Meet the Mentors

Mentors are drawn from a wide range of business and professional backgrounds, assisting their mentee in career or business development through information & skills transfer, confidence building and sharing of networks.

The Mentor will be able to offer valuable knowledge, empathy and insight due to their own many years of experience. Please note that Mentor and Mentee matches will be made by Advance Coaching who scientifically match based on Bio's provided and Mentors skills and availability per Cohort.

The Mentors

Anne Dargan

Anne Dargan

Executive and Leadership Coach - Rapid Change Consultancy

Anne can provide support and advice as a mentor on: your leadership, your personal effectiveness & resilience, developing & engaging & motivating people, influencing stakeholders, relationship building, leading change.

Anne Orr

Anne Orr

Owner - Greenlight Consulting (NI) Ltd

Anne can provide support and advice as a mentor on; business start-ups, project management, problem solving, organisation and planning.

Ashleigh Watson

Ashleigh Watson

Marketing Consultant - Copper Square Communications

Ashleigh can provide support and advice as a mentor on: marketing strategy and planning, using social media to make an impact and how to raise your profile online.

Brigid Duggan

Brigid Duggan

Owner - BD Consultancy

Brigid can provide support and advice as a mentor on: taking your business to the next level and ensuring sustainability. Her key services include business planning, strategic development, Financial management and securing funding, b2b sales and marketing and business development.

Catherine Kane

Catherine Kane

Owner - Catherine Kane Associates

Catherine can provide support and advice as a mentor on; career development, business development, building networks, increasing career/business confidence, resilience, problem solving, managing relationships, organisation and planning.

Claire Bain

Claire Bain

Business Owner of Next Steps

Claire is an accredited executive coach who provides leadership and career coaching. She supports with leadership challenges, career dilemmas, clarity on career direction, and builds leadership and career confidence.

Claire Loftus

Claire Loftus

Director - Evolve

Claire can provide support and advice as a mentor on; people management, career development, confidence, management relationships, and business start-up/growth support.

Claire Stewart

Claire Stewart

Partner - Cartmill Stewart & Co Chartered Accountants

Claire can provide support and advice as a mentor on; financial management, business start-up, organisation, planning and using cloud technology to advance your business.

Elaine Curry

Elaine Curry

Founder & Coach - Elite Living Academy

Elaine can provide support and advice as she has has two decades of experience in personal life coaching and successful business/ charity performance (project development and management). Elaine reconnects women to their powerful life force, helping heart centred business and charities be successful.

Fiona Molloy

Fiona Molloy

Owner - FM Coaching and Facilitation

Fiona is a qualified and accredited Life and Executive Coach with 25 years of experience in Project Management. She can provide support with career and business development, building confidence and resilience, problem solving, managing relationships, organisation and planning.

Heather Wells

Heather Wells

Senior Business Marketing Manager - BT Ireland

Heather can provide support and advice as a mentor on; project management, problem solving, marketing and communications.

Helen Moody

Helen Moody

Centre Manager - BT

Helen can provide advice and support on strategic thinking, team building, performance improvement, leadership, presentations and public speaking.

Jennifer McWilliams

Jennifer McWilliams

Manager - Antrim Enterprise Agency

Jennifer can provide advice and guidance on: start up, marketing & public relations, business development and building networks.

Jill Minne

Jill Minne

Director of Organisational Development - Belfast City Council

Jill can provide support and advice as a mentor on; career development, recruitment & training, people management skills, resilience, problem solving, managing relationships, organisation & planning, profile & visibility and interviews.

Karen Blair

Karen Blair

Managing Director - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Karen can provide support and advice as a mentor on; career development, building networks, increasing career/business confidence and problem solving.

Linda Armstrong

Linda Armstrong

Director - ENM Marketing Ltd

Linda can provide support and guidance as a mentor on: business development. Marketing and communications, customer relations, presentations and public speaking.

Louise McCartan

Louise McCartan

Managing Director - Search Scientist

Louise can provide support and advice as a mentor on Google ads, web presence, business start-up and can act as a confidential sounding board.

Louise O'Gara

Louise O'Gara

HR Business Partner - Danske Bank

Louise can provide support and advice as a Mentor to individuals such as new entrepreneurs/ business start-ups with little HR experience or individuals new to large organisations.

Lucy Haugh

Lucy Haugh

Learning and Development Manager- Housing Executive

Lucy can provide support and advice as a mentor on: leadership, people management skills, managing relationships and career development.

Lynsay Spence

Lynsay Spence

Head of Brand - Kaizen Brand Evolution

Lynsay can assist as a career progression sounding board, managing teams, branding and marketing, problem solving management and finance planning.

Mairead Mackle

Mairead Mackle

CEO/Founder - Homecare Independent Living (HCIL)

Mairead can provide support and advice as a mentor on strategy, leadership & corporate social responsibility.

