Building Connections for Growth

Mentorship from senior colleagues or professionals within one's industry can have a seismic impact on your career. In the short term, working closely with a mentor can equip you with practical insights, knowledge, and skills that can be applied immediately to your line of work. In the long term, mentorship helps to expand one's network, provides a new and informed perspective, and supplies invaluable guidance for navigating your career.

One essential step in seeking mentorship is being intentional with whom you reach out to. Different factors such as career path, stage in their profession, and personality can play a role in identifying the right mentor who can accelerate learning curves and ultimately help foster personal and professional growth.?

This year, the McKinsey Women’s Network in Toronto launched a mentorship program to help demystify the process of finding meaningful mentorship while creating new mentor-mentee opportunities.?

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Here are 3 takeaways we learned about mutually beneficial mentor-mentee relationships:

• Embrace the "3 Cs" of successful mentorship: Commitment, Curiosity, and Care. Mentors who are?committed?to helping their mentees grow, who are?curious?about their goals and challenges, and who?care?about nurturing their development are more likely to establish impactful, long-lasting relationships that benefit both parties.
• Find your mentors early. Seeking mentorship early in your professional journey helps build a solid foundation for long-term success and allows mentees to learn valuable insights and gain guidance in navigating your career, at any stage.
• Seek out a diverse range of mentors. Working with mentors from a variety of backgrounds, industries, and perspectives increases the likelihood of developing a well-rounded skillset and being best equipped to handle challenges and opportunities in their careers.

We caught up with two mentors from the program,? Adele Hu ?and? Shah M. Asad Husain , for their experiences in navigating mentorship.

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Adele Hu

Director of Strategy & Operations, Global and North America Operations

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How have you leveraged mentorship to expand your network and connect with new people?

I’ve had a global career at McKinsey, spanning offices in Shanghai, Chicago, Frankfurt, and Toronto. Each time I arrived in a new place, I sought out mentors for advice and practical tips about the transition and culture. In these moments, my mentors have been a source of help, confidence, and encouragement for me.

When I first joined McKinsey, I went through colleague profiles and cold-called three people. One of them became my mentor and one of my best friends! This relationship came to be because, at the time, I had reached out for advice. Communicating what you're struggling with can help build rapport and connect you with those you need at a particular point in your career.?

What are common challenges in a mentor-mentee relationship, and how have you worked to overcome them?

Many mentees feel that they need to bring a specific problem to solve during our conversations. While this may work in some mentorship relationships, others just want comfort, confidence, or reassurance—and that is OK too. Sometimes, it's helpful to hear: "That is normal, I've also experienced this before, and you are not alone."

What advice do you have for someone who is looking for a mentor, but isn't sure where to start?

Do not put pressure on yourself to find a mentor; it should happen organically. When looking for a mentor, remember to listen to yourself:?what do you need right now??The type of mentorship and engagement model you choose should be driven by your unique aspirations and should not be driven by comparison.

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Asad Husain

Partner

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What inspired you to become a mentor, and what do you enjoy most about mentoring others?

When I came to Canada from Pakistan, I experienced first-hand the difference a mentor could make. My second boss gave me endless coaching on navigating complex environments, encouragement which helped build my confidence, and has rooted for me for many years since. This experience inspired me to take great satisfaction in helping people grow, better their skills and develop into leaders.

How have you gone about finding mentors throughout your career? What qualities do you look for in a mentor, and how do you know when someone is a good fit?

I always looked for people who are on the same wavelength as me—individuals who don't take themselves too seriously, are generous, selfless in giving credit, and have a real desire to be people-focused leaders. The mentor-mentee relationship requires investment from both parties, so I look for people who I feel would be willing to make that investment. It's sometimes hard to tell in an initial conversation, but your pattern recognition for it gets better over time.

How do you measure the success of a mentoring relationship, and what metrics do you use to evaluate your performance as a mentor?

For me, the success of a mentoring relationship is measured by the quality and quantity of interactions. I evaluate my performance as a mentor by asking myself if the quality of the interaction meets my expectations; if I feel energized by the conversation; if I'm able to help; and if the colleague is genuinely appreciative. I also consider the quantity of communication, if I'm keeping in touch with folks; if it's happening organically; or if my mentees are a growing and diverse group.

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