Paying it forward: getting involved in mentoring

Mikaeel Rana recently graduated with a degree in Finance and Accounting. He got involved in two mentoring programmes during his studies and here he discusses the mutual benefits of mentoring. 

I’ve been involved in two mentoring programmes at the University of Strathclyde. The first is the Young Strathclyder programme, where I work as a Student Mentor delivering interactive activities to primary and secondary pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, ranging from Primary 5 through to S2. I became involved in this during the 2025-26 academic year, having been selected and PVG-cleared to represent the University as part of its flagship widening access outreach initiative. 

The second is the Business Accelerate Challenge, which I have now completed for the second consecutive year, most recently in June 2026. This is a week-long SCQF-accredited level 7 programme where S5 and S6 pupils are given a real corporate challenge to work on. Once again, the brief was set by AG Barr, and my role was to oversee a pupil team through the full process, from initial ideation to a formal pitch to an industry panel. 

What they involve 

The Young Strathclyder role involves coming into schools and onto campus to deliver structured, faculty-representative activities designed to raise awareness of higher education among young people who may never have considered university as a realistic option. A lot of the work is about breaking down barriers, making university feel accessible and achievable to pupils who may not have family members who attended. 

The Accelerate Challenge is more intensive and commercially focused. This year I supervised a pupil team working on a product launch concept for AG Barr’s soft drinks market. That involved guiding them through market research, including designing surveys and running focus groups, developing a marketing strategy, creating promotional materials, and ultimately coaching them to deliver a ten-minute pitch to a professional panel. It mirrors what you would genuinely encounter in a business setting, which makes it a meaningful experience for the pupils. 

Giving back 

Growing up in Govanhill, I was very much aware of the challenges faced by young people in that community: limited access to resources, language barriers, and often little exposure to what life beyond school could look like. I gained from people who invested time in me, and I felt a genuine responsibility to give that back. 

When the opportunity arose through Strathclyde, it felt like a natural extension of values I already held. I also saw it as a chance to develop professionally, mentoring others forces you to communicate clearly, lead with patience, and think on your feet, all skills that are directly transferable to a career in finance. The two motivations reinforced each other rather than competing. 

Learning through action 

Personally, leadership has been the biggest development area for me. Particularly during the Accelerate Challenge, I had to manage a group of pupils who did not always agree, keep them motivated through a demanding week, and hold them accountable to a deadline, all while maintaining a positive atmosphere. There were moments where I had to make judgement calls quickly, and that is something you can only really learn by action. 

Patience is something I have genuinely developed. During my placement at Annette Street Primary School, I worked one-to-one with pupils with additional support needs and with children who had very limited English. Progress was sometimes slow and required adapting my entire approach week on week. That experience taught me that results take time and that consistency matters more than intensity. 

My confidence has also grown significantly. Presenting to and working alongside industry professionals during the Accelerate Challenge and being personally approached by the Headteacher at Annette Street to help build community ties, were moments that told me my contributions were being noticed at a senior level. That kind of recognition builds a quiet confidence that carries into everything else you do. 

Mutual benefits 

In many ways the mentoring and studying complemented each other rather than competing. The Accelerate Challenge ran during June, which sits outside the most intensive exam period, so the timing worked well practically. The Young Strathclyder sessions were structured around my timetable, which made them manageable alongside coursework. 

More importantly, the skills overlapped in both directions. The analytical problem-solving thinking I was developing through my studies fed directly into how I approached the research and commercial elements of the Accelerate Challenge. Also, the communication and leadership skills I built through mentoring made me a more confident and effective contributor in group work and presentations throughout my degree. Rather than pulling in opposite directions, university and mentoring made each other better. 

Beyond Strathclyde  

Outside of Strathclyde, I completed a placement at Annette Street Primary School in Govanhill as part of the business school's Management Development Programme. I worked directly with pupils facing language barriers and additional support needs, providing one-to-one academic support and eventually taking responsibility for the school’s Primary 7 football team, including leading them independently on a day when the teacher was absent, where we won all three matches. 

Beyond that, most of my work outside of university has been with Al-Farooq Education and Community Centre in Govanhill, a registered Scottish charity where I now serve as Head of Finance. The Headteacher at Annette Street was aware of my connection to Al-Farooq and approached me personally about helping the school build stronger ties with the local community, which I think speaks to how these different aspects of involvement have come to reinforce one another. 

Paying it forward 

I’ve genuinely enjoyed the mentoring experience. The Accelerate Challenge has been one of the most rewarding weeks of my academic experience both times I have done it. Watching a group of pupils who started the week unsure of themselves deliver a confident, polished pitch to an industry panel on the final day is something that does not get old. 

I would absolutely recommend it to other students, and not just for the CV benefit, though that is real. The skills you develop, the relationships you build, and the perspective it gives you on your own journey are things you cannot obtain from a lecture theatre. If you have ever benefitted from someone investing time in you, this is a direct way to pay that forward. 

About Mikaeel Rana

Mikaeel is a recent graduate from the University of Strathclyde, having completed a BA (Hons) in Finance and Accounting at Strathclyde Business School. A committed advocate for widening access, he has been involved in the University’s Young Strathclyder outreach programme as a Student Mentor and has completed the Business Accelerate Challenge for the second consecutive year, most recently working with pupils on a live brief set by AG Barr. He also completed a placement at Annette Street Primary School in Govanhill as part of the Management Development Programme, working directly with pupils from the community he grew up in.