Minerva's Mentoring Masterclasses

By Molly Burchell
3rd November 2021

Strategic communications expert and Minerva Director Rhonda Smith, delivered online mentoring sessions in preparation for prestigious Falling Walls Lab competition

 

Minerva Communications UK was commissioned by EURAXESS to provide tailored mentoring and support to 12 candidates who had won their national ‘pitching’ competitions for the Emerging Talents section of the Falling Walls Lab international competition, for ‘breakthrough’ science and innovations (Berlin, 7th November 2021).

Falling Walls Lab is an international competition that provides a platform for innovative early-stage researchers to share their ideas with the rest of the world. This year, the competition will be held both online and in person in Berlin on 7th November, where the candidates will present a 3-minute pitch on their proposed project challenge and its solution. Finalists will be judged by a panel of established professionals across academia, research and industry.

Minerva Director, Rhonda Smith’s online mentoring sessions, provided in-depth, tailored support and feedback to each candidate, building their confidence and competence in presenting their project online, and in person, for the prestigious Falling Walls competition and beyond.

Candidates described the mentoring sessions as ‘exceptionally personalised experiences’ with one candidate adding: ‘Rhonda pointed out the exact weaknesses of my presentation, and suggested ways to improve these.’ Another summarised their mentoring session as ‘An immensely useful session and glad I had the opportunity to take the feedback and refine my presentation before the final recording.’

All candidates who responded with feedback, identified that the quality and content of the mentoring sessions received was of very good or excellent standard. With reference to the final preparation and recording of their videos, 90% rated the mentoring sessions as good or above.

Director and Mentor Rhonda Smith says “It was a pleasure to work with a group of innovative and inspiring researchers. The feedback from candidates reflects their gratitude and appreciation for taking part in the sessions, rating them highly in terms of providing honest advice and tips to prepare for their final scripts, recordings and ‘hoped for’ live performances, in Berlin. I wish them all good luck and Minerva are looking forward to tuning in to the event online.”

Join the Falling Walls Labs online sessions from 7 – 9 November 2021 by registering for free here.

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