Yawen Liu

Yawen Liu (a recent Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management MSc graduate) and Robin Sundaram (Sustainable Sourcing Manager for Nestle UK Ltd) began their mentoring relationship at the Business School in 2021.

As an international student, Yawen, who studied Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management MSc, now works as an Inter-Market Supply Coordinator for Nestle UK Ltd, wanted to gain insight into supply chain practices within real-life organisations to supplement her learning at Sussex. She also wanted to learn how to connect and network with others, to gain confidence and work on her communication skills to progress her career.

Robin has found his experience as a mentor very rewarding. He reflects on how he would have appreciated having a mentor in his life when he started in business 35 years ago and how the experience has helped him develop his own skills in coaching others.

Read about their mentoring experience below.

What would you say to someone considering applying to the mentor programme?

Robin: "For people wanting to become a mentor, I would encourage it - but only if you're doing it for the right reasons. If you're genuinely wanting to make a positive difference in someone's life then jump right in. There is training up-front on what makes a good mentor/mentee relationship so there is support."

Yawen: "I think mentees should consider what they expect from the mentoring scheme, or what they want to gain from this experience. For people who really want to learn something, I would say go for it. You will learn a lot from your mentor’s experience.

"Through the communication with my mentor, he took real cases as an example to explain supply chain issues. i.e. the shortage of fertilizer leading to the shortage of CO2 therefore affecting the packaging of food. He explained aspects of the industry that I might not have necessarily learned on my course so it was great to get his perspective.

"I was an introvert and unlikely to talk to others proactively, especially using a second language. This scheme encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and to interact with my mentor, over time I felt more comfortable to communicate with others, so I would say this scheme made me more confident in using English and getting along with others which will also be helpful for my future career."

You are in a very busy position at work, but you have been a part of the mentoring programme since 2019, as well as our MBA Advisory Board. What makes you want to offer your precious time to students?

Robin Sundaram

Robin: "I have been working in the food industry for many years now (since graduating in 1988) and in that time I have built up a lot of knowledge and experience. I now enjoy passing on some of that experience (and maybe even a little bit of wisdom!) to young people who are starting in their careers. I know that I would have appreciated having a mentor when I started 35 years ago."

What was your experience of the Business Mentoring programme?

Robin: "It has been a great experience as I know that I have been able to genuinely help my mentee (as she has told me!). Mentor programmes are most successful when the mentee takes the lead and arranges the meetings etc. My mentee was able to do this. It also helps when the mentee is very clear about what they want from their mentor (it could be broad advice, it could be something very specific, or something in between). Again, my mentee was very clear about what she wanted from me."

Yawen: "Initially I wanted to know supply chain practices in real organisations, which could be beneficial to my understanding of theories.

"The application process was easy. The University asked me to upload my CV and answer some questions in an online portal, and after several weeks, I was matched with a business mentor. The questions were mainly about my personal preferences and were very easy to answer."

What have you gained from the mentor programme, and how did it meet your expectations?

Robin: "I like the feeling of being able to help. It also gave me an opportunity to keep improving my coaching skills (there is always room for improvement)."

Yawen: "It exceeded my expectations. Initially I just wanted to have a mentor who might be able to answer my questions and clear up any confusion. However, when I needed to interview some people for my dissertation, I was able to ask him for help and he kindly offered me a 45 minute Q&A session, which I really appreciated.

"He also provided me with a lot of supply chain knowledge that I hadn’t read elsewhere. I was able to look at some real cases, which was something I couldn’t learn from textbooks.

"It was my responsibility to steer the conversation with my mentor. I set up regular Teams meetings, and over email I was able to ask questions and write down any doubts I was having so that in our next meeting he could answer my questions and address any issues that were coming up."

Yawen Liu

Do you have any career advice for recent graduates and students?

Robin: "As an employer, it is becoming harder and harder to differentiate students and graduates by looking at their CVs. Many graduates get good degrees, so it's hard to tell them apart. When applying for jobs, I would recommend finding a way to make yourself stand out by providing examples of your work or volunteering experience. Don't forget, it's important to talk about what you achieved, not just about your responsibilities.

"Once you are in a job, be willing to work hard to get noticed. You can be a leader no matter your job title, so don't be put off by hierarchy - if it's an idea that you're passionate about then find your allies and take leadership to make that idea work. This will showcase your insight and courage.

"Lastly, this might sound obvious, but business, like life, is about people. So wherever possible, minimise the e-mail, texting etc and talk to people - ideally face to face. If not, on the phone."

Is there any advice you gained from your mentor that you still reflect on today? 

Yawen: "Yes, he told me that real practices could be changing rapidly, so we need to adapt to dynamic situations.

"There are many uncertainties out of our control. From a business perspective, companies have to provide backup plans to tackle unexpected issues, for example, finding more than one supplier to maintain consistent supply. This also applies to my personal life, it’s good to prepare and have more than one solution to a problem.

"He also encouraged me to build up my network. If I can get more familiar with other people, it will then be easier to ask them for help."

You found a great job shortly after your course. What advice would you give recent graduates when looking for employment?  

Yawen: "Be patient and brave, you can make it!

"Visa status can be a major barrier for international students when finding a job. It may take longer and be more difficult to find sponsorship. There is a list at GOV.UK listing all companies that provide the visa sponsorship, international students can check these companies’ websites to find job vacancies."