Mentorship is an invaluable tool for both personal and professional growth. Whether it’s gaining industry knowledge, building confidence, or navigating workplace challenges, the guidance of a mentor can be transformative. In celebration of the US National Mentorship Day, we’ve gathered insights from mentors and mentees on our platform to share the impact that mentorship is having on their lives. This article dives into key findings, testimonials, and explores what makes a successful mentor-mentee relationship.
Key Findings on Mentorship
Based on feedback from our mentoring community, several key insights emerged:
Career Growth and Leadership Development: Over 65% of mentees stated that their main goal for seeking mentorship was to improve their career skills or build leadership capabilities. Many were looking for advice on career transitions, leadership roles, and how to navigate complex work environments. Mentorship has been instrumental in providing these mentees with clear strategies for advancement.
Confidence Building: More than 70% of mentees reported an increase in self-confidence after participating in mentorship programs. This was particularly evident in areas such as public speaking, leadership challenges, and negotiating promotions. Mentees noted how mentorship gave them the assurance needed to pursue higher-level roles or tackle difficult projects.
Industry-Specific Knowledge: Over 50% of mentees sought to deepen their understanding of the tech industry, looking for guidance on navigating industry trends and acquiring technical skills. Mentorship provided mentees with industry-specific tips and insider knowledge that accelerated their professional growth.
Mutual Growth for Mentors and Mentees: More than 80% of mentors reported that they also benefited from the mentoring relationship. Mentors highlighted how they improved their own leadership and communication skills while learning from the fresh perspectives of their mentees. This reciprocal dynamic helped mentors stay engaged and up-to-date with industry trends.
What Kind of Impact Did Mentoring Have on Your Life?
Mentees and mentors alike shared how mentorship has had a transformative impact on their careers and personal lives:
Mentees:
“It allowed me to focus on what's important when choosing a career path, set new goals, and receive feedback on what I'm doing to to get into the technology industry as a woman and as someone switching industries.”
— Peggy Wilman, IT Field Technician
“Having a mentor gave me the confidence to reach and experiment outside of my comfort zone. It allowed me to runway needed to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes.”
— Chloe Hinder, Head of Implementation & Business Change
WomenTech Network Mentors:
“My biggest mentor supported my career switch from being a tech marketing executive to sales executive. I lacked the initial confidence to take the leap into a sales role, but my mentor saw my skill set in a different way. The sharing of knowledge on how to overcome customer objections and negotiate conflict supported my perseverance in becoming a top 1% sales executive at a Fortune 250 company.“
—Monique Montanino, Tech Executive Career Coach at Resumé Tech Guru
“Mentoring is two way communication and learning. Since programs are increasingly discussed, I am now more familiar with its benefits. We, as mentors, learn a great deal from our mentees.”
— Zarka Sultana, Principal Consultant at Sogeti
Which Are the Three Most Important Criteria for a Mentor in Your Opinion?
Both mentors and mentees value certain key qualities in a mentor. Here’s what they believe are the most important attributes:
Mentee Perspective:
“A person of color, An individual actively working in projects or product management. An individual with helpful advice on resumes, interviews, job listings and networking/connection ”
— Ruth Abugpoka Ayorigya, Administrative Assistant
WomenTech Network Mentor Perspective:
- “Experience, Linkedin profile details, looks approchable.” — Archana Maliyackal
Mentorship to Me in One Sentence
Here’s how both mentors and mentees define mentorship in their own words:
Mentees:
- “Role model in face of a friend.” — Bianca Pitarello, Customer Reliability Service Manager
- “A source to confide in for greater sense of clarity in navigating the career maze.” — Clare Jones, Data Science Engineer
- “Compass on a rough sea” — Carolin Liesenjohann, Senior Consultant & Product Manager
Mentors:
“In order to be a mentor, and an effective one, one must care. You must care. You don’t have to know how many square miles are in Idaho, you don’t need to know what is the chemical makeup of chemistry, or of blood or water. Know what you know and care about the person, care about what you know and care about the person you’re sharing with.” – Maya Angelou (Poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist)
— Akua Opong, Senior EUC Engineer, Infrastructure & Cloud Engineering at LSEG
“Vulnerability, courage, and empathy - grow as a human being.“
— Monica Grandy, Android Developer at Square
Mentorship is a powerful relationship that drives success for both the mentor and the mentee. Over 70% of mentees reported improvements in self-confidence, and more than 80% of mentors saw personal growth through the mentoring process. Whether it’s offering career advice, sharing industry insights, or helping build leadership skills, mentorship opens doors to new opportunities for both parties. In honor of the US National Mentorship Day, we invite you to join our mentoring platform and engage in these meaningful relationships to foster a culture of growth, learning, and collaboration.
