Meet the mentee: Parie Desai

With our 2026 mentoring scheme now open for applications, we hear from our deputy head of mentoring, Parie Desai. Parie is one of WiJ Scotland’s 2025 mentees and she’s gained so much from the experience, she decided to get involved with organising the programme for future mentees. You can find Parie’s LinkedIn profile here. 

Who is your 2025 mentor?
I am lucky to have two part-time mentors: Jen Stout – a freelance journalist specialising in foreign correspondence – and Joyce McMillan – a columnist and theatre critic for The Scotsman. 

Tell us what made you apply to be a mentee on the programme this time last year? 
I was halfway through my final year at university and I was not just determined to figure out my plans post-university, but also how to take advantage of my final semester as a student journalist. I needed some guidance with navigating job applications and understanding the fundamentals of the industry, which can be really daunting at first. I also wanted to learn more about reporting abroad as I aspire to be a foreign correspondent, but at the same time, I wanted to improve how I write features pieces – I got the best of both worlds by being paired with both Jen and Joyce!

Now that the mentoring year is almost at an end, can you look back and see how the mentoring support has made a difference? 
Having a mentor has helped me both on a professional and a personal level: any questions I have had, no matter how small, I've been able to chat with my mentors for advice. Transitioning from being a student to a working professional is not an easy process, but it has been made easier thanks to my mentors. The programme, more generally, has broadened my network too: the women I have met through WiJ Scotland inspire me to work hard to fulfill my professional aspirations. This year has been so great that it has inspired me to give back to this wonderful community, where I have recently taken up the role as deputy head of mentoring on the WiJ Scotland committee. 

Finally, what would your advice be to anyone thinking of applying to be part of the 2026 mentoring programme?
Go for it! Don't worry about where you are in your career or which part of journalism you work in – the chances are that there will be someone out there that you can be paired with. If you take full advantage of the mentoring programme, it can really transform your career!