What makes a great mentor, and how do you find the right mentor for your career? In this episode of The Executive Espresso Podcast, Verge Das Neves sits down with Vikrant Mulgund, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, for a conversation about mentorship, executive leadership, career growth, management consulting and the relationships that shape successful careers. Vikrant arrived in Australia as a young engineer with a clear career plan. More than twenty years later, his career has taken him from engineering and major capital projects into management consulting, executive leadership and boardroom advisory. Today, he is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal’s Performance Improvement practice in Australia and New Zealand, bringing more than two decades of experience across major projects, business improvement and strategic advisory.But this episode is really about mentorship. Vikrant explains why some formal mentoring programs fail, why the most senior executive may not be the best mentor for you, and why great mentors often ask more questions than they answer. He shares how mentors helped him adapt to corporate Australia, make major career decisions, take risks and build confidence. He also explains why he still actively seeks mentors despite being a senior executive himself. The conversation explores reverse mentoring, learning from younger professionals, preparing for board roles, navigating complex decisions and the importance of keeping your ego out of the learning process. Vikrant also shares what he has observed inside boardrooms where major investment decisions are made, including how leaders navigate uncertainty, disagreement, accountability, influence and judgement. And as AI continues to change the way we work, Vikrant believes human connection may become even more important. In this episode: - How to find a mentor - What makes a great mentor - Why mentorship should develop naturally - How to approach senior executives for career advice - Why peers can make excellent mentors - How to become a better mentee - Why senior leaders still need mentors - Reverse mentoring and learning from younger generations - Career growth in corporate Australia - Leadership judgement and decision making - Moving from engineering into management consulting - Preparing for board and director roles - The role of human connection in an AI driven workplace If you are an executive, emerging leader, manager or professional thinking about your next career move, this conversation offers a practical perspective on mentorship, leadership and long term career development. Subscribe to The Executive Espresso Podcast for conversations with senior executives, business leaders and decision makers about leadership, careers, culture and the choices that shape professional success. Share this episode with someone who has played an important mentoring role in your career. #Mentorship #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipPodcast #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagementConsulting #CareerAdvice #BusinessLeadership #CorporateAustralia #TheExecutiveEspresso FOLLOW VIKRANT MULGUND ◼ LinkedIn THE EXECUTIVE ESPRESSO PODCAST ◼ Subscribe on YouTube ◼ Follow on LinkedIn ◼ Follow on Instagram ◼ Follow on TikTok ◼ Sign up to the newsletter ◼ More leadership conversations ◼ Watch the full Season 2 playlist SPONSORS This episode is brought to you by: ◼ Espresso Displays The portable monitor built for executives who work on the road. ◼ Prosci Change Management The world's leading change management research and training company, and the sponsor behind our recurring segment, The People Side of Change ◼ Boyd & Moore Executive Search A leading executive search firm working across the Asia Pacific region.
