The Importance of Mentors

Do you a have mentor or are you one?

I believe in mentorship. Presently, I am a formal mentor in two programs and have “officially” mentored about 14 different women and men over the past 15 years through a variety of organizations from U of C to TCS, AFP, and SMCC. Unofficially, through just supporting men and women I have met through receptions, LinkedIn, or while delivering workshops or university class sessions, I have provided mentorship to about another 30-35 people over the past five years. Some of these mentorships last multiple years and some but a few months. 

From my personal experience as a mentee or someone who was mentored, I was not involved in an official mentoring program, neither have I ever asked anyone to be my mentor, nor has anyone offered. But there are people who have played a mentorship role in my personal or professional life. As I noted, never were they referred to or engaged as a mentor, but unbeknownst to them in most cases, they were, or have been a mentor to me. The reason for this TMC is that one of those mentors retired ten days ago, causing me to reflect on what his mentorship has meant to me. His name is Steve Heintz. He was in the radio business for 45 years and two and-a-half months. He did sales, worked as a sales manager, in the newsroom, and behind the microphone. He did it all in radio. 

I met Steve when I began working for Rawlco Radio in the early 90s. I was not hired by him. I was hired by one of his bosses and Steve was told, like it or not, he now had a new sales rep. And to boot, I had no direct sales experience. I had hardly worked in radio, and had just moved to Calgary so had no contacts there at all. He was not pleased to say the least. In fact, at the end of the second week, he called me into his office on Friday afternoon and told me he didn’t like me; he was forced to have me on his team because my dad knew someone above him in the food chain. He told me that he would watch me fail and then fire me when I was unable to perform, which in his mind, was inevitable. It was just a matter of time.  

He did point out, though, that if I needed anything, he would assist me, but he was pretty sure it would make no difference and I would be gone in a few weeks. Quite the start! Long story short, I survived. In fact, Steve hired me to come back to work for him after I had left for a couple of years to work in another market. He reached out to me and asked me to come work for him again. Here is why to this day, Steve has been an amazing mentor for me, though he may not know it. 

Here are ten reasons why Steve was a great mentor for me.

1.  He was always open, honest, and fair. He spoke the truth. Whether it hurt or not, I always knew I got the truth.
2. Though he did not like me at the start and hoped I would fail, he was there to support me. When I asked for help, he provided it.
3. He showed me the ropes in radio, and taught me to listen to and support others at the station—on-air staff, creative, production, and the folks in traffic became my friends and allies. That is how I got stuff done!
4. He stood in my corner when I had an idea that he thought merited the attention of the folks in the corner offices and he explained to me why he would not support me in circumstances when he did not agree with my thinking.
5. He was trustworthy.
6. He treated everyone fairly.
7. When I left the organization and started my own company (Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists?), he continued to stay in touch and shifted from boss to friend.
8. He had great leadership skills. He was willing to share at any time, giving freely of his knowledge and insights to anyone who asked. I have worked to emulate that over the years.
9. He was never been afraid to speak his mind and what was on it, even if he got in trouble for it. His belief seemed to be, if I believe in something or stand for something, I need to stand up for it!
10. He is a great family man—someone who can work hard, places his family first above all else, and cherishes time with everyone in his circle.

 This is why I continue to mentor and pass along what has been so freely given to me.