Meet a Mentor: Tanya Wong
Caption: Tanya Wong, Out For Australia Mentor, smiling from inside a restaurant.
Mentors have played a strong part of Out For Australia since its inception and we love learning about all the magnificent mentors who have contributed to it. Tanya Wong is one of these mentors. Her experience and passion in improving the lives of those around her has made her an inspirational woman to everyone, including her mentee, Annabel Nguyen.
Becoming a Mentor
Tanya has a rich background full of impressive experiences that have shaped who she is. She lived in Hong Kong and New York as well as Sydney, bringing a curious mindset and inclusive approach to everything she does.
After starting her career in the corporate world, Tanya now works as a Social Finance Relationship Manager at Sefa, a small firm that helps purpose-driven organisations to unlock greater social impact. She has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. In addition to volunteering with Out For Australia as a mentor, she has served as Treasurer for the Sydney Bi+ Network and other community organisations.
She is passionate about many things that appear outwardly to be polar opposites: reading and public speaking, finance and social justice, self-development and structural inequities.
Tanya discovered Out For Australia in 2019 when she attended a presentation about the OFA Mentoring Program at the Better Together Conference in 2019. She has always enjoyed sharing her experiences and reflections with those who are eager to learn, and she believes it’s so important to help young or less experienced people reach their potential in a fulfilling way.
‘It’s still a relatively recent development to have out and proud staff members in the workplace, so it’s important for young people to know that those role models exist and that they can learn from them but also have something to offer them in return,’ said Tanya.
Tanya joined the OFA Mentoring Program soon after the conference, and was quickly contacted by someone who was amazed by Tanya and wanted to learn more from her.
Caption: Tanya Wong, smiling from inside a building at dawn.
The Mentee Connection
Annabel has her own experience with Out For Australia as a Mentor and Equity and Accessibility Coordinator. Her work as a senior consultant at Nous Group has taught her a lot, but she has always wanted to learn more. She searched for guidance via a mentor, which led to her discovering Tanya on Mentorloop (the platform used by OFA’s Mentoring Program).
The two have several things in common. They both studied finance, have worked in professional services, and are both women from East Asian backgrounds—similarities that have helped build a connection between the two.
‘Mentees are often looking for someone they can relate to and see themselves following in the footsteps of,’ said Tanya.
According to an internal report by 180 Degrees WA, 60 per cent of female mentees within the OFA Mentoring Program have stated a preference to having female mentors. By using Mentorloop, members can look at the other members and find someone who suits their own specific needs, whether it be profession, gender, orientation or even if they just share the same hobbies. The many similarities between Annabel and Tanya have strengthened their relationship.
While Tanya and Annabel met once for their first conversation, they have mostly used email for their mentoring interaction. This allowed them to be flexible in their communication and take the initiative to guide their own relationship in a way that makes both of them comfortable.
In the three years since their mentor/mentee relationship began, both women have played a strong part in each other’s lives. While Tanya loves sharing her experiences, she also understands that Annabel may be looking for help with a particular issue. Tanya has an amazing ability to focus her guidance on the specific, immediate issue.
Annabel’s inquisitive mind and constant desire to challenge herself has also been a source of inspiration to Tanya. It has taught her to always look at alternative options and not settle for the obvious pathway.
Why Out for Australia?
Out For Australia isn’t Tanya’s first experience with mentoring. Ever since Year 7, she has been a keen participant in various forms of mentoring. She started as a mentee in multiple programs throughout high school and university and this continued into her professional life.
Tanya has embraced the role of a mentor. She loves the feeling of helping someone make better decisions in their life. As she has a lot of experience, she loves being able to share this with others.
While Tanya has been a part of mentoring programs in the past, she had often found the programs specific to the institution or subject area and the mentor was often fulfilling the role of a tutor or a coach, rather than acting as a mentor. Her opinion on Out For Australia, however, differs.
‘For me, the Out For Australia Mentoring Program has been unique in being industry-agnostic, completely self-directed (for both mentor and mentee), and of a duration that’s determined solely by the participants.
‘I’ve found that both mentors and mentees are really engaged from the outset, unlike some other programs with mentors that might have been recruited with some reluctance or inadequate training. I’ve also really liked the high level of agency and flexibility that I have, as I otherwise would have found it difficult to stay involved due to other commitments.’
Caption: Tanya Wong, smiling from inside a dark room, wearing a red and black print shirt with a pink flower clipped to her hair.
Want to be part of the mentoring experience?
We’re always looking for Mentors who would love to share their experience and guide others. You don’t need to have any experience in this role. If you love connecting with others and supporting people in their journey, it’s a great opportunity. If you’d like to receive this guidance, consider becoming a Mentee.
Out for Australia’s Mentoring Program is 100 per cent free and available for anyone over the age of 18 all over Australia.. You can find the perfect Mentor or Mentee and connect in a way that works for you both.
To find out more about the program, visit our mentoring program page on our website.