I'm a Mentee x3

The power of a fruitful mentorship experience is priceless. To excel in one’s professional and personal life, it’s incredibly valuable to have mentors who support, value and nurture you. I’ve been fortunate to have three solid mentors in my life. All of whom have been with me for at least this last decade, if not longer, and continue to support me now. The conversations, tough love, gentle nudges of encouragement and their keen ability to just listen has tremendously shaped the person I am today. Because of that, I take mentoring very seriously. The mentees I have now bring me such joy. They are the next big leaders, movers and shakers and I’m honored to spend quality time nurturing them and reminding them of who they are. From time to time, I get asked, “what do you think is the most valuable part of mentoring?” It’s not a simple answer from my vantage point, but I would summarize with these four nuggets:

• No one is too young or too seasoned for mentorship: I didn’t even realize it at the time, but my mother was my very first mentor. Those who have met her, know she is never a stranger, the life of the party and the most caring individual on this planet. When I was just four years old, I remember being selected for an accelerated kindergarten program. The morning of my first day, my mother spent extra time brushing my hair to perfection and ensuring my new corduroy dress sat perfectly on my shoulders. She told me to hold my head high and know that I was selected for this class because I was ready. Her confidence in me made all the difference in how I approached that day, as well as that entire year.?
• No one is above mentorship: It doesn’t matter if you’re entering your first internship or if you’re the CEO of a company, we all need mentors. The experiences, scars, career progression and network can help propel you to the next place you didn’t even know you were ready for. Even some of the world’s most iconic people had mentors. Maya Angelou mentored Oprah Winfrey, Mahatma Gandhi mentored Nelson Mandela, Christian Dior mentored Yves Saint-Laurent, Jay-Z mentored Kanye West – the list goes on.?
• Be selective with mentorship relationships: Very often I hear people talk about selecting someone as their mentor because they have access to that person from time-to-time. I look at mentoring very differently. A mentorship should not be a temporary occurrence. I believe the most effective mentorship relationships are those when both parties feel seen, heard and can contribute value to one another. One of my mentors was formally my boss. We built such a great relationship while I worked for him that we naturally continued that as I progressed to other roles. While I rely heavily on him as a sounding board, I also know that he expects me to provide him with key insights, as well as encouragement.
• Have more than one mentor: No one-person can be all things to you. For instance, I also have a mentor who is a pastor and schoolteacher. I met her at a yoga class several years ago. While she and I have different professional tracks, our personalities, life experiences and faith are similar. She gives me the inspiration I need at times when I hit lulls. I also give her the kick she needs when she’s not feeling like jumping on the Peloton at 5 a.m. We’re serious accountability partners.

#nationalmentorshipmonth #lockheedmartin #mentors