My top 5 pieces of advice for cruising through Beedie’s Mentors in Business program
1. Chart your course
Planning, having a vision, goal setting & coming prepared
Mentor: Tap into your “why” and dig deep into your hopes and dreams (and fears) to get clarity on why you are choosing to spend this dedicated time and energy with the Mentors in Business Program. Having that vision on the horizon and being prepared will help you chart your course and attract your desired outcome.
Mentee: Time will pass by fast so taking the time to determine what you want from this mentorship will help you structure your meetings and make the most of this opportunity. During the orientation, the CMC will help you set goals, but it is up to you to bring those to your mentor and create a detailed plan for the next 6 months.
2. You are Co-captains!
You are in this together, two-way learning & figure out how you can help each other
Mentor: A mentor is on this journey with you and is there to help you tap into your power and knowledge and offer some ideas to consider. We are excited to learn and grow from you. Together we can!
Mentee: Your mentor is taking the time out of their busy days to help you. This is your opportunity to see if you can help in any way. Some mentors have projects you can assist with; others would appreciate a sounding board for ideas. Ask your mentor if there is anything you can help with because you two are now a team.
3. Don’t be afraid to leave the harbour
Don’t be scared of the journey, try new things & embrace the challenges
Mentor: This is a safe space to explore your career hopes and dreams and to challenge your fears. Take advantage of the opportunity to take an approach you wouldn’t normally take. You don’t have to commit to it forever but by trying new things you get clarity and facts on what does and doesn’t work for you and why instead of just hypothesizing and not taking risks.
Mentee: Be open & follow your mentor out of your comfort zone. I was extremely overwhelmed when I began this journey and shared with Kate what my goals were but how I didn’t know how to get there. Kate had a ton of very useful value exercises and company research challenges that were difficult to complete. However, each exercise helped me better understand myself and what I want.
4. Learn the bowels of the ship
Self-awareness is an important part of this journey, engage in self-discovery and introspection
Mentor: Being self-aware and sharing your learnings and self-limiting thoughts is part of being a great leader and your mentor is there to support you. Many people remark that after sharing what they feared, it was not that scary anymore.
Mentee: Every time we met, we discussed what new findings I had uncovered and how to use that in my career strategy. It was important for me to take the time between meetings to read, research and think about what I wanted my career to look like and then bring my fears, confusion and anxiety to the table at our next meeting.
5. Don’t be ships that pass in the night
Celebrate the successes and make an effort to be there for one another after this program.
Mentor: It is so great to be a part of this community and I continue to learn and enjoy celebrating with people I have met through the MIB program years after we completed the formal program. No person is an island. Let’s continue to grow together.
Mentee: This doesn’t have to be a 6-month relationship. Celebrate all you have accomplished together and make a conscious effort to keep meeting and supporting one another.
This blog was co-written by Rima’s mentor Kate Dickerson. You can contact Kate via LinkedIn.
Rima can describe herself in three words: passionate, strategic and goal-oriented. She has always sought to learn about people, their stories, their problems and provide the help they need to find solutions.
Her journey thus far has been challenging and invigorating. She grew up in India and had the opportunity to move 8000 miles away at 18 and pursue a chemical engineering degree in Akron, Ohio. She is currently pursuing her MBA at SFU and is the President of the Graduate Women’s Council.
She is passionate about community development, cultural diversity, current affairs, international travel, and continuous learning.
Rima is always interested in connecting with other students and sharing experiences. Feel free to contact Rima through LinkedIn or via email at rvasudev@sfu.ca.