Women Leaders is relaunching its established mentoring initiative under a new name – the Women Leaders’ Mentoring Programme – marking a bold new chapter in its mission to unlock ambition, confidence and leadership across Milton Keynes.
The refreshed identity recognises how far the programme has come since its launch in 2020 and reflects its growing role as a powerful, year-round driver of personal and professional development, a journey strengthened by funding from MK Community Foundation, which has enabled Women Leaders to expand its mentoring offer and deepen its impact across the community.
Originally created as Career Connect, the mentoring programme began by supporting Women Leaders Awards finalists and winners. It has since grown into a trusted community resource, offering structured, free mentoring to women at pivotal moments in their careers, from newly promoted managers and returners to entrepreneurs and emerging leaders.
More than 120 people have now benefited from the service, supported by a generous network of over 40 volunteer mentors who bring a wide range of skills, lived experience and leadership insight.
Its impact is perhaps best illustrated through the stories of those who have taken part. Among them is Sam Amey, winner of the None of the Above category at the 2025 Women Leaders Awards, whose journey captures the transformative potential of mentoring. Sam was nominated for her exceptional leadership as an entrepreneur and clinician in functional health, but also for her remarkable resilience and ability to turn adversity into purpose-led impact. Her work in health, beauty and wellness has helped many people rebuild confidence and self-worth, and her nomination recognised both her achievements and her commitment to uplifting others.
Winning the award was, in her words, ‘life changing’. But it was what followed that proved even more significant. As with all Women Leaders winners and finalists, Sam was offered a place in the mentoring programme, an opportunity she accepted immediately. The experience marked what she now calls her ‘year of yes’, opening the door to new connections, new perspectives and a deeper understanding of her own ambitions.
Being paired with a mentor from a completely different sector gave her the clarity to think more strategically about her goals and the confidence to pursue new opportunities with purpose and balance.
“Through mentoring I gained a much clearer understanding of what truly drives me, creating meaningful impact, supporting others through holistic health and wellbeing, and growing businesses that empower people to thrive,” said Sam.
What makes her story even more powerful is that the experience has now come full circle, Sam has chosen to become a mentor herself, offering support, encouragement and perspective to others just as she once received. Her journey embodies the cycle of empowerment at the heart of the Women Leaders’ Mentoring Programme.
This sentiment resonates across many mentees. One participant, stepping into a senior leadership role while balancing parenthood, described how mentoring helped her build boundaries, silence her imposter syndrome, and embrace her capabilities. She said: “I’m a more confident leader, a less guilty parent, and in control of my path forward.”
Another mentee spoke of the grounding effect mentoring provided, saying: “Having someone to check in with has made a real difference to both my personal growth and my business.”
These experiences mirror wider research from the Association of Business Mentors, which shows that two-thirds of managers who receive mentoring report measurable improvements in performance, confidence and commercial outcomes.
“Mentoring has the power to shift someone’s confidence and career in ways that are genuinely life-changing,” said Nikki Ross, Women Leaders Trustee and Mentoring Lead. “We see this across every background, every gender and every story. A single conversation, a moment of clarity or encouragement can unlock something profound. The Women Leaders’ Mentoring Programme is about giving people that space to grow, and we are excited to welcome even more mentors and mentees into this next chapter.”
As the programme relaunches, Women Leaders is inviting new mentors and new mentees of all genders to get involved.
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