At Marketing Doris, I wear many hats.

One of the roles I enjoy the most is mentoring – something that has naturally grown alongside my work as a Marketing Consultant and Fractional Marketing Director. Whether it’s within client teams or through volunteering with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), I’ve found that mentoring brings just as much value to me as it does to the people I support.

Mentoring in the workplace

When I’m working with clients as their outsourced marketing support – whether that’s in a strategic capacity or as their go-to marketing person – I often find myself working closely with junior team members or those newer to the industry.

It might be a marketing assistant who’s brimming with ideas but isn’t quite sure how to connect the dots. Or a social media exec looking to understand how their role fits into the bigger picture. I’m always happy to jump in and offer strategic guidance, answer day-to-day questions, or just be a sounding board when they need to sense-check an idea.

It’s not about adding more to anyone’s plate – it’s about making the plate a bit sturdier, so they feel confident balancing what’s already on it.

Voluntary mentoring through CIM

As a board member for CIM Yorkshire, I also take part in the CIM Mentor programme – and it’s a real privilege to be involved. This voluntary scheme pairs experienced marketers with those who are either starting out, switching paths, or (in many cases) thinking of going freelance and wondering if they’re brave or bonkers (spoiler: often both, and that’s OK).

Sometimes it’s a one-off chat about a project or a CV. Other times it turns into a longer relationship with regular check-ins and career discussions. There’s no set script – just two marketers having honest, practical conversations about how to make progress.

Why it’s important

Marketing can be a brilliant career, but it can also be confusing, overwhelming, and hard to navigate – especially early on. Having someone a few steps ahead who’s willing to say “Yes, I’ve been there too,” or “Here’s what worked for me,” can be game-changing.

I didn’t get where I am without people helping me along the way, so it feels right to pay that forward.

Fancy a chat?

If you’re looking for marketing mentoring – whether it’s for yourself or a team member – or just want to explore what outsourced marketing support could look like for your business, I’d love to have a conversation.

Drop me a message or book a Marketing Power Hour and let’s get the ball rolling.