"Just Do It": A Mentor and Mentee on What The Channel Community Has Given Them

When we asked Francesca Bedow and her mentee Serena Jivan what they'd say to someone unsure about mentoring, they gave almost exactly the same answer, without speaking to each other beforehand. It says a lot about how well they've been matched.

Since 2021, The Channel Community C.I.C. has offered free mentoring to anyone in the UK IT Channel, built on a simple belief: mentoring should be available to everyone, not just large corporates or senior execs.

Francesca and Serena's story shows what that looks like in practice, and that mentoring is about more than career advice. Sometimes, the most valuable thing a mentor can give is belief, and in Serena's case, it's paid off.

Giving Back, and Seeing the Channel Differently

Francesca, Director and Co-owner of Ice Blue Sky, has spent almost her entire career in the Channel. She started in a technical role before moving into sales and marketing, and today focuses on go-to-market strategy and business growth. Mentoring felt like a natural way to give back and help others grow.

It has also given her a fresh perspective. "It's really helpful to see the Channel through someone else's eyes," she says. Throughout her career, getting a job was often about your professional network. Helping Serena navigate today's more digital, AI-focused recruitment process has been an eye-opener.

She expected mentoring to be mostly practical, but found that much of it is emotional support: "helping people with resilience, seeing where their strengths lie and giving them confidence."

"Sometimes it's just that self-belief," she adds. "Having a friendly ear to reflect back all the good things you're doing."

"Use Your Voice"

Serena, a Digital and Social Media Marketing Specialist who has just joined Softcat, has been in the Channel for just over two years. She and Francesca meet roughly once a month, and she describes their conversations as the extra push she needs before an interview or a big campaign.

The one that stands out came when the company she worked for suddenly went under. "Francesca told me it wasn't my fault, and to keep my confidence," Serena remembers. "Then she said three words: use your voice. It still sticks with me now, as I'm writing LinkedIn content for myself. I don't need to sound like anyone else."

For Francesca, it showed that mentoring has to change with the person. "It's about being flexible to the needs of that individual at the time." Day to day, that also means bringing Serena back to basics, the why, the who and the how, when campaigns and deadlines pile up.

Advice You Can't Put a Price On

Serena believes she'd have found a mentor eventually, but not as quickly. Her previous boss encouraged her to find one outside the company, someone with more experience and a different perspective, and the match with Francesca came at the perfect time.

Knowing Francesca gives her time for nothing in return makes it mean even more. "The advice she gives feels priceless," Serena says. "I owe her a lot. She's helped me through jobs, through no jobs."

Breaking Down the Walls

"As a junior, you think everyone's so senior and everyone's got it together," Serena says. "But she helped tear those walls down immediately. She said, we're all just normal people. And she's right. No one is big and scary and out to get you with trick questions."

It reflects one of the community's core values: everyone is treated as equals, whatever their position or title. "When I'm speaking to her, she's not just her title. She's a human being who gets it." Best of all, Serena says, you can ask the silly questions, and a mentor won't see them as silly.

A Community With No Barriers

Francesca believes that openness is what makes The Channel Community different. Many Channel events are vendor-funded or aimed at one group. "This is just open. You work in the Channel, any role, any seniority. That's what's in common."

"You walk into the room, even if you don't know anyone, and you feel like you've met a friend."

Think You've Got Nothing to Offer?

"Everyone's got something to offer," says Francesca. A mentor brings an independent view, free of company politics. "It's rewarding to be able to help people navigate difficult situations or help them practically progress towards their goal."

As part of onboarding, Channel Buddies can say who they'd most like to help. For Francesca, that includes people returning to work, those early in their careers and anyone changing direction.

So, Should You Do It?

"Just do it," says Francesca. "How often can you have someone solely focused on you; to listen, to help?" It can be one session or a longer relationship.

"Just go for it. Don't question it," says Serena. "It's someone to lean on who won't judge you for anything you ask."

The Next Chapter

Since we first spoke to Francesca and Serena, there's been some good news to share: Serena has landed a new role at Softcat.

It's the kind of outcome their conversations were always building towards. Francesca was there through the uncertainty, reminding Serena that losing her job wasn't her fault and giving her that extra push before interviews. Serena did the rest herself, using her voice, just as Francesca told her to.

Their story is a reminder that the right match doesn't need to have all the answers. Sometimes it's simply someone in your corner, who knows the Channel and believes in what you can do.

Get Involved

Whether you're new to the Channel, returning to work or have years of experience to share, there's a place for you in The Channel Community. You can become a community member, get a Channel Buddy to support you, or become a Channel Buddy yourself. Simply download the onboarding document and follow the straightforward process.

Join us at our next London event on 19 November. We'd love to see you there.