THE POWER OF MENTORING IN TOASTMASTERS
by Dinesh Kumar Pal
District 20 Administration Manager for the term 2025-2026.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” That was me in 2018 when I attended my first Toastmaster meeting at the ASSP (American Society of Safety Professionals) club. I was excited but also a bit lost, like a tourist who has landed in a new country without knowing the language.
Luckily, I had a personal tour guide—my first mentor, Distinguished Toastmaster Cajetan!
When I started my Toastmasters journey, Cajetan took me under his wing. He guided me through my first educational path, Dynamic Leadership, ensuring that I not only survived but thrived. With his mentorship, I learned to lead with confidence, speak with clarity, and most importantly, handle evaluations without feeling like I just stepped out of a boxing ring!
Then came the next chapter. I joined Kuwait Challenger Club and got the opportunity to add a second mentor to support and guide me. My second mentor was Distinguished Toastmaster Priscilla Dias, Cajetan’s wife! Yes, my mentorship came with a “Buy One, Get One Free” offer!
Under Priscilla’s guidance, I completed my Innovative Planning Path, refining my skills further. DTM Priscilla is the kind of mentor who would push you to do your best—whether you liked it or not
If I ever tried to take an easy route or take short-cuts, she would remind me, “No shortcuts! The only way to grow is to challenge yourself.” There was no room to abstain from taking on challenge under her mentorship.
With their support, I stepped into leadership roles—Club Vice-President (Education), President, and eventually Area Director. And thanks to the valuable lessons I learned, I was recognized as Area Director of the Year in 2023 in Bahrain. It should be noted that District 20 comprises of 4 countries (Kuwait Bahrain, Egypt and Iraq) so it was a pinnacle of my achievement as a leader.
But my proudest moment as a protégé came when I competed in the International Speech Contest alongside my own mentor, DTM Priscilla Dias. It was a surreal experience—standing on the same stage, not as a protege but as a worthy competitor.
I secured second place, while she took home the first-place trophy. Now, some may say, “Oh, you lost to your mentor.” No, my friends—I won the opportunity to share the stage with her! That, to me, is the true essence of mentorship—not just learning but reaching a level where you can stand shoulder to shoulder with those who guided you.
Today, I continue my journey with Presentation Mastery, carrying forward the lessons my mentors have instilled in me. And if there’s one thing I have learned, it’s that a great mentor is like a GPS—they don’t drive the car for you, but they make sure you don’t get lost!
So, to my mentors, DTM Cajetan and DTM Priscilla Dias—thank you for being my GPS, my guiding stars, and occasionally, my friendly traffic cops when I tried to take a wrong turn!
Fellow Toastmasters, find yourself a mentor, be a mentor, and embrace the power of mentorship. Who knows? One day, you might just find yourself competing against them—and that is a win worth celebrating!
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Dinesh Kumar Pal is a safety professional working in Kuwait. Dinesh strongly believes in the power of communication to convey the importance of safety to his colleagues, seniors and community at large. Ever since Dinesh joined Toastmasters in 2018, he has made it his mission to support and guide others in the real benefits of Toastmasters.
Kuwait Challengers Club is proud of the various achievements of Dinesh during his career in Toastmasters. For the year 2025-2026, he has taken on the extremely important role of the District Administration Manager; a role which the club is sure he will do justice and serve the district with his dedication and attention to detail.