On 22 and 23 April 2025, EHEDG welcomed participants to the two-day EYE Mentorship Midway Event, held in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The programme was designed to foster open dialogue, professional development, and meaningful connections between mentors and mentees from across the food industry.

The event began at the EHEDG Head Office in Amsterdam with a Knowledge Circle session, allowing everyone to better understand each other's areas of expertise, perspectives and motivations. In the evening the group enjoyed dinner at a nearby restaurant, providing a relaxed setting to continue discussions and build new relationships in a more informal atmosphere.

The following day, mentors and mentees travelled to Unilever in Rotterdam for the second part of the event. The morning featured an introduction by mentor Hui Zhang about the company, followed by dedicated one-on-one mentor–mentee meetings and feedback discussions, where the group shared their ideas for the programme moving forward.

In the afternoon, Jocelyn Rebbens led an insightful workshop focused on the GROW coaching model and performance development, where the pairs were able to put this into practice and tackle specific challenges. The session also built on earlier conversations around LIFO® communication styles and offered practical tools to support mentoring conversations going forward. Participants came prepared, having reviewed Jocelyn’s pre-assigned materials in advance, which contributed to a lively and productive exchange. The session also included a very useful and hands-on game, where two teams were able to put their knowledge to the test.

To round off the day, the group enjoyed a guided walking tour of Rotterdam and a nice dinner.

The EYE Mentorship Midway Event was a rewarding experience for all involved, and we look forward to building on this momentum in future gatherings.

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