In this episode of Mentoring Unlocked, Maud Lindley speaks with Heath McPherson, COO of InCorp Advisory Australia, about the career experiences and mentors that shaped his leadership across insurance, construction, education, and professional services. Heath reflects on the strong link between leadership quality, workplace culture, and safety, and how genuine care for people drives better outcomes for individuals and organisations alike.

The conversation explores what effective mentoring really looks like. Heath challenges the idea that mentors need to have all the answers, arguing that the greatest impact comes from asking the right questions, listening deeply, and helping people clarify their purpose and values before offering guidance. Packed with practical insights, the episode offers valuable takeaways for mentors, mentees, and leaders focused on building meaningful careers and inclusive, high-performing cultures.

Maud Lindley speaks with Renée Law, COO Professional Services at Atomic Group, about the leadership lessons which shaped her global career, and the mentoring moments that have had the greatest impact. Renée shares how her instinct for seeking out uncertainty has shaped her courage, adaptability, and approach to leading teams through complexity. She reflects on the shift from directive leadership to creating space for others to think, learn, and grow.

A standout moment in the conversation is Renée's approach to helping mentees move past what’s holding them back. She explains that fear often comes from carrying old experiences — a mistake, a difficult relationship, or a past setback — long after the moment has passed. Through thoughtful questions and calm presence, she helps people name what they haven’t let go of and release it, clearing the way for confidence and forward momentum. It’s a powerful look at how mentoring unlocks self-belief, resilience, and genuine transformation.

Beyond the Anecdotes: Measuring Mentoring Program Impact

What turns mentoring from a feel-good initiative into real, measurable growth? In this episode of Mentoring Unlocked, Maud Lindley speaks with Dr. Abby Jandro - Organisational Psychologist and Principal Consultant at Serendis Leadership, and the research expert behind Serendis’ first statistically validated evaluation of mentoring program impact. Abby shares what the data now proves: a structured mentoring program delivers significant outcomes, including measurable shifts in career confidence and meaningful uplift in capability. Abby explains why reflective conversations, clarity of goals, and a strong match create the conditions for genuine change. She breaks down why mentors must resist the urge to give advice and instead ask better questions, helping mentees find their own answers.

For HR leaders and organisations considering mentoring, Abby’s insights offer a sharp, evidence-based guide to designing programs that truly shift confidence, clarity, and capability.

In this episode, Maud sits down with Jeff McKenzie, Sales Director for Australia and New Zealand at Lindt & Sprüngli, to unpack two decades of leadership, transformation, and the power of mentoring. From his early beginnings in HR at Streets Ice Cream to senior commercial roles at Pernod Ricard and now leading Lindt’s sales team, Jeff shares how curiosity and human connection have shaped his career — and his approach to developing others. For Jeff, success starts with relationships — building trust, understanding individuals, and fostering a culture where people feel valued. He credits his HR and psychology background for helping him see beyond transactions to the humans driving them. Jeff reflects on the lessons and people that have impacted his career and made him the leader he is today.

From Blueprints to Breakthroughs: Mentoring at the Heart of Leadership

What does it take to lead complex projects, unite diverse stakeholders, and grow future leaders, all while staying grounded in human connection?

In this episode of Mentoring Unlocked, Maud Lindley sits down with Mark Tait, Group Executive and Head of Developments at Investa. With over 25 years in property and a legacy that includes iconic projects like 60 Martin Place and the Commonwealth Games Village, Mark reflects on the leadership lessons mentoring has taught him, and how he’s paying it forward.

From site engineer to executive, Mark shares how shifting from binary decision-making to broad, inclusive thinking transformed his leadership style. He opens up about the mentors who shaped him, the conversations that left a mark, and why mentoring isn’t just something he does - it’s a mindset woven into how he leads, listens, and builds trust.

In this conversation Maud and Mark explore:

• Why the best leaders fight against making early conclusions and assumptions

• How trust and vulnerability unlock meaningful stakeholder relationships

• What mentees really need — and why mentoring is always a two-way street

• How to give feedback that lands, without losing trust

Whether you’re mentoring others, leading teams, or navigating complex decisions, Mark’s wisdom on people-first leadership is both practical and deeply resonant.

What’s the real future of mentoring tech?

That’s the bold question at the heart of this Big Picture episode of Mentoring Unlocked, where Maud sits down with Alex Richardson, Advisory Board Member at MentorKey. Alex brings over a decade of experience in the Australian mentoring space, including co-founding one of the country’s earliest mentoring platforms. With deep insights into both tech and human connection, Alex shares what truly drives impact in mentoring and where he believes the future is heading.

The episode dives into: 🔹 Why AI won’t replace mentoring — but will enhance it 🔹 The critical difference between data and dialogue 🔹 What mentoring achieves that leadership programs can’t 🔹 How program managers can make mentoring business-critical

This episode will shift how you think about technology, scale and the future of mentoring.

How do you use culture as a lever for performance — not just connection?

That question anchors Maud’s conversation with Amy Wild, Chief Operating Officer Corporate at Investa, who shares stories from her own mentoring journey — both as a mentor and a mentee — and what she’s learned about unlocking human potential in complex organisations.

Amy and Maud explore how mentoring can shift careers at pivotal moments — from quiet encouragement to bold feedback. Amy shares two powerful mentoring moments from her career that reshaped her confidence and leadership style — and the lessons they’ve taught her about how to support others.

The episode dives into: 🔹 Why empathy and reflection are game-changers in mentoring 🔹 How leaders can influence culture through behaviour, not just intention 🔹 The importance of timing and trust when delivering powerful feedback

Whether you’re shaping a mentoring program or simply want to show up better for your people, Amy’s reflections are full of wisdom (and a few laughs).

How do you ignite self-belief in people? Especially when they lack relatable role models.

Exploring the answer to that question serves as the north star for Maud's conversation with Penny Ransom, Chief Investment Officer at LendLease, who mines her own experiences as both a mentee and mentor for insights you won't want to miss.

The pair take on how mentors can guide people to make sound career choices by better understanding their role in the relationship. As Penny observes: a mentor's strength isn't in offering direct advice, but rather encouraging mentees to examine their options and explore what's most important to them.

Delving more deeply into leadership, Penny and Maud also unpack the misconception that higher-level leadership roles demand more work. They break down how seniority should mean greater flexibility not less, and how effectively delegating to a team creates more space to balance personal and professional commitments.