The Gift of Mentors

Who do you turn to when you’re looking for career or work advice? What about when you were interviewing for your first job or as you faced management challenges? Many of us turn to a trusted colleague, parent, or friend to serve as a mentor for guidance through times of transition and uncertainty. But while the majority of people think mentors are important, only 37% of people currently have one. This is a giant missed opportunity when you consider that research shows people with mentors are happier at their current jobs than those without mentors and that companies with mentoring programs have profits that are 18% better than average. Interestingly, companies without mentoring programs have profits that are 45% worse than average.

At Colgate-Palmolive our purpose is to reimagine a healthier future for all – and one way we do this is by empowering future generations to succeed by helping them gain the skills needed to achieve their dreams and live healthier, brighter, more fulfilling lives. Many of us understand the power of mentorship on a personal level, whether we have received advice from someone we look up to or have provided guidance to the next generation of leaders ourselves. Access to mentorship helps clear pathways for people, particularly those who are from underserved or underrepresented communities.?

That’s why mentorship is a critical foundation that supports Colgate’s reimagined company values: to be Caring, Inclusive and Courageous. We’re committed to working with our colleagues as well as with our nonprofit partners throughout the year to help provide mentorship and support in a variety of ways, including through scholarship, one-on-one connections, and more.

If you’re looking for a mentoring organizations to bring to your company or to join as a resource yourself, consider our programs…

Empowering Women to Reach their Full Potential through High-Impact Mentorship

We know that an important requirement to maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace culture is to help create a pipeline of diverse women across various fields of study. That’s why, for the last five years, Colgate has partnered with 1,000 Dreams Fund as the title sponsor of the MentorHER initiative, which pairs individual women in college, graduate school, and recent graduates, with members of our Colgate Women’s Network for a one-hour, 1:1 mentorship session based on career goals and interests. And this year, we’ve expanded our partnership to include microgrants for select MentorHER participants.

According to research from 1,000 Dreams Fund, 70% of women in the U.S., ages 18-25, say they have never had a mentor -- and Colgate is on a mission to change that by helping provide more access to mentorship opportunities. During their 1:1 mentoring sessions, our mentors share their career advice, life lessons, and guidance to help mentees achieve their goals. This year, we also hosted a free career development workshop for female students in the U.S. called “MentorHER: Get Your Dream Job,” during which our team members shared their tips on what companies are looking for in potential candidates, how to stand out during a resume review and interview, how to successfully navigate a first job or new position, and more.?

For many young women, mentors can be hard to find. But, through the MentorHER initiative, we’re helping young women not only gain increased access to mentorship, but also to get paired with the right individual to best help them pursue their dream careers and reach their goals.

Mentorship through Competition, Community and Scholarship

For nearly 50 years, Colgate has sponsored the Colgate Women’s Games in an effort to drive social impact and help young people in our communities thrive. CWG was created as a pathway for female athletes to achieve their athletic potential and pursue their educational goals by competing for academic scholarships and has become the longest-running track and field series for girls and young women.?

But CWG is so much more than just a track competition. Not only does CWG support athletic talent and help level the playing field for athletes by offering opportunities to participate in sports that they might not have access to otherwise, it prioritizes education and provides ongoing mentorship. CWG lets our athletes know they have someone in their corner who believes in them and is there for them. In addition to working with coaches throughout their training, amateurs run and compete alongside champions of all ages and backgrounds. Each season, our athletes have the chance to connect with role models and the familiar faces of the athletes, coaches, volunteers, and parents who return year after year to CWG, creating a supportive, tight-knit community of mentors themselves. Additionally, CWG Meet Director, Cheryl Toussaint, is a mentor to all the young women who pass through the program. Her personal story, achievements in the sport, and presence at CWG continue to inspire athletes year after year.?

As a result, CWG has become an incubator for developing athletic talent -- with at least 29 girls who have become Olympians and hundreds who have become national champions -- not to mention that the program has helped thousands of other participants get into and pay for college and become successful doctors, lawyers, teachers, and entrepreneurs.?

Offering Mentorship through Major Transformations

Since 2014, Colgate has partnered with American Corporate Partners (ACP) to provide mentorship to U.S. veterans and military spouses. And with more than 600,000 active-duty spouses who struggle to focus on their own career development due to underemployment, relocations, and spouse deployments, there is no shortage of those in need. Through the spouse mentor program, our mentors are paired with mentees for a year-long, customized mentorship to hone in on professional development skills, networking, and managing employment gaps to help military spouses as they begin a new career, start a small business, and navigate through relocations.?

Over the course of our partnership, we have facilitated more than 316 mentorships with over 124 mentors to ease the challenges of transitioning from a military career to a civilian life. I have been involved with the organization for the better part of 10 years, recently honored to join their Board of Directors. This year, Colgate mentors have been actively assisting 19 protégées through ACP.

As we continue to navigate the complexities of our rapidly evolving world, it’s more important than ever to create pathways for upcoming talent? - to unlock untapped potential and nurture the seeds of success. And when we know the long term benefits of mentoring for all those who participate. . .when we know that the giving is rewarding and the receiving is so valuable, it’s a great and easy investment that anyone can and should make.?

I’d love to hear your thoughts - how did you find a mentor? Or what’s the most valuable advice your mentor has ever given you?

Thank you for reading to the end and shoutout to my first mentor @Ron Culp and the amazing ones who followed including those at Sears here Mary Ann O'Rourke and Jan Drummond (in the picture, too)!