Always Ask
When was the last time you admitted you needed help? Today my mentor asked me to teach her something.
A little back story: I am 24 and have been at my job for about a year and a half. My position is a rotational program, meaning I move roles every 6 or so months. When I started, I was assigned a mentor, a Vice President of an area of accounting I knew I was not interested in working. Already you may be thinking, "an assigned mentor? How does that work?". I was always under the impression that mentor/mentee relationships were supposed to be naturally formed and maintained - how was I supposed to create a meaningful relationship with someone who was required to talk to me? I was intimidated by her VP title (I was a fresh grad, for goodness sake) and her area of expertise. When I scheduled our first lunch together, I must have proofread my invite 50 times.
Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. I got very lucky, as my assigned mentor is a truly inspirational woman who supports me, makes me laugh, and continues to help me grow. As I reflect on our relationship throughout the past year and a half, I am reminded of the value of mentorship. She remained a constant throughout my rotations, always providing support and advice when needed, or sometimes just a place to vent.
There was an amazing opportunity presented to us “guinea pigs” in the Finance Development Program (FDP) – the option for our last rotation to be held at an international office in Arnhem, the Netherlands. As there was only one role open and 5 candidates that could apply, this was a coveted position and required more of an acceptance process than the rest of the rotations.
Sounds amazing, right? I thought so too and was so excited to apply - at first. But the Finance Leadership Team (FLT) was busy with quarter and year ends, the transition to our new CEO, and so there was a lack of communication about this opportunity for many months. During that time, we were unsure if the international rotation was even going to occur. So, I started making other plans – including signing a lease and moving out of my rent-free living situation.
When the FLT finally communicated that the international rotation was on, Annette reached out to gage my interest. When I told her my concerns, she talked me through them and told me of a similar situation she had been in early in her career. She ultimately ended up advocating to the rest of the FLT on my behalf. Although I ultimately decided I did not want to go to Arnhem, for a multitude of reasons, I am so grateful that my mentor reached out and did all she could to assist me in getting to where I wanted to be. She supported both my interest in the role and my decision to abstain.
Today, I had scheduled a virtual coffee catch-up for us, considering we were sheltered in place with the pandemic . She accepted and asked if we could use the meeting as a training session, as she wanted to learn how to use Excel Pivot Tables. I was taken aback – I had never been asked by someone that many “ranks” above me to teach them something before. It’s often difficult for people to ask for help or admit they need assistance, and that’s when I knew she was truly committed to being a lifelong learner.
After we were done catching up (and showing each other our dogs, obviously), she showed me the file and data she was working with. We talked through what she was looking at, how to get the view she wanted, and how to create new Pivots. The training portion of the call couldn't have lasted more than 15 minutes, yet she was so grateful. I was so happy that I was able to teach back to her for a change.
Whether you're a VP or a fresh grad, there is always more to learn. As my position is rotational, I change roles approximately every 6 months. With these rotations comes new responsibilities, challenges, and always more to learn. The nature of my job is continued learning, especially with the addition of my assigned mentor. I also have several mentors that I sought out myself. As our new CEO, said recently in the 2020 DiscoverE Global Marathon, some of my mentors know how much they influence me, others have no idea I look up to them in a mentor capacity. This is something I believe is key to continued learning is expansion and utilization of your network.
Since joining the company, I have become an active member in their Women in Leadership Business Resource Group as well as the Global Digital Lead for Women in STEM. Through these organizations, I have met some of the most amazing, inspirational women that I normally would not have a chance to work with. I still try to stay active as an alumnus with my business fraternity from college, Pi Sigma Epsilon, as often and as much as I can.
I am so grateful that I was assigned to be the "mentee" for this incredible woman, especially as she continues to teach and grow with me. Mentorships are a great way to gain experiences, knowledge, and opportunities, all while building a lasting and meaningful connection. Look at your network - who can you learn from?
-Laura Ann
