Finding Shared Purpose in Bettering the Lives of Others

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder.” - 13th century Persian poet Jalāl al-Dīn Mu?ammad

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a member of a community, and really, what it is that we owe to one another. I’ve observed that individuals rarely make meaningful progress in achieving their goals entirely on their own; as social creatures, we rely on one another for encouragement, feedback, information, and support. But the beautiful thing is that supporting others benefits all involved—in fact, I would argue that one’s own betterment and fulfillment is a direct function of the degree to which one endeavors to better the lives of others. And when we focus our attention on helping others advance, it sets off a positive chain reaction that enhances our collective wellbeing for generations to come.??

Proof of this phenomenon is everywhere. In my career, I’ve observed that progress in the workplace stems from individuals feeling empowered to do their best work and thrive in their careers. When leaders demonstrate to their people that they matter and enable them to advance on their own terms, these individuals not only become more fulfilled in their roles and lives, but also more adept at delivering on the organization’s strategies and priorities—ultimately contributing to the greater whole at work, and beyond.??

In higher ed, this virtuous cycle is evidenced by the critical role faculty and other individuals play in helping students persist and succeed in school and in life. At its simplest, education is about providing students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to access opportunity and enable economic mobility, but having access to the right kinds of support is intimately tied to the success of that process. In other words, students are more likely to do well in school, reach graduation, and contribute further to their communities when they’re inspired, motivated, and encouraged by others.?

• Go deeper: Gallup has found that six critical experiences in higher ed are key predictors of whether students are likely to be thriving in their life and work after graduation. Significantly, three of the “Big Six” are bucketed under “support”:?1) I had at least one professor who made me excited about learning; 2) My professors cared about me as a person; and 3) I had a mentor who encouraged me to pursue my goals and dreams.?

This brings me to today’s topic: the critical role of mentors. As social capital researcher Julia Freeland Fisher has shown, having a dedicated person in every student’s corner can make all the difference in helping individuals thrive in school and in life.??

• Go deeper: While most college grads report that they’ve had at least one professor in college who made learning exciting, just a third strongly agree they had a mentor who encouraged them, according to Gallup . It’s an enormous, missed opportunity, since access to a mentor strongly predicts whether students complete college and feel prepared for life after graduation.? ?

Early on, WGU realized that while our students were more than capable of studying and learning independently, progression would be easier with the support of a coach. Today, our Program Mentors are just one type of faculty member tasked with providing personalized support and elevating our students. We believe unequivocally that providing this level of individualized care is paramount to students’ success, and see proof of it every day. Consider this story from WGU student Jessica Sherhag about her experience working with Program Mentor Samantha Eaves (story edited for clarity and length):? ?

"In 2018, I signed up to get my bachelor's degree. I was working my full-time position with a hospital system plus I had a part-time job. Life was crazy already and I was planning to add to it.?

During my initial call with Samantha, she really took the time to get to know me and asked how she could support me throughout the process. I wasn't just a student ID to Sam; I was someone that mattered. By the end of the first call, I could already feel the pressure lifting off my chest.? ?

I started my classes and Sam was such a major support.?We had our weekly calls, but I always knew if something came up between the calls, she would be right there to help push me through. There were times that I would just feel exhausted and ready to take a break, but Sam would say just the right thing to push me over that hump.?

Then at the beginning of February 2019, at the age of 37, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sam was one of the very first people that I told. I knew I was strong and that I would get through all the new battles that laid ahead, however I also knew that Sam would be there through this, too. She assured me that school was not something to worry about and we would figure it out. I made her promise me that we weren't going to let breast cancer slow us down. Sam did just that! I made it through all the treatments and surgeries by the end of 2019 with no delay to school.???

I finished my program in 2021. In October 2023, I had the honor of crossing the stage in Las Vegas with Sam by my side the entire weekend. I felt so honored to know my biggest cheerleader would be there with me. But life would be boring without my cheerleader, so I began a new chapter at WGU titled Masters Time. Samantha is my mentor again and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have given her some big goals and I know she will get us through those goals. My success is her success too."???

