James Yates
Model, Mentor and Mental Health Advocate
James Yates, model. I have been in the industry for nearly 10 years. I have been very fortunate to have worked for brands like Tom Ford, Hugo Boss, Armani, Tommy Hilfiger amongst others. I have loved the career and industry and some of the travels I have been able to go on and people I have met.
How did you hear about Mentoring Young Creatives?
I have attended BWC events in the past and then got introduced through fellow model and mentor Sam Webb.
Why do you want to be a Mentor on the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
I already do a lot in the mental health space and am really excited by the opportunity to do this within my industry. Also, I feel it is super important amongst men with there being a bit of a taboo around mental health, but also amongst men in a slightly unmasculine industry.
What past experiences do you have which you believe will help you to mentor a young person in the creative industries?
I have experienced lots of rejection, travelling alone, self doubt, body image issues, insecurity, justification of job to family and friends, self belief, understanding some jobs just aren’t for you, comparison to others, money issues etc….
What do you hope to achieve from the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
I want to be that port of call I wish I had when I was younger, less experienced, less guided. It is a very solo based career with very little actual guidance and a lot of self doubt and I would have loved someone who had been there explaining everything.
What are you most excited about in starting the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
Seeing the mentee thrive, not just with work but just seeing them excited for themselves and for work. Seeing that, as with any job, its a job, it’s not your value or identity and you can be anything you want to be.
How do you think your career and health would have been affected had you had the opportunity to be mentored early in your career?
I think I would have been less harsh on myself, more patient, less anxious. I would have given myself chance to breathe and be present and enjoy where I was at the time.
What is the best piece of advice that you have been given by a mentor/colleague/friend?
Be yourself, because everybody else is already taken
To find out more about James and his interest in being involved as a mentor for Mentoring Young Creatives, head over to the Be Well Instagram where you can watch James’s IG takeover in our highlights.