Arun Malhotra
Arun, an Independent Consultant at Digital Projects, was matched with Chirag, a Postgraduate Taught Student in MSc Advanced Computer Science. Arun was able to share his experience in order to provide Chirag with a broader view of the tech sector in order to help him to navigate it and make informed career decisions.
Following their mentoring relationship, Arun invited Chirag to enter a professional collaboration with him to help develop Citizenly, a platform Arun was building through Digital Projects.
You can also see the feedback provided by Arun's mentee, Chirag Tolani.
What motivated you to take part in the mentoring programme?
I’ve spent many years in tech and consulting, so it felt it was the right moment to reconnect with the university in a meaningful way. Mentoring appealed because it allowed me to give a student exposure to the realities of industry — the decision-making, the pressures, and the judgement you only gain through experience. It was also an opportunity to contribute to the next generation while sharpening my own thinking through substantive conversations.
Did you have any worries or concerns before entering the mentoring relationship?
My only hesitation was whether the structure would allow for genuine, high-quality dialogue. Once I met Chirag, that concern disappeared quickly — it was immediately clear we could have strategic, reflective discussions rooted in real-world context.
Do you feel you and your mentee were a good match, and in what ways were you able to offer guidance?
Yes — the match worked extremely well. Chirag brought strong technical grounding and curiosity, and I was able to give him the bigger-picture view: how technology decisions get made, how organisations think, and how ideas move from concept to delivery. That’s where my experience came into play — connecting his technical strengths with the commercial and strategic side of the industry.
What did the mentoring relationship look like once you were matched?
Our sessions mixed structure with fluidity. We covered career paths and technical topics, but also the realities of consulting, leadership, and the role of AI in shaping new digital products. Over time, it became less of a standard mentoring relationship and more of a professional dialogue.
Did you learn anything from your mentee during the relationship?
Yes. Chirag’s familiarity with newer ML tools and approaches helped recalibrate some assumptions while I was shaping Citizenly, particularly around modern engineering workflows. It also reinforced the role of experience — technical skill matters, but judgement and structure are what give that skill direction.
Have you stayed in contact beyond the programme, and how has the relationship developed?
Yes — the relationship evolved naturally into professional collaboration. When I began shaping an early vision for Citizenly, a platform I’m building through Digital Projects that combines long-form citizen commentary with AI-supported refinement, Chirag was the obvious person to involve. I already understood his strengths, and he understood the direction I wanted to take the product in.
What advice would you give to anyone considering the Career Mentoring programme?
Approach it with openness and intent. A mentoring relationship is only as valuable as the quality of engagement on both sides. If you think beyond the surface, it can lead to real collaboration and tangible outcomes.
