Personal Reflection on Prof Retha de la Harpe’s Mentoring and Supervision I met Prof Retha de la Harpe around this time last year, at a point where I deeply wanted to begin my doctoral journey. I was clear about my research interests and the field I wanted to contribute to, yet I struggled to believe that I could actually take the next step. Being a first-generation doctoral student meant that much of this world felt new and unfamiliar to me. On top of that, I wear multiple hats including wife, full-time working mum to three teenagers, and a professional with a strategic role in research and innovation at a Russell Group university. Trying to commit to a full-time PhD as an immigrant often felt unattainable. It was at this crossroads that one of my professors connected me with Prof de la Harpe to explore the possibility of supervision. I could not have wished for a better match. Working under her guidance has been both intellectually stimulating and reassuringly stable. It is such an ideal blend for a journey as demanding as a PhD. One of the first things Prof did was integrate me into a truly international community of her students. She created a Supervisor–Student–Peer support network that brings together individuals from different countries, disciplines, and stages of research. Within this wider group, she also established smaller peer-learning circles where we act as critical friends to one another. These sub-groups have become a safe space to challenge ideas and motivate one another. Indeed we all grow together. Each week, Prof meets with us online for structured sessions on research design, methodological choices, and how to carry out ethical research that has real-world impact. She encourages us to question, debate, and even disagree with her perspectives, thus training us to develop an independent, analytical, and curious mindset. After the formal session ends, she steps away and leaves the group to continue our peer-led discussions. This transition is intentional. It empowers us to take ownership of our doctoral journeys while still feeling supported. In the short time I have been under her supervision, I have attended two of her writing workshops, both of which significantly strengthened my academic writing and confidence. I have also submitted a book chapter for a publication on frugal innovation, which is an achievement I would not have imagined possible so early in my doctoral process. Our weekly gatherings are practical and collaborative. We continuously refine our research proposals, present developing ideas, and give constructive feedback to one another. The environment Prof has fostered makes learning collective and continuous; even when our projects differ, we benefit from each other’s questions, insights, and progress. Today, I speak about my potential study with far more confidence and clarity. And in moments when doubt creeps in as it naturally does, Prof is never far away. Her support, responsiveness, and genuine investment in her students’ growth make this journey not only possible for me but also deeply enriching. Working with Prof de la Harpe has transformed what once felt intimidating into something achievable and exciting.
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