Women supporting women
Sharon and Ugo from Lloyds Banking Group share their experience of supporting and mentoring female leaders in the charity sector to develop and thrive.
06 March 2025
One in five of the charities we support are led by women, for women. And hundreds of women from Lloyds Banking Group currently volunteer their time and skills with the Foundation’s charity partners as a mentor, trustee and through other skills based volunteering opportunities. Sharon and Ugo from Lloyds Banking Group share their experience of supporting and mentoring female leaders in the charity sector to develop and thrive.
“I would recommend the mentoring programme to anyone”
Sharon Hillier, Regional Agriculture Manager at AMC (a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group), shares how she helped her mentee develop and build confidence.
Through the Foundation’s mentoring programme, I mentored someone working in a leadership position at a small charity supporting people, including those with disabilities and mental health conditions, to start work and live more independently.
In my meetings with my mentee, we spoke about how she could support staff, as well as her own development and what she wanted to work on personally to be more effective and advance her career. We often discussed ideas she had for the charity, but my role was more about helping her to believe in her own abilities, which in turn meant she was more effective and confident at work.
My mentee is unbelievably talented so I did initially wonder what I could possibly add as a mentor, but as we spent time talking every couple of months, I could see she needed someone to bounce ideas around with, a time to concentrate on her own development and someone to remind her how amazing she is!
I absolutely loved it, and would recommend the mentoring programme to anyone. My mentee just needed someone to talk to honestly outside of her workplace and some guidance to find her own way forward. There is no better feeling than coming off a call with her to see her smiling and believing in herself to try something new, knowing all I did was listen and support her in getting to her own decision.
- Sharon Hillier
Sharon's mentee shared her experience of being mentored: “Sharon has been a fantastic source of support and encouragement. We instantly hit it off and I have always felt that we are on the same wavelength and I could speak openly and in confidence with her. She has helped challenge my way of thinking and has supported me to feel like I am in more control of my destiny. She is an asset to the Lloyds Banking Group, and I have felt privileged to be able to have some of her time.”
“I’ve witnessed my mentee blossom over the past year”
Ugo Egenti, Business and Commercial Change Partner at Lloyds Banking Group, shares her experience of mentoring and becoming a charity trustee.
POW Nottingham is a non-profit organisation supporting the rights of sex workers and those at risk of exploitation. As a mentor at POW Nottingham, I have had the privilege of guiding and supporting the Senior Manager through various challenges. Our one-on-one mentoring sessions have been incredibly rewarding, as I've witnessed my mentee blossom over the past year. Each session, we set specific goals, and she consistently returned with updates on their progress. It's been fulfilling to see how our regular catch-ups have empowered her, fostering professional and personal growth and enhancing her confidence and skills – and she is currently working towards a CEO role within the charity sector.
Through the Foundation’s trustee programme, I was connected with the charity After18, where I have taken on the role of treasurer. After18 is dedicated to supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young refugees under 25 in Leicester. Their mission is to help these young individuals adjust to life in the UK, rebuild their lives, and prepare for their future.
This year, we are focusing on the strategic growth of the charity, including redefining, and restructuring managerial roles to align with our strategic vision. My key role is ensuring we have sufficient funds to implement these changes, especially funding for a new CEO role. As a trustee, I am involved in strategic planning, governance, and oversight of the charity's operations.
Volunteering has provided me with a profound sense of fulfilment and purpose, knowing that my efforts are making a positive difference in people's lives. Professionally, these roles have honed my leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills. These experiences have enhanced my ability to work collaboratively, manage projects, and make informed decisions, which are invaluable in my career.
– Ugo Egenti
Valerie Ross, Senior Manager at POW Nottingham, shared her experience of being mentored by Ugo: “I have found this experience so beneficial! My mentor has encouraged me to aim higher and break ‘glass ceilings’ above me that I probably would not have done by my own will. Having the dedicated time to focus on my career aspirations is essential for me and setting goals to achieve them with my mentor is working.”
Get involved
If you work for Lloyds Banking Group, there are lots of ways you can get involved in skills based volunteering including one-to-one mentoring, becoming a Trustee of a small charity or via team based opportunities. If you would like to find out more, please visit lloydsbanking.sharepoint.com/sites/Colleague_Volunteering or email volunteering@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk.
If you are a charity currently funded by the Foundation, find out how you can receive support from colleagues from Lloyds Banking Group.
