Words First Support: From Mentee to Mentor Lead
At Words First, mentorship is one of the ways we nurture growth, connection, and confidence. For many of our clinicians, having someone to turn to during those early months makes all the difference.
Lexi Yannitsaros, our Mentor Lead, knows this experience first-hand. Her journey from mentee to Mentor Lead captures the impact of support, guidance, and being part of a team that truly cares.
“I remember how important it was to have someone I could reach out to”
Lexi grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is half Greek and half Cypriot. She graduated from the University of Cape Town at the end of 2020 and completed her Community Service Year at Edenvale Hospital. There, she worked closely with a multidisciplinary team to support adults and children with communication and swallowing difficulties.
“That year taught me a lot about teamwork, about balancing clinical priorities, and about how to connect with people from different walks of life.”
In April 2022, Lexi relocated to the UK and joined Words First. It was a big change – new systems, new schools, a new culture to adjust to. Like many international therapists, she found the transition exciting but occasionally overwhelming.
“Having a mentor during that time gave me a real sense of direction. It wasn’t just about speech and language therapy. It was about understanding how everything fits together, who to go to for what, and feeling like I belonged.”
It was this experience that sparked her passion for mentorship.
“If I could help make someone else’s first few months feel smoother or more supported, I knew I wanted to be that person.”
Leading the mentoring programme
Now, as Mentor Lead, Lexi is responsible for shaping and coordinating our entire mentoring programme. She supports new starters during their onboarding transitional period, helps allocate mentors, and checks in regularly to ensure both mentors and mentees feel confident and heard.
“I don’t believe mentoring should feel like a formality. It needs to be flexible, warm, and shaped around individuals needs as we all different.”
She also works closely with our Locality Leads to promote a sense of community across teams.
“One of the things I really try to do is keep people connected. It’s easy to feel isolated in a school-based role, especially if you’re new. But being part of something bigger and having something to look forward to definitely brightens things up.”
A personal touch
Lexi describes herself as someone who’s always chasing the sun. In her free time, she loves discovering new restaurants, trying new activities, and planning little adventures — whether that’s to a different city or just a new local neighbourhood.
Her approach to mentoring reflects that same energy: open, optimistic, and people-focused.
“I want mentees to feel like they can message me with anything, even the small stuff. Especially the small stuff, actually, because those are the things we often worry about most when we’re new.”
One of Lexi’s favourite’s – a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt:
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift – that’s why it’s called the present.”
“It reminds me to be where my feet are. To focus on the people in front of me and the work I’m doing today.”
Supporting growth, one connection at a time
Lexi’s work has shaped the mentoring experience at Words First into something meaningful. It’s not just about answering questions or offering clinical guidance. It’s about making sure no one feels alone in the process.
“When someone says, ‘Thanks, that made me feel better – that’s the best part of mentoring. Because I’ve been on the other side of that conversation, and I know how much it matters.”
Her journey from mentee to Mentor Lead is a reminder that support, when it’s genuine, can change everything.
If you’re interested in learning more about our mentoring programme or career opportunities at Words First, we’d love to hear from you.
