Liz Malnar, Clelia Petracca and Martina Sollai, mentees on

the 2024 ALPSP

Mentorship Scheme

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martina

 

 

The ALPSP Mentorship

Scheme came along at the right time for me. At this career stage, I wanted

to dedicate more time to strengthening my network, comparing experiences with

seasoned professionals, reflecting on my choices, and gaining external insights

into my plans.

 

 

 

 

 

I value

opportunities to understand publishing from different perspectives, thus in my

application, I tried to convey how my interests were diverse. I admit that somehow,

I was a bit concerned about finding a match who could relate to this – other

careers often look linear from the outside, while mine has been touching on

several sides of the industry so far.

 

 

 

 

 

With this

premise, the experience in the scheme was even more rewarding because I found a

great match of views and approaches in my mentor: an expert, caring

professional who loves mentoring early career colleagues and enjoys exploring

the industry, just like me.

 

 

 

 

 

Since our

first meeting, I felt energized by our exchanges: the shared process of setting

up goals and reviewing them made me feel empowered to follow up and act.

 

 

 

 

 

I have a

great appreciation for the generosity shown by my mentor in introducing me to other

professionals in the industry, which led to interesting and inspiring

opportunities like becoming part of one of ALPSP

Special Interest Groups.

 

 

 

 

 

One sentence

my mentor told me sums up very well the sense of the ALPSP mentorship experience

for me: this is a space for you to take control over things you would like to

do for your own professional development.

 

 

 

Liz

 

 

I

joined the ALPSP mentorship program because I was relatively new to the world

of publishing, a field that is both dynamic and ever-evolving. I was eager to

expand my professional network and gain a deeper understanding of current

industry trends. The goal was to equip myself with the knowledge and insights

needed to grow and progress in my career effectively.

 

 

 

 

 

At

first, I was uncertain about what to expect and felt a little intimidated, but

those concerns quickly faded after our initial meeting. My mentor’s passion and

expertise were immediately apparent, creating an environment that put me at

ease. We developed a strong working relationship through a structured yet

flexible approach that was tailored to my specific needs. Each session offered

practical advice and insightful feedback, making the experience both engaging

and rewarding.

 

 

 

 

 

The

focus wasn't on receiving direct answers; instead, I was encouraged to

independently find solutions, fostering a proactive mindset and the courage to

act on my own. This empowering approach now allows me to confidently tackle

challenges and see them as opportunities for growth.

 

 

 

 

 

The

tasks assigned were deliberately outside my comfort zone, designed to push me

into new experiences and activities not typically part of my daily routine.

This strategy effectively highlighted areas where I needed further development

while also affirming the strengths I already possessed.

 

 

 

 

 

Overall,

this mentorship experience significantly broadened my perspective on the

publishing industry and instilled a newfound confidence in my abilities. I am

deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional and

am excited to continue applying these insights as I advance in my career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clelia

I came across the ALPSP Mentorship Scheme by chance and, when I decided to apply, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I was in that odd stage of my career where I did not have an immediate goal to reach nor a clear understanding of my next move. Curiosity prompted me, and I approached this scheme as an opportunity to learn more about the publishing industry and expand my network beyond my usual circle.

Filling out the application was an enriching experience itself. It forced me to think of the professional I want to become and how to develop new skills spendable outside my role. Being a better editor and leader is a (never ending) journey -an aspiration rather than a measurable goal-, and I was a bit worried about setting unrealistic expectations before meeting with my mentor.

Starting the programme shucked any doubt and my mentor was extremely supportive from the very first day. We met monthly and talked about all things publishing: our jobs and the day-to-day challenges, our career journeys and the inspiring people we met along the way, how the industry has changed over the years (from dress code to hybrid work and DEI). To me, it never felt like a mentor-mentee relationship: we were peers exchanging ideas and empowering each other in ways we did not expect.

This mentorship scheme is a gift to yourself: a wonderful opportunity to reclaim the time and mind space to focus on what really matters to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the ALPSP International Mentorship Scheme

 

 

The scheme aims to connect colleagues across the publishing

industry and provide a wider network of expertise and skills to help foster

development and progression. Open to ALPSP members (as mentees and mentors) as

well as non-members (mentors only), the scheme was the winner of a ‘Most

Impactful Mentoring Award’ in 2024. For more information and to register visit

our website.
 

The ALPSP International Mentorship scheme is sponsored by Publishers' Licensing Services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

 

Liz Malnar, Senior Journal Specialist, Frontiers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Malnar is a Senior Journal Specialist at Frontiers,

serving as the primary liaison for authors, editors, and reviewers. She

collaborates with them to develop impactful article collections and ensure

successful outcomes at every stage of the editorial process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clelia Petracca, Commissioning Editor, Palgrave Macmillan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clelia Petracca is Commissioning Editor in Creativity

Studies and Disability Studies at Palgrave Macmillan. At Springer Nature she

also co-chairs the ‘SDG 5 Working Group: Gender Equality’, a company-wide

initiative to support Springer Nature’s goal of becoming the SDG publisher of

choice with internal and external initiatives and partnerships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martina Sollai, Account Development Specialist, Frontiers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally a researcher in marine microbiology and

paleoclimate studies, Martina Sollai moved to academic publishing in 2018,

working in content commissioning at Frontiers. After a stint in project

management for marine conservation, Martina returned to Frontiers in 2022, now

focusing on institutional partnerships in the EMEA region.