Our second sparkly mentor interview features Emma Geoghegan, architect, urban designer, and Programme Chair for the Bachelor of Architecture at the Dublin School of Architecture.
We had a great conversation with Emma about her experience as a mentor and why creative skills matter for students today. Read on to learn more.
Creative thinking helps us see the world differently.
Given the scale of the challenges we face in Ireland and globally, learning to think differently is essential.
Creativity allows students to engage with problems in innovative and thoughtful ways. It also helps them make connections and imagine new possibilities for the future.
For this reason, it is vital that second-level students have the opportunity to develop their creative skills early.
To me, mentoring is about sharing knowledge and experience in a collaborative way.
Often, mentoring is seen as something passed from an older generation to a younger one. However, I believe it is much more reciprocal than that.
I have been both a mentor and a mentee. In both roles, I learned equally.
Mentoring creates a space where everyone can grow and learn together.
The B!G Idea mentoring process is structured very well.
Students develop their ideas with their teachers and the B!G Idea team. Then they upload their proposals to an online platform.
At that point, mentors review the ideas and provide feedback or constructive comments. Students then reflect on this feedback and continue developing their projects.
Another great aspect is the involvement of multiple mentors. I can see feedback from other mentors and learn from their perspectives too. As a result, the process becomes a shared learning experience for everyone involved.
The most important aspect has been seeing how seriously students take the process.
They approach it with empathy, commitment, and real focus.
Watching students adapt to the challenge and engage so positively has been wonderful.
My biggest takeaway is simple: we are in good hands.
There are so many thoughtful and engaged young people.
The B!G Idea provides a powerful platform for them to share their ideas and engage with real-world challenges in meaningful ways.
Absolutely. I would have loved it.
My first year in architecture school was a real eye-opener. An experience like this at second level would have introduced me to creative processes much earlier.
It would also have helped me learn collaboration and creative thinking sooner. I’m honestly a little jealous of the students who get to experience it now.
Yes, completely.
The process is structured in an excellent way, and I felt supported throughout.
I would strongly recommend it.
Mentoring is valuable at any stage of professional or student life. It offers opportunities to share knowledge, learn from others, and grow together
