Why did you decide to become a mentor?
Paying it forward is important to me. We all stand on the shoulders of those who pioneered before us. Countless mentors have bestowed wisdom and opened doors for me throughout my career. It’s my joy to return the favor by sharing what I’ve experienced with the next generation.
I began my mentoring journey hoping to make a difference in the lives of others. Even with lofty expectations, I’ve been blown away by how powerful this arrangement is. When both parties are intentional about learning from one another, impact is guaranteed.
How did you get your career start?
The most formative season of my early career was being mentored by Peter Rojas and Ryan Block — the pioneers of modern blogging. They saw potential in my storytelling abilities, appreciated my passion for technology and culture, and invested countless hours into honing my craft.
They pushed me, hard. They refused to let me settle for great writing. They saw a higher ceiling than I could, and insisted I aim for excellence. They brought that excellence into my own view and created an environment where I could reach higher without fear of failure. I’m grateful for that investment.
What do mentees usually come to you for?
Mentees typically leverage my experience to achieve a few things.
- Defining and elevating their personal brand
- Refining and evolving their storytelling chops
- Expanding their network and making the most of connections
My mentorships begin with me sharing my own personal operating manual. I aim for maximum transparency, and I encourage mentees to return the favor in order to get real with themselves about their zones of genius and energy vampires.
I push mentees to experiment. To build habits, and anchor them to existing norms. I hold them accountable to track outcomes so we can jointly iterate on process.
I hold space for them to share their fears and hopes. Over everything, I aim to empower.
What’s been your favourite mentorship success story so far?
A mentee confessed to struggling with influence and persuasion — a thorn which had limited his career for years. His zone of genius was squarely in the data. The numbers, the unassailable statistics. If his mastery of stats was obvious, why did he struggle to bring people along?
I asked him to introduce a small change straight away. For the next four weeks, he was to enter each work conversation without leading with data. Instead, he’d start by asking others: “What do I not know?”
This simple tweak disarmed conversations. It put him in a position to be an active listener. It created safety. He instantly saw results. His colleagues opened up. They listened to his vision. They saw him as the ally he was, and approached his data with the same compassion that he shared first.
What are you getting out of being a mentor?
It’s gratifying. Mentors are invited into someone’s life and career journey. With each session, I’m reminded of how grateful I am. Mentees hold space for me to advise and guide. I’m energized by their passion and ambition.
It also makes me sharper. I’m more intentional with my own career, seeing every day as an opportunity to not only learn something, but document that learning so I can share with my mentees if it’s useful for their own journey.