My Mentorship Philosophy
-Bellaria JimenezI have to admit that I never understood the power of mentorships until a few years back. In 2010, I was promoted to a first line management position - my responsibilities grew from overseeing a firm with 75 advisors to 250 advisors. It was a big career leap and a lot more responsibilities. My VP took me out for a congratulatory dinner and made some coaching recommendations on what I should do to better prepare for my new position. Her recommendations ranged from business etiquette, to upgrading my attire, which all seemed odd at the time but the one that made me the most uncomfortable was her request for me to find a mentor. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
My initial thoughts were to question why? What can a mentor do for me? I thought of a mentor as a therapist, someone you go to bitch about things and I have never wasted time complaining or focusing on things that were not in my control. I then turned my thoughts to being insecure, that perhaps she thought I was in over my head and needed a more experienced person to guide me. This thought was probably a little bit of ego, not understanding how to accept feedback.
The next thought was where? Where in the world do you find a mentor? When you are in a first line management position, it seems like peers are too busy to offer a helping hand, or peers might judge you reaching out as a sign of weakness.
Then I thought how? How do I even approach someone, assuming I have identified someone that I feel can add value to my role and practice.
Finally I asked myself the key question that most women struggle with, the when? When would I ever have time to fit one more thing.
This was the start to my journey, I have grown exponentially since that day. She made me think differently and since then I have changed my attitude to become a student. You never arrive, you are always on the road to success and each new day provides new opportunities to grow and learn. I had experienced success in a male-dominated industry at a young age without much guidance or support. I realized at that moment that being self taught is sometimes a big weakness in helping you value the growth you can achieve by opening your mind to what is out there and what others can offer. I have learned that you don’t know what you don’t know and that being a student of life is what helps you escalate to levels you never thought possible. I have learned that I got to a certain level on my own determination and hard work but that same effort will not let me escalate to new levels without better support.
I waited too long in my career to find a mentor, I waited too long in my career to seek constructive feedback and act on that feedback. I want to pass along what I have learned so I can help other women grow. As women we have so much to contribute and we hold ourselves back due to our limitations in expanding our minds. This blog is to share ways for you to become a better professional, no matter what your career path is.
My Mentorship Philosophy
-Kristen EspositoLife dishes out its fair share of trials and tribulations but when you are only 4 years into the “real world” is this really supposed to happen? My life was great, or at least I thought it was. I was 24 and my income as higher than any of my friends. They had changed careers at least once by now and I was still at the same company since graduating. I was reaching the company goals, building my practice but there was still a void, something missing.
Then one day you awake to a mandatory conference call to hear that your Managing Director has been terminated and every conversation about your future career is null and void and if you don’t want to be in sales then resign now…. That moment where you sit in awe and wonder “what now”?
As women we naturally debate scenarios in our head, lay out the pros and cons of staying or finding a new opportunity, we drive ourselves insane over things we cannot control. I did it all and finally had decided I had a good run at this career now maybe I see what another company would offer or another career entirely could bring, until I got the call that would change my decision and life entirely.
We all come into this business hearing that the only way to grow and develop yourself in this business is to hire a coach, or get a mentor, but does that actually work? Is this like when my parents used to tell me to get a role model? I for one never understood mentorship. What is it really? How do I get a mentor? Is there a website for this? Was I at the point in my life and my career that I needed one? What I didn’t realize was that the call I was about to take would impact my life for years to come. It was a call that would show me my potential and inspired me to be the absolute best I could be regardless of the uncontrollable around me.
See, I didn’t know about mentorship, nor did I know what it could do for me and my career because if I did, maybe I would’ve never woken up that morning thinking and debating about what to do with my life. I would’ve woken up thinking “I got this”.
Unbeknownst to myself, the day I answered the phone call from Bellaria I was entering into a mentorship relationship. From there I took a role in the firms marketing division reporting to Bell. See, Bellaria had already known my strengths and where I could excel, she then made it her goal to make me realize it for myself. In our meetings Bell would never tell me the things I was doing were right or wrong in the role, she just consistently positioned things for me to figure out myself and find the confidence in accepting my decision. Over time I realized my potential and the impact I could make in my role and for the firm. I would just listen to Bell and hear the confidence in how Bell handled things and her tone in which she addressed difficult situations and it was inspiring. Our mentorship became a trusted relationship that has helped grow both of us professionally (me more than her but one day I’ll pay her back đŸ˜„)
I didn’t have all the answers five years ago nor did I need all the answers then because I had Bell, my mentor. After all of this I look back and think if I had known the impact of a mentor, the impact Bell’s guidance I would’ve signed up for this on day one! Why would anyone go about things alone in this career when someone who has been through it already knows how to make you shine and find your strengths?
I would’ve stepped out of the financial industry in 2010 and probably changed careers twice since then, but no, I’m still here, same company, different role and a passion for success beyond expectations all because of one person. All because of her, my mentor.
