Be a mentor

This week I have the privilege to attend Xavier University’s Mentoring Program Annual Luncheon. The event was paused due to COVID for the past few years, so it is exciting to be back together again. I have participated as a mentee when I was in school and now as a mentor and member of the program’s advisory board. Mentors, mentees, career development administration, and others come together to celebrate the program and those that support its mission to “link students with leading executives and career professionals – offering an innovative approach by providing students practical application of networking skills, personal and professional growth over an extended period of time, as well as the Jesuit values of service to others and cura personalis.” A key highlight includes recognition for the mentee and mentor of the year.

I have been very fortunate to have mentors in my life including when at Xavier. This mentor and others have taken time to get to know me personally, ask questions about my aspirations, and provide ongoing support to help me get to where I want to go. They have been shoulders of comfort in times of adversity and often my first cheerleaders to celebrate milestones and successes. They open doors to opportunities and have been strong advocates. I could not be the person I am today without these wonderful human beings.

I believe each of us has value we can provide to others as a mentor. Throughout our lives we learn and develop experience that can be shared. We also have relationships that could benefit someone else. Stepping out to be a mentor or accepting a request to be a mentor can change lives, and not just the mentees. Here are a few ways a mentee can impact yours:

1. Fresh perspective – when engaging in conversation you will learn about your mentee’s life, their dreams, their aspirations. You will have the opportunity to see the world through their eyes and how they are engaging in it. I have been inspired by my mentee’s commitment to their families, their education, their work, their communities. It’s near impossible to not have this inspiration rub off on you and influence your own actions to strive to be the best version of yourself.
2. Expand your network – often mentees run in different circles than their mentors. Not only does this provide you a fresh perspective as mentioned in #1, but over time they become a connection point for you to their network as appropriate. Of course, this is not a self-serving reason to become a mentor, but from the right posture may create visibility to different individuals or communities you otherwise would not have received exposure to.
3. Opportunity to be a better leader – whether it be your approach to communication or hearing how your advice played out in application, you will be able to learn how to pivot to be a better mentor to your mentee (assuming you create this feedback loop). This will help you develop productive leadership habits that can be applied when mentoring or leading others in your work or life.

I cannot thank my mentees enough for enabling these and other experiences. Many of them have humbly asked if there is anything they can ever do for me, but I feel they are paying it forward each time we meet, each time they are vulnerable, and each time they update me on their progress.?