Podcast Episode: The Mentors Who Never Said They Were Mentors

Some mentors never say, “I’m your mentor.”

They just show up.

They don’t post it. They don’t ask for credit. They just quietly help you shift the course of your life.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the power of these quiet mentors, especially after sitting down with Will Fleming for his podcast as part of the Pasifika Digital Knowledge Bank.

The kōrero reminded me how deeply stories matter, especially stories that carry the unseen moments.

The turning points. The people in the background who made it all possible.

🎧 Want to watch the podcast with Will?

Watch the full episode of my conversation with Will here:

The Shift That Started Everything

When I was incarcerated, the outside world felt distant.

Opportunities felt out of reach.

But even in that space, two people never gave up on me - my sisters, Jacqui and Natalie. They didn’t just send letters or make phone calls (though those meant the world too). They helped me enrol at Massey University. They backed me not just emotionally, but also practically - with action, belief, and their time.

That one act shifted everything.

✅ From prisoner to student
✅ From stagnation to growth
✅ From being stuck to having hope

I don’t think they knew at the time how massive that was.

But to me, it was the moment I saw a new future as possible.

Mentorship Doesn’t Have to Be Loud

In our society, mentorship is often packaged in formal programmes, titles, or job descriptions.

But that’s not always what it looks like in real life.

Sometimes mentorship is someone quietly helping you fill out an application form. Or showing up to your court date. Or encouraging you to tell your story when you’re unsure it’s worth sharing.

My sisters never once said, “I’m mentoring you.”But they walked with me, without needing recognition.

➡️ That’s leadership.

➡️ That’s mentorship.

And it’s the kind of leadership we don’t talk about enough.

From Second Chances to Shared Responsibility

I often hear people say they see value in my journey, moving from incarceration into education, and now into leadership, technology, and advocacy.

But that value didn’t appear out of nowhere.

It came from being given a chance.

And it grew because I chose to take it.

Every step of the way, someone was quietly backing me, believing in me before I believed in myself.

If you’ve ever supported someone without expecting anything back, that matters.

That’s how change happens. That’s how communities heal.

That’s how we rewrite futures.

Final Reflection

Not all mentorship looks like a formal relationship.

Sometimes, it’s a quiet belief. A door held open. A decision to stand beside someone when they’re starting from behind.

To all the unseen mentors - the ones who never needed to be called that - thank you.

You helped shape not just who I am, but what I now give back.

If you’re reading this, take a moment to reflect -

➡️ Who’s been a quiet mentor in your life?

➡️ What doors did they help you walk through?

Keen to learn more about the impact of mentorship in my life?

Click here to see more of the work I'm doing.

🎧 Want to go deeper into this kōrero?

Watch the full episode of my conversation with Will here: