Month: April 2025

Empathy is a human superpower, isn’t it?

I was in a seminar recently in which we were discussing the possible usefulness of Artificial Intelligence in mentoring, and even whether AI could take over the role of a mentor. AI is certainly a powerful tool, and it’s coming, ready or not, into all of our lives. It’s great at summarising large quantities of input, it handles routine IT/administrative tasks extraordinarily quickly (as long as you can tell it precisely what you require done) and can bring to your attention points of view you might not have thought of. You have to watch it though. Generative AI isn’t great at distinguishing between facts and plausible possibilities.

Continue reading “Empathy is a human superpower”

Last November, Em and I led a Members’ Networking zoom on the topic of Neurodiversity and mentoring. This came about through our observation that awareness and diagnosis of neurodivergence, particularly Autism and ADHD, seems to be increasing. More broadly, there seems to be a moment happening in the media with several recent TV shows featuring neurodivergence.  I’ve enjoyed watching shows like Love on the Spectrum and Austin. Aside from this moment in the media, I have a couple of friends recently receive diagnoses of ADHD as adults. I have family members on the autism spectrum and who have dyslexia and dyscalculia. I’ve also had a mentoree who I’ve been walking with over the last few years as she’s travelled the ADHD diagnosis journey.

Now as Em and I were discussing how to approach this topic, she reminded me of the very helpful phrase “Nothing about us without us”. Continue reading “Neurodiversity and Mentoring”