Importance of Mentorship for Professionals

Event pros: Let’s talk leadership. In this industry, we’re pros of logistics, creativity, and problem solving on the fly. We learn how to do our jobs through experience…through the budgets, the timelines, the last-minute venue changes, the backstage pivots that no one ever sees. But leadership? That’s a different muscle. And it’s one we don’t build alone. Leadership is developed through mentorship, reflection, and intentional growth. It’s in the moments when someone believes in you before you believe in yourself. It’s when a mentor teaches you how to handle conflict with grace, how to advocate for your team, and how to lead from your values not just your title. As event professionals, we’re often so focused on getting things done that we don’t pause to develop the leadership capacity that helps us scale, evolve, and inspire others. But if we want a sustainable career, not just a successful event, we have to prioritize both. My advice: Say yes to mentors, formal and informal. Watch the leaders who you admire and start practicing. Seek out feedback. Lead even when you’re not “in charge.” Because the “how” of event planning can be taught. But the “who” you become in the process? That’s the legacy. #EventProfs #LeadershipDevelopment #MentorshipMatters #EventCareers #EventLeadership

Can your manager also be your mentor? 🤔 Having a great manager is truly a blessing. They guide us through our daily tasks, set clear priorities and unblock when needed. The best managers even help us with our career growth. But often, their main focus isn't on our long-term aspirations, especially those that might lead us outside the current company or role. That's where a mentor comes in, someone who can offer more than just day-to-day guidance. A mentor can help you see beyond your current role, offering insights and advice that can propel you towards your future goals, no matter where they might take you. Here's why having a mentor outside of your direct management can be so valuable: • 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲: With a mentor, you can openly discuss your career ambitions without worrying about the immediate impact on your current role.    • 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: A mentor brings new ideas and viewpoints, not limited by the scope of your current job responsibilities.    • 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: A mentor can offer you different ways to look at situations, help you build new connections, and even strengthen relationships with your manager.    I've personally found mentorship to be incredibly rewarding. My mentors have opened my eyes to possibilities I hadn't considered, relationships that I haven't built and opportunities that I haven't explored. This experience has significantly improved my career growth and my professional journey. As a mentor myself, I strive to offer the same clarity and support to my mentees. And it truly makes my day, when I hear that it helped. Have you had a mentor who's significantly influenced your career? How did their guidance help you grow? I'd love to hear your experiences. #CareerGrowth #productleadership #productmanagement

Mentorship is about leaving the path clearer for those walking on it behind you. As you move along in your career, you realize the need to find mentors. Having mentors provides clarity and guidance for your next steps. Then when you see the fruits of these relationships, you become motivated to give back by becoming a mentor yourself. ~~~~~~~~ Being a mentor allows you to give back to others who are a few steps behind on the same path. You guide your mentees through terrain you’ve just crossed, which is still fresh in your memory. Being an *effective* mentor feels like guiding someone through a dense forest you know very well: "Watch out for that cliff hidden behind the trees." "If you find yourself stuck in that storm, here’s what worked for me." "Look for these markers along the way; they will light your path." In the process of helping others, mentors reflect on their own experiences. Unprocessed thoughts, mistakes, and lessons are distilled into frameworks others can use. The result? As a mentor, you make others more effective with their most valuable resource... time. Amplifying the impact of others is one of the highest-leverage activities we can perform. ~~~~~~~~ As I reach a career milestone, I’m reflecting on the many mentors who have helped me navigate the maze so far. I’m also grateful for the privilege of lighting the way for others a few steps behind. ~~~~~~~~ Which markers are you leaving behind you to light up the path? #mentorship

You're not just managing projects; you're shaping futures – both at work and at home. As a working mom, you've mastered the art of multitasking, but have you unlocked the full potential of mentorship in your professional journey? Let's talk about why having a mentor is a game-changer for you. Picture this: a mentor is your personal strategist, someone who gets the unique challenges you face. They offer you tailored advice that's as adaptable as you are, ensuring you're not just heard but understood. This isn't just about career development; it's about finding someone who champions your cause in the spaces that matter most. You know the struggle of the 'maternal wall,' where your commitment might be underestimated. Your mentor is your advocate, spotlighting your skills and pushing you to the front lines of opportunity. This is about strategic empowerment, putting you in the limelight where your talents can't be overlooked. Think of the wisdom at your disposal with a mentor by your side. These insights are like a fast pass, helping you balance your professional aspirations with your life at home more seamlessly. Networking isn't just about collecting business cards; it's about building a community. Your mentor can introduce you to this vital web of connections that goes beyond your current role, opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise seem out of reach. And here's the best part – you're a mentor's dream. Your experiences, perspective, and undeniable grit enrich the mentorship experience. It's a partnership that fosters growth on both ends, a shared journey of success and empowerment. So, to you, the working mom who is focused on growing in her career, let mentorship be your secret weapon. With the right mentor, you're not just breaking barriers; you're setting new benchmarks. Here are a couple of powerful tips to help you find your ideal mentor: Identify Your North Star: Before you start searching for a mentor, get crystal clear on what you're looking for. What are your career goals? What skills do you want to develop? What kind of leader do you aspire to be? Define your 'why' with precision because when you know exactly what you're after, you can spot the right mentor from a mile away. Leverage Your Existing Constellation: Look up and around you. Your current network is a treasure trove of potential mentors. Tap into professional associations, alumni networks, and even social media platforms like LinkedIn. Attend industry meetups, webinars, and conferences. Be bold and reach out – a simple message can spark a connection that may lead to a mentorship. Remember, every interaction is a bridge to a potential mentor. #mentorship #womenempowerment #womeninbusiness #personalgrowth