Like Jessica, I also count myself lucky to have had individuals in my life who’ve supported and encouraged me when I needed it the most.? ?

While at Amazon, I participated in a leadership development program designed to afford the participants perspective and feedback about their behaviors and style. The program was full of?individuals brimming with confidence—me included. But for me, it became a very raw, difficult, and humbling experience as I received feedback after feedback about the areas in which I could improve. Apparently, despite my belief to the contrary, I was the worst form of leader. I was emotionally wasted, and my soul felt stretched to the point of snapping. With shattered confidence, I had little sense as to where to go from there. Abandoning any aspiration seemed not only the easiest, but also the most appropriate step.??

In such a broken moment, one of my most valuable mentors manifest himself to me— Tom Taylor , my former boss. He reminded me of abilities and talents that I possessed, and never stopped possessing, and put context and purpose around how to use this new information in shaping the priorities and areas on which to focus for my development. Most importantly, he helped me realize that the aspiration, potential, or opportunity for me had never diminished, even if my understanding of the path to attain it had now been more fully illuminated by the feedback received.

For me, Tom exemplified the best of a mentor: he saw in me my inherent worth and capacity to progress, encouraged me to learn from the feedback and experience, and pointed me in the direction that would enable me to become better than I was before. I’m forever grateful to Tom for making one of my most challenging experiences become one of my most cherished and valuable ones. ?

But endeavoring to better the lives of others isn’t owned by an officer or even an office; nor does it require we hold a specific title or yield some amount of power. Instead, it’s something each of us can do for those around us. And when we do, it can make a profound difference for all involved.

For Program Mentors like Samantha, the upsides are obvious: “I have the privilege of supporting our students during the most wonderful and most challenging times in their lives,” she shared. “I’m honored to be part of my student’s lives and their families. Being a mentor is the most intrinsically rewarding job that I have had in my entire life."??

I’d love to get your take—In education, in the workplace, and in life more broadly, who has stepped up to support you and help you achieve your goals? As always, I appreciate reading your responses.?

Until next time,?

Scott? ?

Reader Spotlight: Leveraging AI to empower faculty and enable personalized interventions? ?

Thanks to new advances in technology, readily available data on how students are doing at a given moment can empower faculty to reach out to students in need—and critically before they fall too far behind and get discouraged. To me, it’s a powerful example of how thoughtfully deployed technology can significantly enhance faculty’s impact, enabling them to focus on the work humans are uniquely suited to do. MSMK candidate Karen Taylor offered her thoughts on the subject (response edited for clarity and length):?

“When my progress slowed in a course, both the instructor and my mentor reached out within a day to touch base and see if there was anything they could do to support me. Tracking my personal learning pace and knowing when I am off has enabled my team to ensure I stay on course. [My school’s?model for identifying when students need more momentum] is a powerful tool and, as a student, one that is appreciated.”?

Check out this report to learn more about the suite of tools Karen is referring to, and how technology can be utilized to empower faculty, support students, and ultimately increase persistence.?

ICYMI: Here’s what caught my attention recently?

• Shopify’s Tia Silas on rewiring HR for a remote-first e-commerce company ( Project on Managing the Future of Work ): A fresh take on how to approach talent management differently, with a focus on helping individuals advance and enabling their agency.?
• What is it Really Worth? Measuring the Value of Postsecondary Education in the 21st Century ( Rebecca Watts , Higher Education Digest): “We must be clear in communicating the details of costs to all parties, learner experiences, and outcomes so stakeholders can know, understand, and embrace the diversity of opportunities to provide optimal outcomes for all.”?
• The New Academic Arms Race ( Jeff Selingo , The Chronicle of Higher Education): Prospective students rarely ask about the innovations/tech an institution offers, yet they can make a world of difference in enabling greater flexibility, personalization, and relevancy of learning.??