Michelle Murtagh

Michelle Murtagh

Principal Consultant - Toward Ltd

Michelle can provide support and advice as a mentor on; leadership development, change management, organisation, design, restructuring, recruitment and selection.

Nichola Robinson

Nichola Robinson

Procurement Director - Bombardier Aerospace

Nichola can provide support and advice as a mentor on; project management, people management, problem solving, managing relationships, profile and visibility.

Patricia Haron

Patricia Haron

Previously Operational Director - Voluntary Sector

Patricia can provide support and advice as a mentor on; career development, business development, building networks, recruitment, training, people management skills and resilience.

Paula Kennedy Garcia

Paula Kennedy Garcia

Vice Preseident - Concentrix

Paula can provide support and advice as a mentor on: leadership, international business, problem solving, solution design, digital transformation, relationship management, sales, social branding, profiling, networking.

Paula Leathem

Paula Leathem

Senior HR Business Partner - NIE Networks

Paula can offer advice and support in a wide range of areas including career development, how to seek out opportunities to increase your profile, building & managing effective relationships, people management skills, building resilience & confidence.

Roseann Kelly MBE

Roseann Kelly MBE

CEO - Women in Business

Roseann can support and help a mentee grow their network and make valuable connections. Roseann has vast business experience and has also supported many women in their entrepreneurial journey.

Rosemary Morrison

Rosemary Morrison

Principal - Directus Training & Consultancy

Rosemary can provide support and advice as a mentor on; business development, business start-up, building networks, marketing, communications, organisation and planning.

Roslyn Preen

Roslyn Preen

Director - Preen People Solutions Ltd

Roslyn can provide support and advice as a mentor on; managing relationships, presentations, public speaking, profile and visibility.

Sandra Lee

Sandra Lee

Learning & Development Consultant/Coach - Training & Learning Solutions

Sandra Lee is the Managing Partner of Training & Learning Solutions and has been actively engaged in the field of learning and development for 30 years. She is a highly experienced and much sought after Learning and Development Consultant, Executive Coach and Mentor for the Centre of Learning, supporting woman at all stages of their career and business development. Sandra can provide support and advice as a mentor on career development, people management skills, presentations, interviews, pitches, resilience, business confidence etc and has delivered Women’s Leadership Programmes/initiatives on a global level.

Sinead Dillon

Sinead Dillon

Principal Consultant - Fujitsu

Sinead can provide support and advice as a mentor on; career development, business development, project management, increasing career/business confidence, organisation and planning.

Sinead Sharpe

Sinead Sharpe

HR Director - Robinson Services Group Limited

Sinead can provide support and advice as a mentor on coaching, leadership development, change and culture management, corporate performance management, interview skills and personal confidence enhancement.

Sophie Ryan

Sophie Ryan

Senior Consultant People Advisory Services - EY

Sophie can provide support and advice as a mentor on; people management, problem solving career development, learning and development (including facilitation), organisation and planning, managing relationships, as well as acting as a confidential sounding board.

Stephanie Harvie

Stephanie Harvie

Executive Coach and Development Consultant - Snowglobe Coaching & Solutions

Stephanie can provide support and advice as a mentor on getting out of your own way by getting to know and appreciate yourself first. Stephanie has designed and delivered leadership programmes across the UK on agility, innovation, reducing stress and conflict, and works with professionals to develop themselves through coaching. She brings all of her experience to the mentoring relationship.

Stephanie Maher

Stephanie Maher

Senior Development Manager - PwC

Stephanie can provide support and mentoring on: working in technology, project management, team leadership, relationship management and career development.

Vicki Hassan

Vicki Hassan

Senior Manager, Strategy & Corporate Development - Danske Bank

Vicki can provide support and advice as a mentor on; career development, people management skills, confidence, presentations, public speaking, profile and visibility.

Vivian McKinnon

Vivian McKinnon

Founder/Owner - Hydro-ease & Wellness Consultant NI

Vivian can support and assist a mentor with; identifying and removing decisions and negative emotions that may be holding you back, business start up, resiliency and all aspects of becoming the very best version of you.

Carly McClintock

Carly McClintock

Account Director - Version 1

With a BSC Hon in Computing from the University of Ulster Carly started her career working in data and analytics for a utilities company. Carly provides a diverse insight into the IT services industry having had a varied career covering many different roles from data developer to BA, Scrum Master, Delivery Manager and Sales Consultant. She also has experience working in multiple industries having delivered projects for clients in the Public Sector, Utilities, Insurance, Financial Services and Pharma.