🌟 The Power of Mentorship: Unlocking Potential 🌟 As I reflect on my career journey, I'm continually inspired by the transformative impact mentors have on careers and personal growth. Mentors, sponsors, and coaches each fill a different niche. Here's one way to think about them. 🚀 Mentor: A mentor is like a seasoned navigator, guiding you through the complex seas of your career. They share wisdom, provide advice, and help you see the bigger picture. It's a journey of mutual growth and learning. 🔦 Sponsor: Think of a sponsor as your career's spotlight operator. They not only believe in your potential but also actively advocate for you in spaces where you're not present, opening doors to new opportunities. 📈 Coach: A coach is akin to a personal trainer for your career. They focus on enhancing your skills, setting goals, and developing strategies to overcome specific challenges and achieve peak performance. Now, for a bit of a humblebrag 🙌: One of my mentees recently got promoted! Our sessions revolved around sharing their educational successes and building out networks that lead to career growth. Witnessing their growth and seeing them apply our discussions to real-world challenges was incredibly rewarding. Their promotion is a testament to their hard work and the power of mentorship. Mentorship isn't just about imparting knowledge; it's about fostering confidence and unlocking potential. It's a reminder that sometimes, a little guidance can pave the way for great achievements. 🌐 Are you a mentor, a mentee, or both? I'd love to hear your experiences and insights on how mentorship has shaped your journey. #MentorshipMatters #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #MentorMenteeJourney

Don’t wait to be discovered by someone at work and hope it all works out. There aren’t a lot of CIOs who look like me or have a background like mine. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people who believed in me. From my first job at JPMorgan to my current position at Nuveen, a TIAA company, there have been mentors at every step along the way who invested their time and energy in me, and it’s clear that there’s still no substitute for people who go out of their way to help develop others. We usually think about #mentors as people at work who take us under their wing and sponsor us when it comes to career development opportunities and promotions. Those people are important, but there’s no reason you have to limit your network of mentors to leaders at your current place of #employment. According to the Harvard Business Review, Asian American Pacific Islander professionals represent 12% of the workforce in this country but are the least likely cohort to have strong networks working on their behalf, and the least likely to be promoted to management positions. In my mind, these two things are absolutely interrelated. So as we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, my advice to that community of professionals is this: Don’t wait to be discovered by someone at work and hope it all works out. Build your own personal advisory board of people who know you, believe in you, and can help you find the #career development opportunities that over time will course-correct the reality faced by so many of our peers today. #AAPIHM

Throughout my professional career as former NFL Director of Player Health and Performance, Professional and Division I Collegiate Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Co-founder and CEO of a substantially sized physical therapy healthcare company that annually acquires literally hundreds of affiliate healthcare students from across the country, has brought about numerous conversations on many diverse topics. My experiences with these students, new graduates, and less experienced professionals in the specialized fields of physical therapy, athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports science, etc., who aspire to work with low to high level athletes, or with a specific population of their choice, has prompted the following recommendations: 1. Don’t accept your first career employment opportunity based upon the highest salary – As the cost of education and living isn’t inexpensive, your initial employment should offer a fair salary, but more importantly, provide opportunities such as mentorship, enhancing knowledge and skillset, as well as the prospect to work with athletes (or other preferred clientele) at various levels of competition. Future professional (and financial) advancement will be based upon knowledge, skillset, reputation, experience, and outcomes. 2. Find an exceptional mentor(s) - A mentor will assist to enhance both knowledge and skillset, provide sound advice, introduce additional and exceptional professional relationships, and assist in the achievement of your desired professional goals. 3. Have some humility – As a young professional you are teeing off at the 1st hole of your career. Respect those that have already played the course. 4. Perform the jobs, tasks, and work hours that your professional peers won't. As job prospects are not going to be just handed to you, your efforts will be remembered at the time of future career opportunities. 5. Keep learning and honing your skills throughout your professional career. Every profession has a top 10% of professionals as well as a bottom 10%. A commonality between these two 10% groups is that both groups likely don’t know more than they actually do know. Make the efforts to advance your knowledge to close that “don’t know-do know” gap. 6. Don’t ever be intimidated or uncomfortable to ask a question(s). When your contributions are correct both knowledge and confidence are reinforced. If contributions are flawed, appropriate knowledge is obtained. It’s a win-win. 7. Don’t ever let anyone convince you that you cannot achieve your professional dreams and goals. Those who try to dissuade you likely lacked the courage, confidence, and drive to follow theirs. Work hard, learn much, stay calm, and be patient. 8. Don’t focus upon the finish line of your career, enjoy the journey. The finish line may appear distant, but will arrive sooner than you anticipated. When all is said and done you’ll want to look back and appreciate a brilliant career while having few regrets. 

