From Central Office
Mentorship in action: A heartfelt highlight from ISBT Milan
By Syeldy Langi Sasongko and Fonkou Steve
Mentorship has always been a core value at ISBT. A quiet but steady force shaping careers, building confidence, and fostering connections across generations of transfusion professionals. But with the launch of the ISBT Mentorship Programme in February, this long-standing tradition has taken on a new form. Now, through a mentorship platform called PLD, used also in many other healthcare organizations, ISBT offers a formal space where experienced professionals can share their wisdom and emerging leaders can find the guidance they need within a global, supportive community. In ISBT Milan, we had the unique joy of bringing this programme to life, not just in words, but in heartfelt stories and face-to-face experiences. On Academy Day, we presented on mentorship. Syeldy introduced the journey of developing the programme from its earliest conception to implementation and shared encouraging early statistics that point to growing interest and engagement. Then Steve captivated the room with a deeply personal account of his mentorship journey, highlighting how transformative good mentor-mentee relationships can be. His advice to new mentees was practical, thoughtful, and full of hope. A true testament to how much there is to gain when we open ourselves to learning and connection.
The energy carried over into the following day, when we hosted our first-ever mentorship luncheon, which we titled Connect and Flow. It was a warm and informal gathering for mentors and mentees already matched through the platform. Four mentor-mentee pairs joined, along with four additional mentors and two mentees, creating a varied circle of experiences and aspirations.
The energy carried over into the following day, when we hosted our first-ever mentorship luncheon, which we titled Connect and Flow. It was a warm and informal gathering for mentors and mentees already matched through the platform. Four mentor-mentee pairs joined, along with four additional mentors and two mentees, creating a varied circle of experiences and aspirations. After lunch, conversation flowed easily from light-hearted stories to meaningful reflections. A group game aimed in improving communication skills, sparked laughter and ease, paving the way for a deeper, candid discussion about mentorship. Mentors shared their experiences about setting boundaries and time management. Mentees spoke with gratitude and insight about learning to navigate career challenges, finding courage to ask for help, balancing personal and professional goals, and redefining what “success” in mentorship means. We laughed much and sympathized with each other’s experiences. One theme resonated throughout: the power of connection. The session wrapped up not with goodbyes, but with new beginnings. Participants expressed a strong desire for more such gatherings, and a shared commitment to nurturing this growing network.
If you’ve ever wanted to make a difference in someone’s career or if you’ve been searching for someone who can help guide your own, now is the time. The ISBT Mentorship Programme is more than just a system. It’s a living, evolving community where learning flows both ways, and where every conversation could be the start of something transformational. We warmly invite you to register, be it as a mentor or mentee (or both). Your journey in mentorship could begin with a single click… and unfold into something unforgettable.
Please be aware that the ISBT Mentorship Programme is only available to ISBT members.
