On 21 July, we launched the very first event in our new B!G Mentor Series — and what an incredible kick-off it was! From the very beginning, the energy in the (virtual) room was electric. It was fantastic to welcome both long-standing Mentors and brand-new faces. Although we know some of you couldn’t attend, your presence was certainly felt — and it simply gives us even more to look forward to next time.
Importantly, this Mentor Series exists because of you. Over the past year, many Mentors shared that they would love more opportunities to connect, exchange ideas and build relationships across the community. So, naturally, we listened. After all, when great ideas come from within the community, our role is simple — facilitate and amplify. In previous conversations, several of you also suggested creating space for experienced Mentors to support new Mentors. We absolutely love that idea. As a result, we’ll be exploring practical ways to build that peer-support model into future sessions.
To begin the session, our CEO Kim delivered a warm B!G welcome. Immediately afterwards, Niamh, our Head of Development and Sustainability, provided an overview of the programme and what lies ahead. From there, we moved into a jam-packed schedule — and, importantly, the input from Mentors made all the difference.
During the breakout sessions, everyone had the opportunity to share thoughts on how the Mentor Series could evolve. Not only did these discussions spark fresh ideas, but they also reinforced the strength of our Mentor community. Some standout suggestions included:
In short, the ideas were flowing — and this is only the beginning.
Now, we want to keep that momentum going. If you have additional thoughts, suggestions or ideas, please email us at hello@thebigidea.ie. We’re building this series together, so every contribution matters. Meanwhile, keep an eye on our social media channels for details of the next B!G Mentor event.
We can’t wait to see even more of you at the next session. After all, when Mentors connect, students benefit.
See you soon!
