Intro:
Mentorship often follows a familiar rhythm — especially in my past experiences, where mentees were either early in their careers, university students, or part of structured organizational hierarchies. These sessions were largely focused on practical problem-solving, drawing from my experience in areas like AI, Responsible AI, Machine Learning, and Supply Chain Automation. Preparation was minimal, as the conversations revolved around sharing implementation guidance and scaling strategies.
Through the Women in Power Platform community, I was paired with a mentee whose background in organizational change management and passion for human-centered design brought a refreshing depth to our conversations. What began as a strategic exploration of M365 Copilot and productivity tools soon evolved — especially after a summer break — into a deeply reflective journey.
The pivot came unexpectedly. Post-holiday, our sessions shifted from tools and templates to emotions and transitions. We explored post-project grief, mapped out its emotional and organizational dimensions, and co-created strategies to navigate it — not just for individuals, but for teams and leaders.
Reflection on the expereince:
What began as a typical mentorship — focused on practical guidance around AI, Copilot, and system design — quickly evolved into something deeper. Unlike my previous sessions with early-career professionals or students, this mentee brought rich experience in organizational change and a shared passion for human-centered design.
In the first few weeks, we explored M365 Copilot, mapped out strategic goals, and built templates to empower teams. But after a summer break, everything shifted. The mentee returned feeling emotionally disconnected — a phenomenon we identified as post-project grief.
Instead of ignoring it, we leaned in. Together, we mapped the emotional landscape, discussed imposter syndrome, and created strategies for recovery — both personal and organizational. The journey culminated in a community presentation titled Grieving Gracefully, sparking conversations that rarely happen in tech spaces.
Key Themes on Post-Project Grief:
We explored the emotional and organizational dimensions of post-project
grief. We discussed the emptiness that follows intense collaboration, the loss of professional identity, and the burnout that often goes unaddressed. The mentee shared feelings of imposter syndrome, reduced productivity, and disconnection from team dynamics. We also examined how organizations often lack formal offboarding rituals, focus solely on outcomes, and fail to recognize individual contributions.
To navigate this, we co-created strategies around reflection, upskilling, knowledge sharing, and organizational support — all aimed at fostering recovery, resilience, and renewed purpose.
Grieving Gracefully, Navigating the Emotional Fallout
This mentorship reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful progress comes not from pushing forward, but from pausing. The mentee’s openness to reflect — to sit with discomfort and explore the emotional aftermath of a major project — was a turning point. It allowed us to shift from productivity to presence, from strategy to empathy. The session we co-created, Grieving Gracefully, resonated deeply with the community, sparking conversations that are often left unspoken in tech spaces. It wasn’t just a successful mentorship cohort — it was a shared moment of growth, vulnerability, and collective healing.
Presentation Link: Women In Power Platform
Top comments (0)