Mentorship Matters: We Led a Mentoring Workshop at the 2025 EQTSS

At WIQD (We in Quantum Development), we believe that fostering a more inclusive quantum ecosystem starts with providing meaningful support — and mentorship plays a key role in that.

Last week, WIQD Project Manager Florence Mooser led an engaging mentorship workshop designed for students at the 2025 European Quantum Technology Summer School.  Drawing on both research and lived experience, Florence guided participants through an interactive session that redefined what mentoring can look like and how it can benefit everyone involved.

“Mentoring starts not when you find the right mentor but when you identify your own needs.”

The session began by grounding mentorship in evidence: numerous studies, including large-scale PhD surveys, show that students and researchers who feel supported report higher levels of well-being, confidence, and career satisfaction. Yet too often, early-career professionals face a lack of guidance, isolation, and unclear expectations.

That’s where mentorship comes in.

Participants explored various models of mentoring, including:

• Traditional mentoring (a senior guiding a junior)

• Peer mentoring (support from near-peers)

• Reverse mentoring (junior voices guiding seniors, often around DEI or digital tools)

• Constellation mentoring — a more holistic approach where individuals build a network of mentors to meet different needs.

In the workshop’s main activity, participants were invited to map out their ideal “Board of Advisors” by identifying the kinds of support they need. Florence introduced six archetypes of support:

• 🟢 Strategic: the Challenger and the Connector

• 🟣 Practical: the Peer Ally and the Career Coach

• 🔵 Emotional: the Cheerleader and the Listener

This exercise invited attendees to reflect on their own needs, a crucial first step in finding meaningful, lasting mentoring relationships.

“Support doesn’t have to be formal or perfect — but it does have to be intentional. You have more power to shape your community than you think.”

The workshop closed with a simple but powerful question:
What’s one small action you’ll take to support yourself or someone else this year?

Answers ranged from checking in on a colleague to asking for feedback, highlighting that small steps can lead to big change.

What’s next?

WIQD is actively developing formal mentoring programs — starting with our NL-DE Mentoring Pilot, launching soon. This initiative will connect mentors and mentees across borders, with a focus on building a strong, inclusive community for quantum professionals at all levels.

📩 Want to get involved?
Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn to be the first to know about upcoming mentorship opportunities.