A conversation with Amy Wild, Chief Operating Officer Corporate, Investa.
September 2025
We often think of mentoring as a formal program or a development tool. But for Amy Wild, Chief Operating Officer Corporate at Investa, mentoring has been something far more personal. A series of impromptu moments have changed how she sees herself, how she leads, and how she lifts and supports others.
In a recent episode of Mentoring Unlocked, Amy shared two pivotal moments that reshaped her career. They weren’t part of a formal program. In fact, like many of us, Amy didn’t have a formal mentoring partner. But what she did have was people who showed up at the right moment and said exactly what she needed to hear, even if she didn’t know it at the time.
The Power of a Single Conversation
Amy’s first story begins with a familiar crossroads. She had just become a parent, and like many new parents returning to work, she found herself questioning what she was capable of. “I was leaning toward the familiar,” she said. “I knew the role. It was flexible. It was safe.”
Then an informal mentor stepped in. “She basically shook me through the phone. She said, ‘Are you kidding? Back yourself!”
That unexpected jolt of belief gave Amy the nudge she needed to take a risk and step into the unknown. It was a moment of courage that changed the trajectory of her career. And it happened because someone she trusted reminded her what she was capable of.
Letting People Learn, and Knowing When to Intervene
The second mentoring moment came from one of Amy’s managers.
Amy had been working for two years to push a key initiative through. But she was coming up against some significant roadblocks. “I knew I was right. I had tried everything,” she said.
Then came the conversation that changed everything. Her manager sat her down and offered tough feedback: the issue wasn’t the content, it was the politics and dynamics at play. “He let me fail until it was safe, and then he hit me with the thing I needed to hear. And I got it.”
What happened next? Amy changed her approach and got the outcome she’d been chasing for years. More importantly, she learned how powerful mentoring can be when it balances trust, timing, and truth.
Mentoring Isn’t Only a Role. It’s a Mindset.
Now a senior leader herself, Amy sees mentoring as something that happens in everyday moments.
“Almost everyone I meet is trying to do a good job. And sometimes, all they need is someone to help them see themselves a little more clearly.”
Amy mentors formally and informally every day by holding space, asking thoughtful questions, and offering perspective. She reminds us that mentoring doesn’t mean fixing people. “Sometimes, just being there and listening is what makes the difference.”
Why Trust Is the Real Currency
Across both of Amy’s stories, a theme emerges: trust. Whether it was a peer calling her out, or a manager holding space for failure and growth, the power of mentoring came from deep respect, empathy, and an unwavering belief in her potential.
That trust created the conditions for truth, for challenge, for action. And it’s what Amy now tries to create in her own mentoring relationships.
“You have to take your own desire to fix things out of the equation,” she said. “It’s not about you. It’s about what they need, and being there for them at the right moment.”
A Call to Leaders
Amy’s story is a powerful reminder that mentoring doesn’t always happen on a schedule. The most transformational moments often happen in the middle of a workday, when someone chooses to pause, listen, and reflect something back.
If you lead people, you are in a position to mentor, regardless of whether or not it’s in your job title. You can:
- Ask a question that unlocks a stuck mindset
- Offer a new perspective when you can see that someone’s beliefs are limited
- Create space for someone to fail safely and learn fast
For Amy Wild, mentoring has never been about hierarchy. It’s about humanity.
Her stories show us that the best mentors aren’t just experienced, they’re present. They know when to hold space, when to challenge, and when to speak the truth with care and compassion.
At MentorKey, we believe every organisation is full of potential mentoring moments. But it requires leaders to be aware of how to spot them. Because sometimes, one honest conversation is all it takes to change a career.
Our platform helps mentors and mentees reflect, connect, and grow through guided conversations, coaching and mentoring frameworks and real-time support.
Want to create a culture where mentoring moments happen every day? Connect with the MentorKey team to learn how we can support your people.
Listen to the full podcast or catch the video interview from Maud Lindley’s conversation with Amy Wild.