Mentor: A Brain, An Ear & A Push

John C Crosby once said that a mentor is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction, and it is a privilege to discover the truth in every part of that quote as I uncover the many benefits of having a mentor.

This was my first experience in a formal mentorship programme. My mentor and I connected through the amazing networking and global mentorship forum - Women in Payments . I had just missed the last cohort cycle, so I had been waiting for the last 12 months in barely concealed anticipation.

Before our first meeting, I had worked myself into a frenzy, unsure about our ability to connect or relate to one another, especially as my professional journey has followed a long and winding road. But those doubts were quickly dispelled a few minutes into our first conversation.

As we started talking, she shared her career journey with me, and I discovered that we had several things in common - we both have first degrees in seemingly unrelated courses (hers was in engineering while mine was in law), post-graduate degrees and previous experience in the digital marketing space.

She also told me how she had been able to pivot from where she had been to where she is now, working both hard and smart and seizing the opportunities that came her way to rise through the ranks to become a Senior Vice President, Agile Delivery at Elavon, Inc. Most importantly, I was thrilled to discover that family is everything to her, and the roles she is most proud of are those of wife, mother, family member and friend.?

Talking to her was surprisingly easy, and I explained what I considered my unique circumstances and shared my career and mentorship goals. She listened intently, and before the session was over, we had a working plan on how to tackle the goals I had outlined.?

I was elated to discover that my mentor is intrinsically kind, has a great sense of humour, is willing to listen, understand, troubleshoot, and problem-solve, is transparent about expectations and goals, and is honest about her experiences as well as the challenges and opportunities in the industry. Personally, I was also deeply moved by her openness and desire to help me advance within the industry. While these traits may seem obvious when describing a mentor, they aren't necessarily common traits!

Plus, the main purpose of mentoring is to pass on valuable insights, skills, and knowledge, and while it is still early days yet, here are some lessons I have learned from her.

·???????Be willing to learn new things while utilising your existing skillset. This is essential for professional growth in any field of work, especially in the payments industry, where things change rapidly, and new tools are constantly introduced.

·???????Be intentional about what you want to achieve and take the steps necessary to make what you want a reality.

·???????A better understanding of someone else's career journey and work experience can help you feel more comfortable in your position.

·???????Discover new strategies or techniques to help with your career goals, such as improving communication or learning how to network.

·???????Having a mentor who can provide valuable feedback on career plans is priceless.

So far, the experience has not only been beneficial for me personally and professionally, but I am confident that it will also provide me with opportunities to improve my leadership skills and grow in the industry.

I know that expressing appreciation and showing gratitude is one of the most important things one can do in any relationship or partnership. And taking the time to reflect on who and what we are grateful for leads to better relationships and improves our emotional, physical, and psychological well-being.

So, this is my note of appreciation to my mentor, Julia Patterson , an accomplished professional who embodies more admirable qualities than I can articulate. Thank you for sharing your time with me. I felt seen, heard, and understood. I am now confidently hopeful that with a clear road map and a skilful guide, who has traversed the path before me and is willing and able to work with me to increase my capacity, grow my skillset and take advantage of the opportunities that come my way, I can walk confidently towards the destination I have mapped out as career success.?

In the words of another astute person, Oprah Winfrey, a mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself, and Julia is that and so much more. While great mentors come in all shapes, sizes, and genders, I appreciate that with her, I can better develop strengths, improve weaknesses, identify disparities, especially as a woman and understand how best to navigate them.

Needless to say, as a mentee, I am excited about the possibilities and looking forward to the next year and beyond. I promise to use the knowledge shared judiciously and pay it forward so others can also benefit from the collective wisdom.

I'm curious - do you have any tips for mentors or mentees?

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#WomenInPayments

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