Mentorship: a path to deeper growth — for others and for yourself

by Oleksii Mykytyn , Senior PHP developer, Team lead at Netminds

When I graduated from university, I couldn’t imagine that one day I’d become a tech lead and a mentor and that I’d find true inspiration working with students. Back then, the goal was simple - to learn how to code, to try and win those strange things called "hackathons", to get a job in IT, and to level up my skills.

Mentorship came into my life not as a goal, but as a natural result. My friends and I used to spend nights building projects and winning hackathons - and eventually, we decided it was time to do something of our own. That’s how the idea for our own hackathon, Hack4IoT, was born. We invited a new generation to join in, to believe that yes - it's all possible. And when someone asked me, "How did you do that?" I caught myself wanting to explain. Not just give an answer, but walk the path together and see how they would do it.

What does mentorship mean to me?

It’s not about "I know more". It's about "I've been where you are". A mentor is not a guru. A mentor is a more experienced teammate holding the door open for you.

Mentorship isn't just about sharing knowledge - it forces you to rethink it. Every time I explain something to a student, I go back to the basics. I remind myself why we do things the way we do. I'm not just teaching - I'm learning too.

Why is mentorship important for developers?

Teamwork becomes deeper.

When you mentor, you learn to listen. You learn to explain. You learn how to be helpful without taking over. These are the very same skills that make you a strong team player.

You start to structure your knowledge better.

There were times I couldn't clearly explain a concept, which meant I didn't fully understand it myself. That's a challenge. But it's thanks to mentorship that I became a tech lead - not only for the technical skills, but also for the ability to pass them on.

Young minds keep you sharp.

Students come in with that spark in their eyes, hungry to code, full of dreams. Sometimes they don’t even know that something is "impossible" - and that’s exactly why they succeed. Their questions often make me pause and ask myself: "Why do we actually do it this way?"

Mentorship as a source of inspiration

The most rewarding part? That moment when someone you've helped suddenly starts to shine. When they say: "Thanks, I get it now". When your former student becomes your colleague. And then - he or she becomes a mentor themselves.

It's not just about knowledge — it's about energy. About connection. About creating a space where people grow. And you grow with them. It's about building a strong, cohesive team, where colleagues know they can rely on each other, where ideas are supported and you will be provided with help.

Mentorship doesn't take your time. It multiplies your experience.

Some may consider mentorship as an extra burden. But I truly believe it's one of the most powerful ways to grow - both as a developer and as a person.

I've gone the path from student hackathons to leading technical teams on real projects. But the biggest leaps didn’t come from 12-hour workdays on the project's tasks. They came from seeing someone next to me grow - and knowing I had a part in that.

What's your next step?

You don't need a formal title to be a mentor. If you are worried that you don't have much experience, and what other people's thoughts are. Don't push the horses! Just try - answer questions, offer support, and share advice. Listen attentively. Share your journey. And one day, someone will say to you: "Thank you for being my mentor" - even if you didn't realize it at the time.

#mentorship #growth #itcareer #inspiration #knowledgesharing