The Buddy System at Highberg DACH: Ella Slepko and Anuk Pult

Ella Slepko (Highberg-Mentor) about the Mentor-program: "The mentoring program was created to ensure that every new employee at Highberg DACH has an informal buddy. Initially, it’s limited to six months. On one hand, you have your manager who discusses professional development and topics such as salary negotiations and promotions. On the other hand, the mentor/buddy focuses on soft aspects to help the person settle in well at Highberg.

The program starts on the Onboarding Day, where the mentor welcomes the new employee, introduces them to Highberg - how we collaborate, the current culture, upcoming team-building activities, and they have lunch together. The overall goal is to just make them feel welcome. This covers all the softer factors that go beyond setting up a laptop or dealing with your manager. 

There’s no strict schedule for mentors, just a few guidelines. Personally, I like to set up fixed days after the onboarding. For example, we have a weekly half-hour meeting to check on projects, where we discuss progress, and there's also room for the mentee to share if they need technical or professional support. If so, I make sure they get the help they need. We also address personal topics, like challenges wich fitting into the team or other concerns the mentee might have. Additionally, there’s a monthly mentor lunch for deeper exchanges. 

Essentially, the mentor is there for everything you might not want to discuss with your manager but would like to talk about."

"I aim to share everything that isn’t covered in Highberg’s formal structure; the things you wouldn’t really learn otherwise. For example, how consultants and data scientists collaborate. If you’re in one field, you might not be aware of what’s happening in the other.

There’s also the personal aspect of making someone feel at home. Once someone feels settled in and understands Highberg, its structure, and feels confident enough to reach out to colleagues at any time, I consider my job done."

"I deeply value soft factors in the workplace because I know they can make or break any job. For your new coworkers, those first weeks and months are so important for feeling comfortable both professionally and personally. I didn’t have great experiences in this area at previous employers, so I want to make things easier for others."

"I stay very closely connected to my mentees for their first six months. Every week, I ask the same questions: “How was your week? How are you personally? What’s going on with your projects? Are you overwhelmed, or do you need help - whether professionally or with tasks? Are you encountering any other challenges?” This way I know where to step in. 

I also ask things like: “Have you connected with colleague X yet? and how’s working from home going?” This helps me get a sense of whether they’re settling in well. I would not say this counts as formal measurement, but it works for me."

Anuk Pult (Junior Consultant at Highberg DACH): "My Mentor explained a lot and given me great advice. It has been helpful to learn how everything works here and who holds which role at Highberg. I have been learning on how to navigate the company, how to handle different situations, especially as a new employee. She also explained me things you wouldn’t necessarily know unless you dug into internal documents, like how employees can use a few days a year for training purposes.

I think it’s great that I can always approach her. It feels more like being on the same level, which makes it easier to ask questions."

"We have a weekly half-hour exchange. And once a month, we have a mentor lunch. Outside of that, I can always reach out to her if needed, but those are the set times. I’d say it’s very relaxed since she’s younger and not in a managerial role. She’s proactive too, often bringing up new topics or things to share. Overall, it’s very easygoing."

"If I had to sum it up, it’s that you should always be proactive. Speak up about what’s on your mind and be open."

"I’d say it’s been reassuring to know I have a dedicated contact person. If something comes up, I know I can turn to her. With other people, there’s sometimes that worry about being annoying if you’re constantly asking for help. So, I think it’s great to have someone who isn’t evaluating you and with whom you can speak openly about things - whether professional or personal."

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