Why Industry Leaders at Top Companies Mentor at Harness Projects
Industry leaders from top companies are turning their attention to mentoring aspiring tech professionals.
Why? For many industry leaders and hiring managers, traditional education is out of step with the realities of their workplace. By investing their time mentoring aspiring tech professionals on live client projects, they can ensure they are nurturing and connecting with the talent their industry needs.
Alexis Lim, Senior Design Lead at Macquarie recently shared why she mentors at Harness. “I get to see people grow in confidence—not just in their technical skills, but in how they present, how they collaborate, how they think. It’s rewarding to be part of that transformation.”
Real Project Learning Creates Real Capability
Seasoned Industry professionals see the value in live client projects because it fosters practical skills and problem-solving abilities that directly translate to workplace success. Learners working on actual industry challenges—such as designing apps, delivering research findings or conducting vulnerability assessments—gain confidence and competence much faster than they would at traditional bootcamps. Mentors witness this accelerated development, which motivates them to contribute to a system that produces capable professionals ready to tackle real challenges.
They Remember the Experience Gap
Many industry leaders faced the “experience gap” early in their careers—a common catch-22 where job seekers are overlooked for roles because they lack practical experience, yet they can’t gain experience without being hired. This frustration drives mentors to support Harness, which bridges this gap by providing learners with tangible project experiences. By mentoring, they help learners build portfolios of real-world work, making them more competitive in the job market and reducing the barriers they once faced themselves.
They Care About the Future of Their Industries
Industry leaders are invested in the long-term health and innovation of their fields. By mentoring at Harness, they can directly influence the next generation of professionals, ensuring they are well-prepared and equipped with relevant skills and experience. This mentorship isn’t just about teaching technical skills; it’s about instilling problem-solving mindsets, industry insights, and professional confidence. Mentors see their involvement as a way to shape the future workforce, fostering talent that will drive their industries forward.
They Know That Networks Get People Hired
Perhaps the most underrated benefit of mentorship is access. When you’re learning alongside top professionals from companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Atlassian, you’re not just building skills—you’re building your network. Mentors become advocates. They can make introductions, open doors, and help you get noticed. In today’s job market, where a growing number of roles are filled through referral rather than application, these connections can be career-defining. That’s why hiring managers are increasingly turning their attention to the talent coming through Harness Projects.
What does Mentorship from Industry leaders Look Like at Harness?
It’s woven into the DNA of every live client project. Our mentors:
Join every weekly online workshop
Our mentors actively participate in every weekly online workshop. They work alongside learners during client interviews and presentations as well as every key learning and decision point along the way, providing real-time guidance and support. This hands-on involvement ensures that learners gain practical insights and develop confidence in applying their skills in real-world scenarios.
Give real, unfiltered feedback
Mentors deliver candid, unfiltered feedback grounded in current industry standards and hiring expectations. They help learners identify strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and refine their approach to meet professional benchmarks, ultimately preparing them for successful careers.
Share hard-won insights
With a wealth of personal experience, our mentors openly share lessons learned from their own career journeys — including pivots, setbacks, and failures. They offer behind-the-scenes realities of working in the industry, giving learners a clearer understanding of what it truly takes to succeed and how to navigate challenges effectively.
Support professional growth
Beyond technical skills, our mentors focus on fostering well-rounded development. They help learners sharpen not only their craft but also their mindset, communication, and career strategy. This comprehensive support equips learners to approach their careers with confidence, resilience, and clarity of purpose.
The Bottom Line
Learning on live client projects, with mentorship from industry professionals at top companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, Atlassian and more is the best way to fast track your career success. These industry leaders have seen the impact it has had on our learners. They know it works. And they believe in a better way to build careers.
If you’re ready to stop learning about the work and start learning through it—with mentorship from leaders at some of the world’s most respected companies—then this is your moment.
Book a call with our team to see if our current UX Design or Cybersecurity live client projects are the right fit for your career journey.
