My Quest to Find Mentors

In my first job as an intern at one of Canada’s top telecom companies, I was privileged to work in an environment with open doors. Throughout my career, I quizzically probe my to-be bosses to understand whether their organization / team has a similar culture, but I’ll leave that topic for another time.

Working within an open environment, put me in touch with the VP of the team on a number of projects. She would email me directly, ask me to pop by her office and ask me for my input on numerous projects. I trooped into her office one day after submitting my resignation to my manager. As she was mentioning her frank disappointment at my decision, I gathered the courage and asked her to be my mentor. It has been 5 years since she agreed.

Why mentors are important

1. They tear down the tunnel: As you are working day in and out on projects within your role, you start focusing on short term goals and suffering from tunnel vision. A mentor’s perspective breaks down these imagined boundaries and opens up your mind to long term career moves.

2. They’ve been there: Whether it be negotiating for the next promotion, proving your merit to take part in a big project, standing up to an indifferent leader or getting out of a rut, they’ve all been there and can advise you objectively on how to handle the situation.

3. Their network: Mentors tend to have a vast network of people, organizations, courses, groups that they are able to recommend you to. Sometimes the key is to just ask

What I look for in my mentors

Typically I have 2-3 formal mentors at any given time. I tend to speak to them regularly (once every month or 2 months). The agenda is never the same, and never focused solely on me. Sometimes I walk away listening to their experiences having learnt much more than telling them my thoughts.

I always have a mentor who is where I want to be in 10 or 15 years. Someone who is accomplished (i.e the VP I mentioned) and refines my long term vision for me. This mentor is usually difficult to find, since they are probably in a senior position and it’s not often that you find a leader who’s willing to take personal interest in you. When you do find that person, hang onto their coat tails.

My other 2 mentors are around 5 years ahead of me in their career chart. They are invaluable at advising me what courses to look into next, at which juncture to do an MBA, which affinity groups to be a part of - anything that constitutes as short term tangible goals.

As a woman, I find that oftentimes (though not always) women make better mentors for me. Ambitious women, working in high pressure jobs and running a household tend to have a more tumultuous work-life balance. Practical advice on how to manage the personal equation is often more invaluable since it’s correlated directly with my sanity.

They all, without exception, are passionate about their work, whatever their field. Their enthusiasm is inspiring especially in times when I’m feel unsure of my next move or have overthought myself into a corner.

And I remain ever grateful for their time and contribution to my career.