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AAthenia.
THE PACE APPROACH

A shared structure. A personal conversation.

PACE connects Purpose, Ability, Connections and Environment. A needs analysis shapes the starting plan; the mentor and participant adapt it as their understanding develops.

THE PACE APPROACH

Four lenses.
Your own direction.

Explore what matters, what you can do, who can help and where you might fit. Choose the areas you want to focus on with your mentor.

Purpose

Direction & meaning

What matters to me, and why do I want this career?

Ability

Skills & capabilities

What can I do, and how can I develop and apply it?

Connections

Relationships & support

Who can help me learn, develop and access opportunities?

Environment

Context & opportunities

Where do my strengths and experience fit in the market?

Explore the career theory behind PACE

PACE adapts the intelligent career framework, rooted in DeFillippi and Arthur’s (1994) work, developed by Arthur, Claman and DeFillippi (1995), and subsequently elaborated by Parker, Khapova and Arthur (2009).

Purpose reflects “knowing why” (motivation and identity), Ability reflects “knowing how” (skills and knowledge), and Connections reflects “knowing whom” (professional relationships and networks).

Athenia adds Environment — “knowing where” — to explore how interests, skills and experience fit different sectors, organisations, countries and working environments.

SIX OR EIGHT CONVERSATIONS

A plan you can make your own.

Begin with these six themes. Suggested questions and optional short activities help you prepare; your mentor can edit the guides for your goals and experience.

  1. Purpose

    Explore what matters to you, the choices you are considering and what you want from mentoring. Agree what would make the programme useful.

  2. Ability

    Discuss skills and experience developed at university and elsewhere. Compare them with a role or direction that interests you and identify what to develop next.

  3. Future of the Field

    Discuss how AI and other changes are reshaping the profession. The mentor supplies practical judgement; agree capabilities and actions worth exploring.

  4. Connections

    Learn from your mentor’s experience and identify other people and networks that could help. Plan a manageable way to start or strengthen a professional relationship.

  5. Environment

    Explore how your interests and abilities fit different roles, sectors, organisations and countries. Discuss the context of the markets that matter to you.

  6. Action and review

    Review what became clearer and which actions helped. Agree next steps, which may include a focused project. Eight-conversation programmes allow further practice, feedback and emerging questions.

6

Six conversations

Purpose, Ability, Future of the Field, Connections, Environment and Next Steps.

8

Eight conversations

The same six themes, plus time to practise, receive feedback and explore questions that emerge.

You propose the length when requesting a mentor. Agree the plan and commitment together at the start.

FOR UNIVERSITIES

Build a programme around your priorities.

Tell us who you want to support and what you want to achieve. We’ll review your priorities and develop a personalised proposal for your university.

A personalised proposal. No commitment to purchase.