Michele Equale’s pet peeve? Women sitting in the back of the room. Our speaker opened the meeting by telling us that when we give up the seat in the front, we give up our seat at the table. We cannot let ourselves become part of the background, even if it’s more comfortable. After asking the audience to move up and fill in empty seats toward the front, we began our meeting on transitional mentorship. Here are some important takeaways:
When you’re assembling your mentor panel, think of it like a board of directors who complement your strengths. On a board, you would have someone you turn to for help in finance, or operations, or any number of specific functions. Mentors (yes, more than one!) should function similarly. As a side note to this point, Michele mentioned that if you have an internship this summer, you should try to leave with 5 or 6 warm contacts, outside of your team!
It is easier for someone to be your mentor if they know what you need. So figure out what you’re looking for, and make that intention clear. If you’re reaching out to someone, know what you’re asking for from them! Having a goal also helps you both know if the mentorship has run its course — once your goal has been met, it’s fine for you to both free your calendars and keep a more casual contact. It’s fine to not need a mentor for a bit!
When you have a mentor, be present and authentic in the relationship and in your communications. The easiest way to figure out what you truly need mentorship for is as simple as this: think back on your last month. What felt really great, and what was so horrible that you never want to do it again? If you can think of one thing in each category, you have things to reflect on with your mentor. Also, be honest! Communicate to your mentor when you need them to be nice, or when you need tough love to get things done. Michele argued that, “You’re allowed to have a delicate day,” but you need to be on the same page.
Our closing question of the meeting was a classic: what does success mean to you? Equale responded that her favorite days are when she watches people turn on. She adores creating value and watching people grow. In the final minutes of the meeting, she shared “I just hope I’ve helped other people along the way.”