Technical mentoring

Good questions build independent judgment.

I help people make problems visible, compare options, and choose their own next step. I developed this approach as a Space Eagle during the 42 Warsaw Piscine and as a mentor and judge at HackYeah 2026.

Tell me your goal View engineering work

Dmytro Kolida discusses code with a dog beside a laptop — Explaining code to my most patient learner. Good mentoring starts with listening and a useful question.

Space Eagle42 Warsaw Piscine

HackYeah 2026Defence: mentor & judge

Real projectsLearning by doing

Useful questionsIndependent decisions

Dmytro Kolida, on the left, on stage with the HackYeah Defence category award — HackYeah 2026, on stage with the Defence category award.

HackYeah 2026 / In practice

Mentoring, judging, and presenting the award on stage.

I mentored participants and judged projects in the Defence category. One of the teams I supported won the event’s grand prize. I also presented the Defence category award on stage on behalf of the jury. The team built the project and earned the result; my role was guidance and evaluation.

My role Mentor, Defence jury member, award presenter

01 / How I mentor

Mentoring that builds independence.

We work on a real goal or blocker. I bring questions, structure, and relevant experience, not a ready-made answer.

Clarify the goal

We define what you actually want to achieve, what is already known, and which assumptions need to be tested.

OutcomeA clear goal and a smaller problem you can work on.

Reason through the problem

Before: the problem feels too large or unclear to begin.After: you can name the blocker, compare options, and choose what to check next.

OutcomeA line of reasoning you understand and can continue independently.

Turn insight into action

We turn what you learned into a realistic next step. When tools or AI are involved, you remain the decision-maker and review sensitive actions yourself.

OutcomeA next step you chose, with reasons and checks you can explain.

02 / Who mentoring is for

For people who want guidance while keeping ownership of their decisions.

42 Warsaw students, Piscine participants, and other self-directed learners working through a difficult project.
Hackathon participants who need help clarifying the goal, dividing the work, or making a decision under time pressure.
Early-career engineers who want to strengthen problem-solving habits instead of copying an answer.

03 / How mentoring works

Your goal stays at the centre.

You bring a goal and the context you can safely share. I guide the conversation with questions, structure, and practical examples.

Bring your goal

Tell me what you want to achieve, what you have tried, and where you feel stuck.

Make the problem visible

We separate facts from assumptions and break the challenge into smaller parts.

Explore your options

I ask questions, check assumptions, and share relevant experience when it helps.

Choose your next step

You decide what to do next and leave able to explain why.

04 / Mentoring

What are you trying to achieve?

If you are working through a technical project and feel stuck, send me your goal, what you have already tried, and the question you cannot answer yet. If my experience is relevant, we can talk.

Ask about mentoring