Mentorship Matters

Throughout history, mentorship has played a vital role in the personal and professional development of individuals across all walks of life. For women in particular, having a mentor to provide guidance, support, and advocacy can be transformative, helping to navigate the unique challenges and barriers women often face in their careers. Let’s explore the power of mentorship for women through compelling stories and highlight resources available to help women connect with mentors who can help them thrive.

The Mentor Who Changed Everything

Sarah had always been a high achiever, excelling in school and landing a coveted role at a top tech company after graduation. But a few years into her career, she found herself hitting a wall. Despite putting in long hours and consistently delivering quality work, Sarah was repeatedly passed over for promotions in favor of her male colleagues. She started to doubt her abilities and question whether she belonged in the industry at all.

That’s when Sarah met Lisa, a senior executive at the company who took Sarah under her wing. Lisa had faced many of the same challenges in her career and was passionate about supporting the next generation of women leaders. She met with Sarah regularly, offering advice, feedback, and encouragement. Lisa also connected Sarah with other women in the industry, which helped her build a strong professional network.

With Lisa’s mentorship, Sarah’s confidence soared. She learned to advocate for herself, negotiate for opportunities, and showcase her strengths. When a management position opened up, Lisa championed Sarah for the role, helping her secure a significant promotion. Sarah credits Lisa with not only changing the trajectory of her career, but also empowering her to mentor other young women just starting out in the field.

From Mentee to Mentor

Jenna had always looked up to her college professor, Dr. Patel. As one of the few women of color in her engineering program, Jenna often felt isolated and unsure of her place. But Dr. Patel took Jenna under her wing, offering guidance on everything from coursework to career planning. She pushed Jenna to pursue challenging research opportunities and nominated her for prestigious scholarships. With Dr. Patel’s support, Jenna graduated at the top of her class and landed a job at a leading engineering firm.

Years later, Jenna found herself in a position to pay it forward. As a manager at her company, she made it a priority to mentor young women engineers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. She started a mentorship program that paired seasoned professionals with early-career women, offering guidance on navigating workplace dynamics, building technical skills, and charting a path to leadership.

One of Jenna’s mentees, a young woman named Priya, had been considering leaving the field altogether due to the lack of support and opportunity. But through Jenna’s mentorship, Priya found renewed passion and purpose. She took on stretch assignments, earned a promotion, and eventually became a mentor herself. Jenna’s experience underscores the ripple effect that mentorship can have, creating a virtuous cycle of women supporting and uplifting one another.

Finding the Right Mentor

While the benefits of mentorship are clear, actually finding a mentor can feel daunting, especially for women who may be underrepresented in their fields. The good news is that there are a growing number of resources and organizations dedicated to connecting women with mentors and building supportive professional communities.

One such organization is She Mentors, a global platform that matches women seeking mentorship with experienced professionals across a range of industries. Through the platform, women can connect with potential mentors based on shared interests, goals, and experiences. She Mentors also offers a range of resources and events designed to support women’s professional development, including skill-building workshops, leadership training, and networking opportunities.

Another great resource is the Women’s Mentoring Network, a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship and career development support to women at all stages of their careers. The network offers a structured mentorship program that pairs women with experienced mentors for a six-month engagement, as well as ongoing educational and networking events. The organization also partners with companies and institutions to develop customized mentorship programs that support the advancement of women within their workplaces.

For women in specific industries or professions, there are also a number of targeted mentorship programs available. For example, the Association for Women in Science offers a mentorship program that connects early-career women scientists with experienced mentors in their field. Similarly, the National Association of Women Lawyers has a mentorship program designed to support the professional development and advancement of women attorneys.

Building a Mentorship Mindset

While formal mentorship programs can be incredibly valuable, it’s also important for women to cultivate a mentorship mindset in their everyday lives. This means being proactive about seeking out guidance and support, as well as being willing to offer it to others.

One way to build a mentorship mindset is to start small, by reaching out to colleagues or peers for advice and perspective on specific challenges or opportunities. Over time, these interactions can grow into more sustained mentorship relationships. It’s also important to be open to mentorship from unexpected sources, such as individuals outside of your immediate field or with different backgrounds and experiences.

Another key aspect of a mentorship mindset is a willingness to pay it forward by mentoring others. Even if you don’t feel like an expert, chances are you have valuable insights and experiences to share with someone just starting out in their career. By making mentorship a regular part of your professional life, you can help create a culture of support and empowerment for women in your industry and beyond.

The evidence is clear: mentorship matters for women’s career success and fulfillment. By seeking out mentors, serving as mentors to others, and taking advantage of the growing number of resources and organizations dedicated to supporting women’s professional development, we can create a world in which every woman has the guidance and support she needs to thrive. So, let’s commit to making mentorship a priority for ourselves, for each other, and for the next generation of women leaders.

Resources:

• She Mentors: https://shementors.com.au/ 
• Women’s Mentoring Network: https://wmninc.org/ 
• Association for Women in Science: https://awis.org/ 
• National Association of Women Lawyers: https://www.nawl.org/