Why We Teach: Learning by Teaching - How Trainers Grow Too

Teaching is often seen as a one-way street — someone stands at the front, others listen and learn. But ask any of our Mercedes-Benz.io trainers, and you’ll hear a different story: one where the teacher is often the one learning the most.

In this second part of our series, we explore what happens after the first class — the unexpected growth, the mindset shifts, and the way teaching transforms not just others, but the trainers themselves.

If you haven't read it yet, click here for the first part, where the story of teaching begins.

Confidence Through Teaching

Confidence is one of the most common side effects.

“Teaching has given me more confidence in my own role and knowledge,” shares Patricia Fernandes, who leads sessions on personal branding and unconscious bias. “But more than that—it’s made me feel genuinely valued.”

For those still early in their journey, like Hugo Melim, the growth is both humbling and energising. “Teaching has pushed me to structure my thoughts more clearly and reflect deeply on my own practices. It’s helped me become a more empathetic facilitator.”

Ajith Jacob sums it up perfectly: “This switch gave me a lot of confidence and satisfaction in shaping my career at a moment of confusion. It was an eye-opener.”

Mastering the Material

That sense of growth also comes with a challenge: teaching forces you to truly know your material. “You need to walk the talk,” says Filipa Anjos, who trains teams on SAFe. “You can’t just repeat concepts — you have to believe in them, live by them.”

Francesco Macri explains, “Teaching has sharpened my ability to listen, communicate concisely, simplify complex ideas, facilitate, and connect with people from different backgrounds.”

João Miguel Silva adds, “Even on topics I know well, I gain new insights. I discover fresh perspectives. I’m learning just as much as the people I’m teaching.”

Unexpected Lessons & Insights

It’s not just about content mastery. It’s about learning to hold space, adapt, and be human.

Paulo Canas reflects, “Every group is different. Some are super engaged from the start, others need more time to open up. It taught me to always come prepared, but stay flexible.”

Pedro Fragateiro describes the reward of watching someone shift their mindset mid-session: “You grasp that a specific exchange changed the way the participant thought about a topic. That’s pure gold.”

Personal Impact & Fulfilment

Sometimes, it’s not a moment of insight but a feeling of impact that lingers. Frederico Brito shares, “Seeing people actually apply what you teach… It’s always a very proud moment. But also a scary one — you want to make sure you’re getting it right.”

Whether it’s clarity, connection, or confidence, one thing is certain: our trainers are growing with every class they give.

And, as we’ll see in the next article, behind that growth is a delicate balance — between teaching and doing, scheduling and spontaneity, theory and reality. Stay tuned as we uncover the secret sauces that make it all work.

Meet the MB.ioneers

Name

Patrícia Fernandes

Role

Social Media Specialist

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

Outside: Content Marketing, LinkedIn as employment tool, Personal Branding Inside: Personal Branding, Unconscious Bias

Name

Pedro Fragateiro

Role

Release Train Engineer (RTE)

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

Only inside Mercedes-Benz.io - All SAFe related trainings

Name

Filipa Anjos

Role

Release Train Engineer (RTE)

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

Outside: Baptism preparation course Inside: SAFe for teams, Leading SAFe, and SAFe Release Train Engineer (this one was given just once for our RTEs)

Name

Francesco Macrì

Role

Engineering Manager

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

Professional Scrum Master and PSM-Advanced, Professional Product Owner, Facilitation Skills, SAFe POPM

Name

Ajith Jacob

Role

Partner Talent Development & Growth

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

SAFe trainings

Name

João Miguel Silva

Role

Product Owner @ Dealer Locator

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

Product Backlog Fundamentals, Scrum Fundamentals, Agile Leadership Training

Name

Hugo Melim

Role

Release Train Engineer (RTE)

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

Agile Leadership Training

Name

Paulo Canas

Role

Partner Talent Development & Growth

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

Leadership Development Training Programs, Emotional Intelligence, Strengths-Based Coaching & Team Workshop (CliftonStrengths), Mental Health and Well-being Workshops

Name

Frederico Brito

Role

Product Owner

Trainings you give inside and outside Mercedes-Benz.io

Agile Leadership Training