess is to send a summary of your session and any next steps you’ve discussed.

Jess: Listening skills — I don't think anyone can be ever finished with perfecting those.

What support can a mentor give?

Marley: They can help you in your academic life, showing you how to write essays and prepare for assessments. They support you with career development too. The day before my placement interview, we practiced some mock questions and did extra research on the company. A week later I secured the role, and I know the support I received played a big part.

What have you learnt from the experience?

Jess: That we will always be learning! In a mentoring relationship, you aren't just helping someone — they're also helping you develop as a person as well.

Marley: I've learnt the importance of being organised and knowing what to prioritise. A great piece of advice Jess gave me was: “If you don’t look after yourself, you won’t be able to look after others.” I like to be the person who is everyone’s support system — but if I’m not managing my own time well and looking after my physical and mental health, then I won’t be able to look after anyone.

How do you measure the success of your sessions?

Marley: It’s a success when you go away with a good feeling and feel like you’ve added something to the conversation. If we’ve discussed a problem, we can try to find a solution in a session. We’ve looked at my CV and thought about ways of rephrasing and improving it. We’ve also set five long term goals to achieve within a six-month period and used a colour-coded skills development plan to show where I am with each one. Visually seeing those targets is a great way to reflect on my progress.

What were your career goals and how did mentoring help with these?

Marley: I like talking to people and saw myself involved in consulting or human resources, within the non-profit sector. The scheme helped me secure work experience and internships, so I’ve had a taste of those sectors and seen if they’re something I want to pursue. It’s helped me narrow down career options and I feel much more confident in my choices.

What were your challenges and how did mentoring help with these?

Marley: I was applying for everything, but wasn't getting through to the late stages for roles. Jess and I narrowed down the companies I wanted to focus on. As I started progressing, we did some mock interviews. She also showed me Skills Hub, which has been a great resource.

What’s one final piece of advice you would give?

Jess: Take every opportunity that's offered — and if there's something you want to do but the opportunity isn't there, create it.