What makes a career meaningful?     It starts with aligning what you can do, what you want to do, and what the business needs you to do.    Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of leading teams across a multitude of time zones, cultures, and team functions, mentoring startup founders and coaching people at all stages of their careers. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that career growth is not linear — but it is intentional.    I often share two lenses with those I mentor to help them think critically about their careers:    1. Capabilities, Aspirations, and Job Function  These three need to intersect. If there’s a gap between what you’re capable of and what you aspire to be, learning is the bridge. Capabilities are what you can do, aspirations are what you want to be in future, and job function creates demand for your skills.    2. Learning, Growth, and Compensation  Learning keeps you marketable. Growth keeps you moving forward. Compensation can be monetary or recognition for value delivered. But none of it comes without sustained effort and a clear sense of direction of who you want to be.    As leaders, we play an important role in enabling that journey. Seventy percent of what people learn is through real-world challenges on the job. The other thirty comes from mentorship and formal education. That’s why it’s our responsibility to nurture our teams, guide them through ambiguity, and share what we’ve learned along the way with them.    The best mentors don’t give answers or provide solutions right away but guide their mentees by asking them questions that make them think. They offer feedback with honesty and objectivity. They care deeply and expect the same effort in return. In my own experience, whether I’m mentoring startup founders through a nonprofit incubator or coaching future engineering leaders in a corporate setting, I’ve found the most rewarding part of mentorship is that you learn just as much as you give.    If you’re thinking of becoming a mentor, here’s my advice: Believe in paying it forward. Ask more than you tell. And always invest in the person, not just the outcome. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received from a mentor or given to someone else? Shout them out in the comments.    #Mentorship | #Leadership | #CareerGrowth | #EngineeringLeadership | #Engineering Jeff Pace Rajashekaran Ethiraju Swati Elavia Thierry Sender Lakshmi Chakarapani Manali Shinde #mentees Tejaswini Eswar

"I have nothing valuable to discuss with a mentor." This belief is killing more careers than lack of opportunity ever will. The truth? Your daily work is full of mentorship material. Most people hesitate to engage, "respect others' time." False. Seasoned leaders 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 to help —  your silence robs you both of growth. Stop overthinking. Start with any of these 6 mentorship conversation starters: 1. That meeting where you stayed quiet    𝗔𝘀𝗸: “How do you know when to speak up in senior forums?”     2. The feedback you’re afraid to give    𝗔𝘀𝗸: “Can we role-play this conversation?”     3. The project scope that grew unexpectedly    𝗔𝘀𝗸: “How do you manage stakeholder expectations mid-project?”     4. The next role you’re eyeing    𝗔𝘀𝗸: “What gaps do you see in my readiness for [position]?”     5. The team conflict you’re observing    𝗔𝘀𝗸: “What’s your framework for addressing team dynamics?”     6. The key artifact you’re working on    𝗔𝘀𝗸: “Can you review my approach to address this challenge?” You don’t need to script every conversation. Start with one question. Listen. Follow your curiosity. Every meeting, project, and challenge is mentorship material — if you ask. Stop waiting for the "perfect" topic. Remember, your mentor's job isn't to solve your problems. Their job is to help you think through them differently. Share this to spread the word on the power of mentorship ♻️ --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts

Mentorship—don’t underestimate its power just because it seems intangible. Let me explain. Early in my career, I wasn’t sure if mentorship would really make a difference. Some called it unnecessary. After all, why rely on someone else when I could figure things out myself? But here’s the truth: → A great mentor can fast-track your growth in ways you can’t imagine. For me, my mentors were incredible. Mentorship wasn’t just about career advice—it shaped my confidence, expanded my network, and sharpened my skills. But I didn’t just learn from the good; I also had “anti-mentors,” those who taught me who and what I didn’t want to become. It’s as valuable to learn from the bad as it is from the good. Sure, it’s not a quick fix. But the long-term impact? Game-changing. If you’re serious about growth, mentorship—both good and bad—is an investment worth making. It certainly was for me.