China-Britain Business Council
Ilan Bass - Director, Member Engagement and Programmes, tells us about getting involved in our mentoring programme.
About our organisation
The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) is the UK’s national business network promoting trade and investment with China.
Since 1954 we have acted as the independent voice of business: located at the heart of the action, engaging across both countries in every sector and region. We support our Members, clients and partners by delivering the advice, analysis, advocacy and access which they need to seize the China opportunity.
Why did you want to get involved in mentoring?
I am proud to be an alumnus of the University of Sheffield and benefitted greatly from my time as a student there. I wanted to find a way to stay connected with the university and to give back something to the next generation of students. Mentoring is a great way to help someone on their professional journey, and it also benefits the mentor in terms of learning new things and developing as a mentor.
What have you enjoyed about mentoring our students?
It's always interesting getting to know someone at such an important stage of their academic and professional development. I really enjoy meeting new people and learning about their backgrounds and interests. Plus, it's a wonderful feeling to help someone expand their horizons and guide them on their journey.
How has this benefited you personally or as an organisation?
I have benefitted from making new connections, and in some cases connecting relevant people in my network with my mentees for knowledge sharing and potential collaboration. I have learnt about things my mentees have been knowledgeable in, including everything from business to bioscience. I have also benefitted from developing myself as a mentor, in terms of understanding how I can keep improving my mentoring skills each time I am paired with a student.