A Bridge Between Potential and Purpose: Bolton Pontazia on Mentoring in Water Geology

Bolton de Jesus Laurindo Pontazia is based in Maputo, Mozambique, where he works as a geologist at the Southern Regional Water Authority (ARA-Sul, IP).

Bolton takes part in the Women in WASH & RWSN mentorship programme as both a mentor and a mentee.

As a Mentor: Paying Forward Early Guidance

Bolton’s decision to mentor grew out of the support he received earlier in his own career. “I was driven by a desire to pay forward the guidance I received earlier in my career and to help build technical capacity within the sector.”

What he finds most rewarding is watching that support translate into results. “The most rewarding aspect is seeing my mentee gain confidence, refine their strategic focus, and successfully navigate professional challenges.”

Turning Strategy Into Progress

Bolton points to structuring technical discussions, career goals, and action plans with his mentee as a standout part of the experience. “Watching him translate our strategic conversations into concrete professional progress was incredibly fulfilling.”

How Mentoring Has Shaped Him

Bolton describes mentoring as sharpening how he communicates and leads. “Mentorship sharpened my active listening, leadership, and communication skills. Explaining complex career and technical concepts forced me to reflect on my own methodology, making me a more structured professional and empathetic leader.”

His Advice to First-Time Mentors

Bolton encourages new mentors to trust the value of their own experience. “Do not hesitate, you do not need to know everything to make a meaningful difference. Your lived experiences, lessons learned from failures, and practical perspective are immensely valuable to someone walking a path behind you.”

Why He Believes Mentorship Matters

For Bolton, mentorship strengthens the field as a whole. “Mentorship accelerates professional growth, bridges knowledge gaps, and creates a supportive network that strengthens the entire WASH community.”

As a Mentee: Seeking Clarity on Career Direction

Bolton sought his own mentor to help navigate a specific set of professional questions. “I sought a mentor to gain perspective on navigating complex career transitions, refining my long-term technical goals, and learning from an experienced professional who could offer unbiased guidance.”

A Breakthrough in Balancing Technical Work and Strategy

The clearest gain from the relationship came in how Bolton approaches his own workload. “The biggest breakthrough was gaining clarity on balancing high-level technical execution with strategic career management, particularly in structuring research, business initiatives, and international opportunities.”

What Having a Mentor Has Given Him

Bolton describes the relationship as expanding how he thinks about problem-solving. “It provided a trusted sounding board for my ideas, expanded my perspective on problem-solving, and encouraged me to set higher benchmarks for my career trajectory.”

His Advice to Anyone Considering Becoming a Mentee

Bolton emphasises taking ownership of the relationship. “Be proactive, open-minded, and clear about what you want to achieve. A mentorship relationship yields the best results when you drive the discussions and actively apply the feedback you receive.”

When asked what mentorship has meant to him, Bolton describes it as “a transformative bridge between potential and purpose.”

What He Recommends

When asked for a book, tool or resource recommendation, Bolton points to technical tools central to his own work. “I highly recommend QGIS alongside the RWSN publications and groundwater mapping toolkits. Open-source GIS tools are essential for spatial analysis, hydrogeological mapping, and making data-driven decisions in water resource management.”