Daniele Todaro on the lasting value of mentoring

Daniele Todaro is an MBA alum and Group Managing Director of OceanLED Marine, a business in the leisure and luxury marine underwater lighting industry. He signed up for the WBS mentoring programme as a mentee, and years later he still meets regularly with his mentor, Nick, to exchange ideas and talk through the challenges he is facing.

We spoke to Daniele about what drew him to mentoring, how the relationship has developed, and why he would encourage others to take part.

Can you tell us about your background and what made you choose WBS?

“My career has taken me through engineering, manufacturing and business leadership, across different companies and industries. As my responsibilities grew, I wanted to strengthen the business knowledge that I had developed through experience and challenge the way I approached decisions.

“I chose Warwick Business School because of the content of its MBA programme, its reputation and its consistently strong rankings. I was looking for a course that was academically rigorous but also genuinely relevant to the challenges of running a business.”

What motivated you to sign up as a mentee?

“I heard about the mentoring programme through the WBS careers team and immediately saw the potential value in learning from someone else’s experience. I wanted a mentor who could challenge my thinking, offer a different perspective and help me reflect on decisions I was making. I am very glad I signed up. The relationship I developed with my mentor has proved invaluable, and years later we still meet regularly to exchange ideas and discuss the challenges I am facing.”

How did the relationship with your mentor develop?

“My mentor and I connected from our very first conversation. We seemed to be on the same page, which made it easy to have open and honest discussions. He has always been generous with his time, approachable and willing to challenge my thinking when needed.

“Over the years, what began as a formal mentoring relationship has developed into a genuine friendship. I still regard him as my mentor, though, and continue to value his advice enormously.”

What did your mentor help you with?

“There was not one particular area. Nick’s contribution has been much broader, helping me improve how I approach professional situations, interact with others and make decisions. Sometimes the greatest value comes from being asked a question you had not considered, or from having someone challenge an assumption you were taking for granted. That has helped me become more thoughtful and measured in my approach, both professionally and personally.”

Is there a piece of advice or insight that has stayed with you?

“What has stayed with me is the importance of stepping back and questioning my first instinct before committing to a decision. A conversation with Nick will often make me consider an issue from another person’s perspective or test whether I have really understood the problem. It is not a single memorable quote, but a way of thinking that I have taken into my day-to-day work.”

Has the mentoring relationship helped to shape any decisions you have made?

“Yes. The relationship has helped me make more considered decisions, particularly when facing difficult situations or weighing up different options. Looking back, there have been occasions when my initial approach would probably not have produced the best outcome. Talking things through with Nick helped me identify alternatives and think more carefully about the consequences. He has never made decisions for me; the value has been in helping me reach better decisions myself.”

How has the mentoring relationship evolved over time?

“We remain in regular contact, and the relationship has become less formal as the years have passed. We now speak as friends as well as mentor and mentee, but I still turn to Nick for an independent perspective. The subjects we discuss have naturally evolved with my career, yet I find those conversations every bit as valuable today as I did at the beginning.”

You have also mentored colleagues yourself. What does that mean to you?

“Becoming Group Managing Director of OceanLED Marine was certainly a major milestone. I am proud of the part I have played in driving the company’s growth and strengthening its reputation within the industry. Equally important to me, however, is the opportunity I have had to mentor a number of current and former colleagues. Seeing people develop, gain confidence and progress in their careers is extremely rewarding. Business results matter, of course, but helping others realise their potential is an achievement I value just as highly.”

Would you encourage other students or recent alumni to take part in mentoring?

“Absolutely. A good mentor challenges your usual way of doing things and gives you access to experience and perspectives that you might not otherwise encounter. That can make a real difference, not only to your career but also to your personal development.

“I see mentoring as an important complement to the MBA itself. In my case, the overall WBS experience would not have felt quite as complete without it. I would encourage students to approach it with an open mind and to be prepared to listen, reflect and sometimes be challenged.”

What advice would you give to current students?

“Make the most of the people around you, not just the course material. Ask questions, listen to different opinions and be willing to challenge your own views. Try to connect what you are learning with real situations at work, because that is when the knowledge becomes genuinely useful. I would also strongly recommend taking advantage of the mentoring programme.

“Above all, do not treat the MBA as simply a qualification to obtain; see it as an opportunity to develop the way you think and lead.”

Final thoughts...

“Looking back, I see the MBA as much more than an academic achievement. It gave me knowledge and confidence at an important point in my career, while the mentoring programme added something more personal and enduring. I am grateful to WBS for both. I hope that sharing my experience encourages others to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them, particularly those that can continue to add value long after graduation.”