WOHAA Speed Mentoring 2026
On Saturday 28th February, Wings of Hope hosted its flagship Speed Mentoring event at London Business School. Now in its 14th year, this much-anticipated event continues to be a cornerstone of the WOHAA programme, designed to give students direct access to professionals from a wide range of sectors through honest, fast-paced and meaningful conversations.
The afternoon began with Professor Simona Botti, who spoke about leadership, emphasising that it starts with self-awareness, knowing your values, and understanding who you are. Her inspiring words set a thoughtful tone for the conversations that followed.
The afternoon brought together a large and diverse group of students alongside mentors representing a large number of different industries, including finance, law, medicine, healthcare, entrepreneurship, technology, creative industries, public service, education and more. Students moved between mentors every 15 minutes, allowing them to explore multiple career pathways in a short space of time while also developing confidence in professional conversation and self-reflection.
What sets Speed Mentoring apart is that it is not a traditional careers fair. Rather than rehearsed answers or formulaic advice, mentors were encouraged to speak openly about their own journeys – including career changes, uncertainty, failure, and the non-linear paths many had taken. This created a relaxed but purposeful environment in which students felt comfortable asking genuine questions about work, wellbeing, balance, motivation and long-term fulfilment.
Speaking about why Speed Mentoring remains such a vital part of the Wings of Hope ethos, organiser Smruti Sriram explained:
“Life and the world of work is not straightforward. Many of our mentors have taken gap years, switched degrees, or followed routes that look very different from what they originally planned – and that’s perfectly fine. It’s important to recognise all aspects of work that enrich you: what improves your mind, body, our planet, and our general wellbeing. It’s not all about the payslip at the end of the month.”
This message resonated strongly with attendees. Throughout the afternoon, students engaged in thoughtful discussions about purpose, resilience, values and adaptability, as well as practical topics such as education choices, early career decisions, and navigating uncertainty. Many students commented that the conversations felt “refreshingly honest” and “far more enriching than a typical careers event”.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Students shared that “the conversations had real depth” and that mentors “offered insight that will genuinely shape future decisions”. Others highlighted the value of “seeing so many different jobs and perspectives in one room”, noting that it helped broaden their understanding of what success can look like. Several students also reflected on how useful the general life advice was, with many mentors offering guidance that felt applicable across education, work and personal development.
Importantly, all attendees said they would recommend Wings of Hope to others following the event – a strong indication of the impact Speed Mentoring continues to have year after year. For many students, the event provided reassurance that there is no single ‘correct’ path, and that curiosity, effort and values matter just as much as titles or timelines.
Speed Mentoring 2026 once again demonstrated the power of bringing people together across generations and industries to share experience, perspective and encouragement. By creating a space rooted in openness, honesty and mutual respect, Wings of Hope continues to equip young people with the confidence, insight and motivation to navigate their futures with clarity and purpose.
We are incredibly grateful to our mentors for their time, openness and generosity, to London Business School and to all the students who brought such energy and thoughtful questions to the room.
