Mentor of the Month: Íris and the Power of Mentorship at Mercedes‑Benz.io

At Mercedes‑Benz.io, our culture is shaped by the people who choose to grow here and with us. It isn't a surprise that mentoring is at the heart of our company's growth and development which goes far beyond being a simple programme or initiative. Instead, mentoring is embraced as a fundamental mindset, one that shapes the way we share knowledge, build trust, and uplift each other. This approach crosses boundaries of discipline, background, and career stage, creating an environment where everyone is empowered to learn, collaborate, and succeed together.

This month, we are excited to highlight one of our mentors who embodies this spirit: Íris Lourenço, whose diverse professional journey and human‑centred approach continue to inspire many MB.ioneers navigating change, seeking clarity, or simply looking for a meaningful conversation.

Why Mentoring Matters at Mercedes‑Benz.io

Mentorship has become a key part of our culture because it encourages something we truly believe in: growth through connection.

Whether you're exploring your next career step, facing complex challenges, or simply looking to broaden your perspective, guidance from another MB.ioneer can make the difference between feeling stuck and moving forward with confidence.

At Mercedes-Benz.io, mentoring means:

• Creating safe spaces for reflection and exploration
• Strengthening cross-functional bonds
• Amplifying individual and collective learning
• Supporting people during moments of transition
• Ensuring knowledge flows freely across teams

This is why we celebrate the mentors among us, the ones who show up with openness, curiosity, and a genuine desire to help others thrive.

Meet Íris: A Mentor with Multiple Professional Lives

Íris brings over 25 years of experience across four very different worlds: professional sports, project management, entrepreneurship, and corporate collaboration. Each chapter adds a unique layer to her mentoring style.

She describes her journey as one that balances ambition with practicality and strategy with humanity. And that's exactly what resonates with the people who come to her for support.

"People usually come to me when they are navigating transitions, questioning their next professional step, or trying to find clarity in moments of uncertainty."

Her ability to help others zoom out, see the bigger picture, and reconnect with their potential is one of the reasons so many MB.ioneers gravitate towards her.

Strength through Connection and Balance

Great mentors recognise their strengths while working through their vulnerabilities. Íris' people‑oriented nature is one of her superpowers, but also something she reflects on consciously.

"When I commit to supporting someone, I do it wholeheartedly. That helps build trust, but it can also mean I carry people's challenges longer than I should."

For her, mentoring is also about setting healthy boundaries and ensuring presence without over‑absorbing. It's a beautiful reminder that mentorship is a shared space.

Mentoring as a Two‑Way Street

At Mercedes‑Benz.io, we believe that mentorship is not a top‑down transfer of knowledge, it's an exchange, and Íris is the personification of that belief.

"Every meaningful relationship is a space for mutual learning… When we genuinely share knowledge and experience, both sides grow."

Approaching each conversation with curiosity and openness is what allows her to gain new ways of seeing and thinking about the others and what's around them.

The Bigger Picture: Why Stories Like Íris' Matter

Highlighting our mentors is all about reinforcing who we are as a community, more than just celebrating individual contribution. Thus, Mentoring at Mercedes-Benz.io reflects the values we stand for:

• Human-centred collaboration
• Creating spaces where people feel safe to learn and grow
• Encouraging career exploration and personal evolution
• Building bridges across teams, roles, and experiences
• Investing in our people and the people they will become

Íris represents this culture beautifully. And by honouring her as Mentor of the Month, we shine a light on something essential: our collective commitment to lifting each other up.

As Mercedes‑Benz.io continues building digital products for one of the world's most iconic brands, we know that our success depends on our people. Mentorship ensures that wisdom, creativity, and experience flow freely, strengthening the layers of our organisation and helping every MB.ioneer navigate their own path with confidence.