The Joy of Mentorship: Bringing Others Along With Us

The first time I asked a mentee to join me on a hike, I thought of it as little more than a spillover engagement from the workweek. I love the outdoors and will choose a wide-open trail over a monotonous coffee shop any time I have the option. But I learned something interesting and important on that first adventure, and on the countless ones that have followed. I learned that those long and winding trails were an extraordinary conduit for deeper conversations. Nature helped quiet the world around us, and make space for deeper and more purposeful reflection.

With a backdrop of coastal redwoods and cascading streams, my mentees and I do the work of career building. Whether I’m talking to an MBA student, a founder scaling a young startup, an executive pondering a new move, or a rising star navigating the path to the C-suite, I push them to clarify their aspirations, to evaluate their opportunities, to be bold, and to take risks. My goal is to help people see their full potential—and then seize it.

That is the gratifying, joyful work of mentorship. And I believe it’s work we should all seek to undertake. As I often share with my peers, I believe we all have a responsibility—from the time we climb that first rung on the ladder or grab an opportunity—to bring others along with us.

There is a good reason why close to 70% of Fortune 500 companies have mentorship programs[1]: they work. They have been shown to help retain and promote workers, at every level of the corporate structure. Research published by The Harvard Business Review suggests that CEOs, in particular, benefit from formal mentorship programs, which help them avoid costly mistakes and improve their decision making.[2] It’s little wonder, then, that about four out of five millennials describe mentorship as crucial to their success.

I’ll be forever grateful that two colleagues, Guy Marlow and Ron Long, took me under their wings at Amersham Pharmacia Biotech in the 1990s. Guy was warm and supportive—a great coach. “Keep going,” he’d cheer me on when we experienced a win. And when there was a misstep, he’d say with his wonderful Welsh accent and a smile, “So, you messed up. Let’s learn from this.” He showed me that doing well in business means having empathy and looking out for others. His belief and support inspire me to this day—and I know he’s still in my corner…as is Ron. Great mentors are like that.

Over the years, I have found it incredibly rewarding to watch those I’ve had the privilege of mentoring grow and realize their potential. I am both grateful and honored to stand alongside them as they experience lows and celebrate their successes. 

My hope, as we commemorate National Mentoring Month, is that more leaders engage in this critical work. There is no higher calling, and as I can attest, there is no better feeling.

[1] The Wall Street Journal: Finding Anchors in the Storm: Mentors

[2] Harvard Business Review: CEOs Need Mentors Too