- This topic has 4 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 2 weeks, 5 days ago by Shveta Bakshi.
In my initial days of my career, I had no real understanding of what a mentor was or why one mattered. Like many early professionals, I was focused on learning the job and navigating day-to-day challenges. Mentorship simply wasn’t on my radar.
It was only in my mid-career that I truly began to understand what a mentor is and how powerful the right guidance can be. I worked with several incredible individuals—talented, inspiring, and generous with their knowledge. I learned a great deal from them. And yet, none of those relationships evolved into what I would call true mentorship.
Over time, I realized that mentorship doesn’t always happen organically. Sometimes an organization assigns you a mentor. Other times, you have to make a deliberate effort to identify someone you admire, reach out, and ask. Either way, mentorship requires far more than a title or a formal setup. It demands sustained commitment from both sides.
Without that commitment, even the most well-intentioned mentorship can fade into sporadic check-ins and surface-level conversations.
Today, as a leader, I find myself on the other side of this relationship. I actively mentor a few individuals through structured mentorship platforms, and this experience has reshaped my perspective. Being a mentor has reinforced a few important beliefs for me:
Mentor mentee relationships are long-term and work best when both sides align on outcomes; without that alignment, the experience can become subjective and unfocused.
Mentorship is not just about listening, it’s about offering guidance rooted in experience, context, and honest feedback.
The mentee plays a larger role than they often realize; curiosity, preparation, and ownership are what truly unlock value from a mentor.
Mentorship, when done right, is intentional, effortful, and deeply rewarding—for both the mentor and the mentee.
Have you found a mentor who has helped you grow in your personal or professional life? I’d love to hear your experiences and perspectives in the comments.
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In my initial days of my career, I had no real understanding of what a mentor was or why one mattered. Like many early professionals, I was focused on learning the job and navigating day-to-day challenges. Mentorship simply wasn’t on my radar.
It was only in my mid-career that I truly began to understand what a mentor is and how powerful the right guidance can be. I worked with several incredible individuals—talented, inspiring, and generous with their knowledge. I learned a great deal from them. And yet, none of those relationships evolved into what I would call true mentorship.
Over time, I realized that mentorship doesn’t always happen organically. Sometimes an organization assigns you a mentor. Other times, you have to make a deliberate effort to identify someone you admire, reach out, and ask. Either way, mentorship requires far more than a title or a formal setup. It demands sustained commitment from both sides.
Without that commitment, even the most well-intentioned mentorship can fade into sporadic check-ins and surface-level conversations.
Today, as a leader, I find myself on the other side of this relationship. I actively mentor a few individuals through structured mentorship platforms, and this experience has reshaped my perspective. Being a mentor has reinforced a few important beliefs for me:
Mentor mentee relationships are long-term and work best when both sides align on outcomes; without that alignment, the experience can become subjective and unfocused.
Mentorship is not just about listening, it’s about offering guidance rooted in experience, context, and honest feedback.
The mentee plays a larger role than they often realize; curiosity, preparation, and ownership are what truly unlock value from a mentor.
Mentorship, when done right, is intentional, effortful, and deeply rewarding—for both the mentor and the mentee.
Have you found a mentor who has helped you grow in your personal or professional life? I’d love to hear your experiences and perspectives in the comments.
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I’ve been fortunate to have three different mentors at different stages of my career — when I was starting out, while navigating challenges at work, and during a transition from one field to another. I’ve also had the opportunity to mentor two or three young women at the beginning of their careers. Both experiences were distinct and deeply rewarding.
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Great post.
I have had mentors from various aspects of life. Some of them did not wear any title or hierarchical position. What helped me was relating to them and their experiences and how have they navigated their difficulties and challenges. It is important that we are open to taking healthy critique and are inquisitive to hear other success stories. Sometimes mentors are around us in silent ways, we need to hear them. -
This is a beautiful read. I had a mentor that was assigned to me at work and just when I began to connect with her, she left to pursue other interests, I haven’t been able to find any suitable mentor since then 😢. I think I need to reach out to her and restart or continue our conversation, she held me accountable to so many things that I let go of as soon as she left. Mentors are a guiding forces! keep up the good work of mentoring others receive your flowers 💐
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