Welcome to the first edition of our new Shell Voices series, created to spotlight the people behind Shell NXplorers and to inspire young learners in STEM by showcasing the passion, expertise and real opportunities that Shell colleagues help unlock through the programme.

To launch the series, we spoke with Shell NXplorers Gold Award mentor, Leston Davies – someone who stumbled on the programme almost by accident but soon discovered one of the most rewarding experiences of his year. From judging student pitches to guiding a team toward national recognition, Leston reflects on what mentoring has meant to him, what he’s learned, and the impact he’s seen in the young people he supports.

1. To start, could you tell us a bit about your journey into mentoring and how you first became involved with Shell NXplorers?

I came across Shell NXplorers on the Shell’s company intranet, and I recall being very fascinated with the strategic intent and the visual appeal of the programme’s presentation online. As someone involved in scenario planning at Shell, I thought this was another scenarios project, until I dug deeper and realised it wasn’t.

I spoke with my Corporate Relations colleague, Ryssa Brathwaite (Shell Trinidad & Tobago’s Social Performance/Social Investment Advisor), who competently manages this programme in country with our local implementation partner, and she encouraged me to be a judge for some of the project’s submissions. After the judging event, Jaya Bridgemohan at NIHERST (Shell’s Trinidad & Tobago’s Shell NXplorers executing partner) approached me about becoming a mentor, which I gladly accepted. Anyone who knows me knows I will never decline an opportunity to work with and support the development of young people.

It turned out to be one of the most rewarding things I did in 2025!

2. Winning the Gold Award in the Inspiring Mentor category is a big achievement. How did it feel to receive that recognition?

A few weeks on since the announcement, I am still genuinely shocked!

But beyond just the surprise, I am deeply humbled by the achievement because I did not achieve this on my own strength, it was a total team effort from many stakeholders to ensure the Shell NXplorers Programme was executed so effectively in Trinidad and Tobago. I am also grateful that the efforts of so many have been acknowledged.

3. Are there any moments from your mentoring experience that particularly stand out to you?

During the experience, I recall two very special moments:

1. At the very beginning, witnessing the willingness of the high school students to embrace the challenge

1. The glee on the students’ faces upon winning the Most Impactful Project title on the day.

The minute I had my introductory connect, I saw the young ladies of the group very eager and receptive to share their insights, which made it very light and easy for me to share feedback and have an engaging conversation with them. At the end of that first day, I felt so overjoyed by their interest and passion.

Then in May of last year when they received their recognition, they were beaming with pride – understandably – and I could tell, they were hungry for another challenge! One even asked, “Sir, are you going to work with us again?” I said, “I’ll be happy to if another project comes up”.

Their eagerness and willingness to learn made my job so very fulfilling.

4. In your experience, what aspects of the Shell NXplorers programme have been most meaningful or impactful for the young people you work with?

I can start with the unique blend of technical exposure to problems and solutions to the non-technical dimensions of the programme, such as stakeholder management and developing a communications strategy. The programme is very practical – not abstract.

It was this ‘real‑world’ relevance with projects focused on challenges young people care about, like food, water, energy, waste, climate, and the community, that enables them to be more invested in becoming agents of change.

Then there is confidence through ownership when students realise, “Hey. this is our idea. something we created, tested, and can implement.” This boosts self-esteem and illustrates their strengths in problem-solving.

What I would also say is that the various stages in Shell NXplorers enables creativity with a purpose, a wonderful complement to academic work, and a pivot into the realms of innovation at a very early stage of their lives.

5. From your perspective, what kinds of changes or developments have you noticed among students involved in Shell NXplorers in your country?

My students enjoyed the programme, and they became increasingly invested in their solution idea every time they pitched to an audience.

At the very beginning they were understandably unsure and modest about their capabilities. Weeks later, they blossomed into being more assertive in public speaking and innovators with confidence and ownership that was admirable. They played to their individual strengths very well, which they brought to group work with their classmates.

6. What skills do you notice young people building through Shell NXplorers that you feel will serve them well in the future?

Shell NXplorers offers a cadre of skills to be future-ready!

For young people, these skills will matter in the future in a world that is becoming increasingly complex by the day with new opportunities and challenges.

A few skills come to mind:

• critical thinking (going beyond the surface and looking deeply at issues we face)

• systems thinking (the world is a dynamic system and understanding interconnectedness and impacts is a powerful skill)

• stakeholder management

• confidence and leadership

The list goes on… Shell NXplorers is a tool in their arsenal to help them navigate complexities and create the world’s future solutions.

7. Looking ahead, what do you think young people need most to thrive in a rapidly changing world, and how – if at all – does Shell contribute to that?

Shell NXplorers offers opportunities to learn, explore and innovate!

Personally, I cannot overstate the genuine joy and fulfilment I get from being part of such an impactful programme.

My message is simply one adapted from an old proverb by the Chinese philosopher, Confucius, which has inspired me to coach and inspire our young people:

"If you plan to impact the world in one year, plant rice;

If you plan to impact the world in ten years; plant trees;

If you plan to impact the world in 100 years, educate children".

Shell NXplorers is undoubtedly part of the 100-year impact!

If Leston’s story has inspired you, you can learn more about Shell NXplorers by connecting with your local Programme Manager to explore mentoring, judging or volunteering opportunities. Your support could help inspire the next generation of innovators.