Mentors and mentees connect: Whitefox’s Mentorship Programme launch event

By   Zoila Marenco 1 min read

A few weeks ago, mentors, mentees and the Whitefox team gathered alongside members of London College of Communication’s Graduate Futures and Publishing course at The Horatia in Highbury to launch our second mentorship programme in partnership with LCC. 

John Bond, our CEO, opened the evening by sharing what struck him most about the programme: the profound influence mentorship has had on each mentor’s early career. He reflected, ‘It’s about relationships with people that form and, hopefully, will bring value for many, many years to come.’ He went on to describe publishing’s evolving landscape, portraying ‘a massive ecosystem of people doing interesting things’ that extends well beyond traditional publishing houses.

Lumi Molico, Manager of Graduate Futures at LCC, spoke about their mission to enhance students’ real-world skills and industry opportunities and connections. ‘We try to bridge that gap’, she explained, highlighting how partnerships like this one with Whitefox create meaningful pathways into the industry for graduates.

Frania Hall, Senior Lecturer for the MA Publishing course at LCC, offered a particularly moving perspective on what makes this programme special. ‘The relationship between mentor and mentee builds confidence,’ she noted, ‘because it’s a much closer connection than doing work experience and sitting in a corner.’ She is particularly enthusiastic about this year’s project, for which mentees will reimagine the Whitefox brochure, viewing it as an excellent opportunity for them to showcase their creative abilities.

Throughout the evening, we overheard conversations from our mentees about dream countryside studios, beloved picture books, female role models in publishing and career aspirations – showing that this year’s group brings both fresh perspectives and bold ideas to the table.

What makes this programme unique is how it combines one-to-one mentorship with hands-on industry experience. Over the next six months, seven pairs of mentors and mentees will collaborate, sharing expertise in book cover design and editorial work while working on real-world projects. Keep an eye on our blog for updates as we follow their progress in the coming months.

Zoila Marenco
Zoila Marenco
Zoila has five years of experience in client management. She transitioned from working in an organisation offering talent management services to a tech startup specialising in behavioural change in teams. Her experience with clients and communities prompted her move to marketing, taking on the role of a community manager to help Whitefox build, expand and oversee online communities.