For most of us, the formal education process ends somewhere in our twenties. Throughout that time, we typically receive a tremendous amount of support and guidance as we digest information and processes intended to steer us on the proper course. The suggestions or rules set by family members and guardians before we reach pre-school age can have a major influence on the decisions we make 30 years later ─ and how we make them.
That’s why good teachers are so valuable. Educators, whether in middle school or college, have a profound effect on their students. They show the proper way to approach and overcome challenges, and many become role models for personal and professional development. Everyone benefits from having someone to look up to and guide them through unknown processes, and to introduce them to others who can lend specific types of assistance (when needed).
That’s what good mentors do. They see those in their trust as people, not just employees, and spend time learning about their passions, personal influences and professional aspirations. With that information, a good mentor can offer more personalized counseling based on some of their own career and life experiences. With the continuing skills shortage and drive to increase diversity in the IT industry, that type of support is invaluable.
What it means to the Mentee
Even after passing all the required training and receiving two advanced certifications, Michelle McBain was still a new employee at Cisco and extremely nervous about starting her first job. “I was very lucky to have my first sales manager be my mentor,” says the vice chair of CompTIA’s Advancing Women in IT Community and Global Customer Partner Experience Manager for Cisco.
“She was an inspirational woman who made me feel comfortable in my knowledge, youth, and gender. She coached me on building the confidence I needed to excel in my early days in technical sales, and taught me about dedication, confidence, and that not every woman has to wear a pant suit to be successful.” That guidance is crucial, especially in an IT industry where the demand for good people continues to outstrip the supply. Savvy leaders learn to identify the raw talent they can mold into productive employees.
That’s how many get their first start including Cathy Alper, Director of Member Communities for CompTIA. “As a first generation college graduate, I had the education and skills to be successful, but lacked confidence and the mindset of how the business world operated. My first boss helped me step into a professional role, giving me tasks and challenges that I was not sure I could do. It was his certainty that I could do these things, acceptance of my current state, and gentle coaching that helped me move forward.”
Lead by Example
It takes real commitment to be a good mentor to others. That means time, energy and, most of all, empathy and compassion. Most mentors find the rewards are well worth the effort. “Honestly, it feels like I get more out of mentoring than I actually give,” says Mary Ellen Grom, who was recently appointed to the CompTIA Board of Directors and serves as vice president of U.S. marketing for the SYNNEX Corporation. “I never had a formal mentor myself, but have mentored 13 individuals over the past five years. Today, I actively mentor four dynamic IT industry professionals and look forward to each session as the bright spot in my day. Mentoring is symbiotic – it’s a two way street. You get out of it what you put into it.”
A good mentor will help newly minted (or new in that role) professionals get more out of their work experiences as well as their life experiences. Those who have ‘been there, done that” are invaluable to those who haven’t ─ which is exactly why those in underrepresented groups should lend a hand to new peers. They can share their own experiences and insight, as well as the best practices required to succeed in the IT field.
Members of the Advancing Women in IT Community understand that concept well, lending their time and expertise inspiring a new generation of high-tech professionals. The challenges are often greater than getting the right training and education. Sometimes they have to change the mindset of all involved. “The female instinct is to be competitive and comparative towards other women,” adds Grom. “This can be ultra-destructive in an IT industry where we are still the minority. Having a role model to look up to and mimic is important. We can be a sounding board, a source of new ideas, someone to go to for advice on ANY topic (not just work) and be a shoulder to lean on.”
What can groups like AWIT do to foster more mentoring? “Our Dream IT Initiative is a start, where we encourage women and girls of all ages to learn more about the many career options available to them in IT,” suggests McBain. She emphasizes that encouragement is just the first step to ensuring their success ─ many will benefit from getting a hand up. “It is especially important for women and men in leadership positions to foster the growth and development of new recruits to insure they not only take a chance on our industry, but that they maintain a successful career in the IT field. Positive mentorship can help yield this successfully.”
Looking for a mentor yourself or would you like to help others better navigate their IT careers? Join the discussion in the AWIT Community meeting (or in other CompTIA Community sessions) at ChannelCon, August 3-15 in Chicago. Come share your ideas and discuss your own challenges, chances are you’ll meet someone who can help. They may not be an official mentor, but the professional relationships you develop at the event could last a lifetime ─and will surely be beneficial.
Brian Sherman is principal consultant at Tech Success Communications, an IT channel business development and marketing firm. He served previously as chief editor at Business Solutions magazine and senior director of industry alliances with Autotask. Contact Brian at Bsherman@techsuccesscommunications.com.
