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The Â鶹Դ´ School of Business sponsors andĚýparticipatesĚýin The Business Journals’ Mentoring Monday.
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One quick piece of advice I like to share with emerging professionals is based on theĚýviralĚýquote fromĚýCreative DirectorĚýand WriterĚýBillyĚýIvey:ĚýMisery loves company, but so does joy, andĚýjoy throws better parties.
Early in our careers, it can be easy to bond over stress,ĚýfrustrationĚýor the challenges of work. Misery is loud, and it can be contagious. ButĚýI’veĚýlearned that joy is just as powerful and far more productive.
The people who choose optimism, curiosity and gratitude – even when things are hard – create environments where others want to spend time. It invites collaboration rather than competition and resilience rather than burnout.
What Is Mentoring Monday? A National Effort to Support Women in Business
For the second year in a row,ĚýI’veĚýshared thisĚýandĚýotherĚýadvice whileĚýserving as a mentor to dozens of women duringĚýtheĚýnationalĚýfast-pacedĚýMentoring MondayĚýeventĚýhosted by American City Business Journals.
It’sĚýan event thatĚýnot onlyĚýcreatesĚýjoy,Ěýbut alsoĚýinspiration andĚýmeaningful networking.
That’sĚýwhy theĚýÂ鶹Դ´ School of BusinessĚýhasĚýsponsored the eventĚýfor the secondĚýconsecutiveĚýyear.ĚýHeldĚýin 40 cities across the country on Feb. 23, hundreds of established women business leaders mentored the next generation of women in business as part of a nationwide effort to support mentoring in the business community.Ěý
Stories from the Next Generation of Women Leaders
In Phoenix this year, I met some amazing women whoseĚýpositivity was infectious.Ěý
I met a young woman who went fromĚýservingĚýtablesĚýtoĚýa leadership role in communications.ĚýShe nowĚýaspiresĚýtoĚýspeak to youth about suicide,ĚýdrugsĚýand life after high school. She was motivatedĚýandĚýempowered,ĚýandĚýshe isĚýso capable.Ěý
I met a woman who, in her lateĚý50s, is learning to play ice hockey.ĚýWith her newfound passion,Ěýshe’s making a transition from communications to professional sports—all because she sees the value of coaching, mentoringĚýand giving and receiving feedback.Ěý
While on two differentĚý“playing fields,”Ěýthey share so much. Dreams. Fears. The ability to see their skillsĚýimpactingĚýthe workforce.
How Â鶹Դ´ Leaders Show Up as Mentors Across the Country
My colleagues also served as mentors:ĚýRegional Vice President Tonya DrakeĚýin Seattle,ĚýVice President Sandra SjobergĚýin Dallas andĚýĚýin Atlanta.
Drake, who has served as a Mentoring Monday mentorĚýseveralĚýtimes, found advising emerging women in business in Seattle this yearĚýincredibly inspiring and energizing, especially in a city known for innovation,ĚýresilienceĚýand bold ideas.ĚýShe also appreciatedĚýconnectingĚýwith professionals who are just beginning their careers as well as with women who are ready to step confidently into their next level of leadership.
“The energy of being together and connecting in person was powerful,” Drake said. “It renewed my own sense of purpose in mentoring others and left me with a bright and hopeful outlook forĚýtheĚýcommunityĚýwe can buildĚýtogether.”
In Dallas, Sjoberg valued her timeĚýadvisingĚýmentees on their nextĚýcareerĚýsteps.Ěý
“As a first-time mentorĚýforĚýMentoring Monday, I was impressed with the breadth of career paths in the room, from a new lawyer evaluating her career path options to mid-career leaders charting their path to their next opportunity,” Sjoberg said. “I was deeply impressed by the intentionality of these women, who arrived with a clear purpose and a focus on specific topics to support them in owning every part of their professional journey.”
For Johnson, spending time guiding a group of emerging women leaders was rewarding.Ěý
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to connect with women at all different stages of their careers,” Johnson said. “It was meaningful to share my experiences and lessons learned — and just as meaningful to learn from them. I hope the conversation offered guidance and encouragement as they continue to grow in their careers.”
What Effective Mentorship Requires
Mentorship is an intentional action.ĚýIt’sĚýabout thoughtfullyĚýtaking time to invest in someone else and using your experiences and knowledge – learned from both the good and bad, the wins and the setbacksĚý– to help make someone else’s journey easier.Ěý
I’mĚýgratefulĚýto those who have mentored me throughout my career, andĚýI’mĚýfortunate to support others while continuing to learn along the way.Ěý
How Â鶹Դ´ Embeds Mentorship into the Student Experience
I amĚýalsoĚýgrateful to work atĚýÂ鶹Դ´Ěýwhere mentorship is foundational:ĚýEach studentĚýisĚýpaired with a program mentor who is an expert in the fieldĚýthe student is studying. Mentors help students create personalized plans that serve as road maps to their career goals. The mentors are there, by the student’s side, every step of the way.
