How I approach business mentoring
At The L Factor Ltd, business mentoring is not a formula. It is a relationship. One built on trust, challenge, and the belief that growth often starts with a good question.
Whether you are navigating a career crossroads, preparing to step into a boardroom, or feeling the weight of leadership without the right sounding board, my mentoring practice is designed to meet you where you are and move you forward with clarity and confidence.
It starts with listening
Every mentoring relationship begins with understanding what matters to you—your values, your context, and your ambition. My role is not to fix, but to reflect. To help you hear what you may be saying between the lines. What are you really trying to change? Where do you feel held back?
Clarity over cheerleading
I ask the uncomfortable questions. I help you unpack blind spots and see the systems at play within your business, your industry, and yourself. This is not about motivational soundbites. It is about practical insight that leads to meaningful change.
Strategy meets self-awareness
My mentoring blends commercial strategy with emotional intelligence. I have supported leaders scaling startups, receiving OBEs, steering global partnerships, and navigating complex stakeholder dynamics.
What I have learned is that vision and execution are only as strong as the person behind them. Confidence without clarity leads to noise. Strategy without self-awareness leads to burnout.
The mentee journey
No two journeys are the same, but there is a rhythm I often see. It usually begins with a sense that something is not working. It could be subtle. Frustration at a team dynamic. A boardroom that feels inaccessible. A career that looks good on paper but feels misaligned.
From there, we create space to slow down and take stock. We identify what is being tolerated, where agency is being given away, and what needs to shift. The real turning point often comes when the mentee starts to hear their own voice again—with less noise and more conviction.
We then move into strategic action. This might include:
Reframing goals or redefining success
Navigating a leadership transition
Preparing for a promotion or board position
Communicating with more influence
Making decisions that align with long-term direction, not just short-term pressure
Over time, the relationship often evolves. Some mentees come to me during key inflection points. Others continue on an ongoing basis, bringing me in as a strategic thought partner in their leadership growth. Many later join our extended network of alumni: Non-Executive Directors, founders, investors, and corporate leaders who continue to support us after the sessions end. Sometimes by bringing us in-house to work with their wider team.
Tailored, not templated
No two sessions are the same. One week we might workshop a team restructure. Another, we could be role-playing a difficult conversation or preparing for a key investor pitch. Sometimes it is about carving out space to think. Whatever it is, it is grounded in your reality, not a generic playbook.
A trusted advisor, not just a mentor
Over time, the work often deepens. From one-to-one mentoring to quarterly advisory. From founder coaching to leadership team workshops. I am not here to simply share wisdom. I am here to walk alongside you as your challenges shift, your goals evolve, and your leadership deepens.
If you are ready for a different kind of business mentoring. One that makes space for ambition, challenge, and growth — I would love to hear from you.