The Time I Gained My First ‘Mentor’
“It takes a village.” This phrase rings true not only for parenting but also for advancing a career. If you ask most ‘successful’ people how they got where they are, they’ll likely name a few important people who helped along the way. It certainly applies to me: I not only had the support of my husband, I had some key ‘trusted advisors’ in my corner. These mentors shared experiences and learnings with me, introduced me to hiring managers, explained their fields of expertise (such as Diversity & Inclusion), and eventually became references when I applied for jobs. I’m certain I would not have advanced my career as quickly without them.
I remember the first time I asked a senior leader to be my mentor. I was 25. I wasn’t sure if I should do it in person (i.e. stalk them in the cafeteria and casually bring up the topic), or send an email. I opted for the email… it seemed safer. Safer for me because I could handle rejection from the solitude of my chair, and safer for them because they could thoughtfully consider the request without being put on the spot. So, I spent some time considering my request, and then I crafted the message. It was something like this:
“Hi ___________. I hope this email finds you well.
I really enjoyed listening to you at the Diversity & Inclusion event on Wednesday. As you shared the importance of diverse employee populations, it made me think of my studies in Environmental Science. In class, we learned the significance of biodiversity to maintain a healthy environment. Too much of one species throws off the balance and makes the entire population less likely to survive change to their environment. I think the same goes for a company: you need diversity of thought & perspectives to withstand change and have the best chances of survival.
I’d love to discuss this with you more and learn from you.
Sincerely,
Janelle
The senior leader replied, “Suffice to say, I can’t wait to meet you.” I was thrilled and in awe - they used the word ‘suffice,’ which seemed so smart. I started wondering if they were too smart for me to speak with; I don’t use words like that in my everyday emails. Nonetheless, I couldn’t wait for our conversation. We had a great connect over coffee at the Boston Deli — a spot familiar to my fellow Nike alums — and from that day on, we stayed in contact. You’ll notice I didn’t ask them to be my ‘mentor’ right away. Instead, I focused on building rapport and showing them I was a serious learner with leadership potential. That way, they would accept my invitations to connect in the future. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I ever said the words, “Will you be my mentor?” — but for many years, that’s what our relationship became. I think mentorship can be informal like this and still provide tons of benefit. For me, it opened a door to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion space, for which I’m truly grateful.