Mentoring

I spent 35 years in technology. I know what it takes to lead people well, and how rarely anyone teaches you how.

I know what it feels like when the work stops meaning something and how to reframe it.

Don't wait till the end of your career to find out what was really important and what wasn't.

I mentor a small number of people who are ready to have an honest conversation about who they are and who they want to be.

Once you know this, we work out what it's going to take to get there and how your tech career maps onto that journey.


What mentoring actually is

A mentor is someone who has been where you are. Someone with direct experience in your field who can speak honestly about what they've experienced, what works, and what doesn't. They tell you in plain, unambiguous language what you need to do, to get where you want to go.

I'm a qualified coach, but I've chosen mentoring over coaching deliberately. Coaching, done properly, is domain-agnostic. A good coach doesn't need to know your industry. A good mentor does. In technology, that distinction matters. The problems are specific, the culture is specific, the pressures are specific. I understand exactly how your day unfolds regardless of whether you are a developer, tester, product owner, architect, project manager, engineering leader or Executive interfacing with your tech team.

In a session, expect a real conversation. I'll ask direct questions. I'll share what I actually think. I'll push back when something isn't working. What I won't do is run you through a packaged process or hand you a framework. My feedback is based directly on what you are telling me. It is specific for you.


Who I work with

  • Tech Leaders who are managing people. They gave you the job but forgot the training. How do you get the best out of your team? How do you make them feel like you are the best goddam manager they ever had?
  • Tech professionals who have lost meaning in what they do. The work pays well, but you're dying inside. You're wondering how you can keep doing this for the rest of your life.
  • Tech professionals who want a pathway to leadership. You have a role in mind, you want to know how to get there. Or, you're not sure about a specific role, but you do know you want to be a leader.
  • Executives who need to know more about tech so they can make better decisions. You want to understand how software actually gets built. To know the right questions to ask your tech leaders. To know when to push back and when to support.
  • Tech professionals overwhelmed by the pace of change. AI, tools, frameworks, the relentless pressure to keep up. The endless sprints that feel like you're actually running a marathon at full speed. What is really important to focus on and what isn't?
  • Junior developers who have the qualifications, but can't get a foothold in the industry. What do you need to do?
  • Non-technical people making a career transition. You are thinking about moving into tech but don't know how to do it or you just finished a tech bootcamp and nobody cares. I've helped both get jobs in the industry.

How it works

Each of the mentoring sessions are 1–1.5 hours over the phone or on Zoom. After the first session, I ask for a commitment of sessions upfront. Not because it suits me, but because you need to make this commitment to yourself, to prove that it matters.

I keep a small number of spots open for junior developers, always pro bono. If that's you, say so.

Email me to find out more


Testimonials

Working with Dom was one of the most valuable experiences of my career. As my manager, he created an environment where I felt supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow. As a mentor, he helped me better understand my strengths, navigate challenges, and see my own potential more clearly.

The trust and respect I had for him was such that, when he moved on to another company, I chose to follow him there. That decision says a lot about the impact he had on me as both a leader and a mentor.

His guidance was always practical, honest, and grounded in real experience, and the advice he gave me has stayed with me long after we worked together. He brings wisdom, patience, and genuine care to the way he supports people, and I have no doubt he will make a meaningful difference through his mentoring work.

I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a mentor who is supportive, insightful, and genuinely invested in helping others succeed.
Nathan Kelly, Engineering Lead
Before working with Dom, I was a strong individual contributor who happened to manage people. He helped me see that real leadership isn't about having all the answers — it's about creating the conditions for your team to find them. That single shift changed how I lead my engineering teams every day.
Felipe Mesquita, Product Engineering Manager, SBS
Dominic guided me from a position of having no experience to being a competent software test engineer within the QA team of a large company. He has a calm and measured approach and his methods of explaining concepts are exceptional. Having such a strong fundamental understanding of software testing gave me the momentum to propel my career further than I thought possible. Thanks Dom!
Adrian Ayre, Musician — Software Test Engineer, SBS
I also mentor through Mentoring Men.