Why Leading the Movement?
Charlotte is driven by developing community connections, creating a sense of belonging, supporting health improvements and helping people find their place and purpose locally.
Charlotte described her mentoring experience as very positive, clear, direct and simple. She, and her mentor, built a strong rapport with flexible sessions and the conversational freedom to explore evolving challenges. Charlotte felt confident to engage from the start of the process and remained passionate about empowering others to enhance their mental and physical well being.
"Every conversation left me feeling more confident and more capable of leading with purpose."
Relationships and learning
The mentoring relationship was based on openness, trust, honesty and mutual respect. Charlotte benefitted from exploring topics beyond her initial challenge, such as disability sport and inclusive language, leaning on her mentor's wealth of experience within Paralympic sport. The fresh perspectives and varied sector insights enabled Charlotte to recognise her challenges across various sports and activity settings and frame them in a new way, without isolating them to British Cycling.
The mentoring relationship allowed Charlotte to question assumptions, particularly around the need to use 'sporting specific' language. This approach meant Charlotte self-rated her confidence from moderate to high following mentoring. She was 100% satisfied with her Leading the Movement experience.
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Value and impact
Charlotte identified a number of benefits in engaging with a Leading the Movement mentor:
- Heightened confidence: Particularly in communicating with different audiences and communities.
- Greater clarity: Focussing on her leadership voice and professional approach.
- Expanded understanding: Developing a more comprehensive knowledge of inclusion and disability engagement.
- Strengthened communication: A new found adaptability to ensure new demographics and audiences could be met through appropriate communications.
- Consistent reassurance: Challenges were identified across the wider sporting landscape, making their solutions feel less like a one-woman mission.
Charlotte identified the programme value through its simplicity and flexibility. From the well-defined mentoring agreement, to the introductory session and flexible meeting framework, she felt able to build early connections, trust and start meaningful reflection and development quickly. Charlotte saw the programme as a unique chance to network beyond her sport and gain cross-sector insights.
"The programme has been really straightforward and flexible - no rigid structure, just the freedom to make it what we wanted. That space to explore, reflect and build a genuine relationship made the experience so valuable."
What's next?
Charlotte is passionate about the growth of Leading the Movement and wants to focus on the advocacy potential within her teams, encouraging colleagues to participate in future mentoring cohorts.
To improve the experience she'd recommend seeking a short mentor bio or background blurb before the first meeting, along with a rationale for why the mentor and mentee have been match, to contextualise the first meeting. Charlotte was pleased with the decisions: "The mentor was the best for me."
Finally, if geography allows, Charlotte encourages any chance for in-person connections with your mentor.
Growth begins with one honest conversation
Through Leading the Movement, you'll find a mentors who listen, challenge and help you see your path more clearly - just as Charlotte did. Take that first step towards confidence, clarity and connection. Register today!
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