Mentorship is a two-way street: Koen Luykx’s perspective

Welcome to our My Mentor and Me series, where we share real stories about the value of mentorship at Sopra Steria. In this edition, Koen Luykx reflects on how mentorship sparks meaningful conversations, encourages fresh ideas, and helps people navigate challenges with confidence. For him, it’s about creating genuine connections that inspire growth and make collaboration stronger. 

For Koen, a member of the GRC team in Cybersecurity at Sopra Steria, mentorship is far more than a formal process. Since joining the company in October 2022, he has worked on business continuity and information security, helping organisations implement EU-imposed regulations such as NIS2, DORA and GDPR. His role touches every layer of an organisation, which means human interaction is at the heart of his work and his view on mentorship reflects that. 

Mentorship beyond meetings 

Koen explains that while official mentoring sessions follow a structured format, the real value often lies in spontaneous exchanges. “True mentorship is not limited to scheduled meetings,” he says. “It is about mutual exchange on an equal level, whether that happens at the coffee machine, during lunch, or through a quick chat on Teams.” 

For him, mentorship is not a one-way street. It is built on openness and trust. Passing on knowledge and sharing experience are important, but the essence lies in getting to know each other better, supporting aspirations, and fostering talents. 

Learning goes both ways 

Koen believes that mentoring is not simply about someone who knows guiding someone who needs to learn. Learning usually goes both ways. Keeping pace with a rapidly changing world makes him curious about the views and ideas of younger colleagues. Their energy and aspirations inspire him and bring new perspectives to his work. 

He sees mentorship as a privilege, an opportunity to witness growth and unlock potential. 

Facing challenges together 

Mentorship can be especially valuable during moments of uncertainty. Koen recalls times when he or others faced complex decisions. Creating confidence for making bold choices when facing ambiguity is where mentorship brings real value. Listening without judgement and offering support when requested can make all the difference. 

The power of human connection 

Over the years, Koen has seen how meaningful relationships drive success. Governance models and best practices are useful, but they cannot embody the soul of collaboration. “I have never seen a KPI for building meaningful professional relationships, yet I am convinced it is a key indicator of success,” he says. 

For Koen, his best memories are not tied to personal achievements but to the human connections that made them possible. 

Advice for future mentors and mentees 

Koen encourages anyone considering mentorship to take the leap. Having a sparring partner can be very helpful for making well-considered choices.  

He concludes with: “Wisdom does not belong to one person; it just exists and can be tapped into through meaningful human interaction”. 

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