Ciara

Ciara

Business Development Director - Version 1

With a Math's degree from Queen's University, Ciara started her professional life with First Derivatives working as a consultant. Ciara has fulfilled varied roles within IT such as software developer, Business Analyst, Scrum Master and Project Manager and has had the opportunity to travel and work with many global clients within the Pharma, Insurance and Financial Services industries. Most recently Ciara works in a commercial role as a Business Development Director working for Version 1.

Catherine Gardiner

Catherine Gardiner

Group Chief Digital & Information Officer - Energia

Catherine was appointed as Energia Group’s Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO) in 2011 with responsibility for Technology & Digital Strategy, Strategic IT Project Delivery and Technology Operations. Her 100-strong team span the full breadth of technology resourcing – from architecture to software development to cybersecurity. She also has responsibility for the Group’s Data & Analytics Office developing Data & AI-era capabilities to support Ireland’s drive to Net Zero. She holds a MBA and BSc in Information Management.

Maeve McKeever

Maeve McKeever

Senior Consultant Data Scientist – Allstate Northern Ireland

With a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics and a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Maeve is now a Senior Consultant Data Scientist within the Data, Decisions and Discovery department that branches across the Allstate enterprise in NI and in the US. Maeve has been working for Allstate since January 2019, analysing Telematics data to understand how driving behaviour influences insurance losses. Maeve is also involved in Allstate’s Women in Technology employee resource group.

Laura Haldane

Laura Haldane

Co-Founder SciLeads

Laura is Co-Founder of SciLeads and our 2023 Women in Tech Entrepreneur of the Year. Her passion is in sales, go-to-market strategy and scaling companies. She is a great support to female entrepreneurs, and as a result was awarded the 2023 Deloitte Women in Technology Advocate Award. When she’s not working she spends her time with her husband, young daughter and however many foster dogs she has at that time!

Barbara McKiernan

Barbara McKiernan

Managing Director

As the Managing Director of Vanrath Barbara has adeptly navigated challenges including Covid-19, Brexit, and the Cost of Living Crisis, while also doubling the company's workforce. She was awarded the Women In Business Outstanding Management and Leadership Award in 2022. Her journey continues to inspire the team, as she remains a dedicated role model, motivating others with her remarkable achievements.

Sharon McNulty

Sharon McNulty

Master certified Consultant

Sharon McNulty, from Joyful Spaces is a multi-award winning, internationally renowned professional organiser, with clients around the world. She has 9 years’ experience working 1:1 with clients organising and transforming their homes and businesses and ultimately transforming their lives.

Aileen Carson

Aileen Carson

Employability & Skills Development Officer

Aileen can provide support and advice as a mentor on; career development, business development, building networks, increasing career/business confidence, resilience, and managing relationships.

Hannah Cummings

Hannah Cummings

Co-Founders Programme Manager

Hannah is passionate about people development, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Her expertise in the latter is centred on designing and delivering programmes of activity to support the creation of high growth potential start-ups and the growth trajectories of scaling NI companies. Her love of the former comes from a PhD in Drama, and her background as a trained actor. These passions come together for her when she hosts business events and supports others to find their business pitch and presentation confidence.

Samantha Kirk

Samantha Kirk

Transport Client Group Director

As the Transport Client Group Director within Kainos, Samantha has led the Digital Services Transport business for the last 3 years, delivering some of the most complex government services and increasing revenue by 80% during that time. She is passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex business challenges and drive change and am committed to customer satisfaction. She has also contributed as a board member to several organisations including Council for the Curriculum, Examination & Assessment (CCEA) and Belfast Chamber.

Zoey Hughes

Zoey Hughes

Owner – Business Bee Services / Zoey M. Hughes Ltd

Zoey is an Executive Assistant and Business Mentor providing intensive strategic and day-to-day support for businesses both in the UK and globally. She is an ILM-qualified Business Mentor and has a varied background that includes accounting, marketing, copywriting, SEO and more.

Lynne Crowther

Lynne Crowther

Business Owner and Consultant

Lynne Crowther Consulting helps businesses to improve their online presence through strategy development, policy writing, training, mentoring, stakeholder mapping, message development and content creation. Lynne has extensive experience in communications and has worked on local, national and international campaigns for a wide range of organisations including Coca-Cola, National Trust, Translink and many more.

Sarah Mackie

Sarah Mackie

Owner Larchfield Estate

Sarah Mackie is a joint owner of Larchfield Estate with her husband Gavin. Sarah moved to Northern Ireland in 2007 and, working alongside her husband, set up the multi award-winning events venue, alongside numerous heritage self-catering cottages based just outside Hillsborough, Co Down. Sarah can provide support and advice as a mentor on; business development, business start-up, building networks, marketing, communications, organisation and planning.

Fiona Bradley

Fiona Bradley

Facilitator and Coach

Fiona can provide support and advice on career development, quietening the inner critic, increasing confidence and resilience, building you personal brand and making conscious and purposeful choices the help create the life you want.