I'm a huge fan of mentors. Find someone you want to be like, talk to them, study them, take the best parts and try to emulate their brilliance. Sometimes you even get a free lunch out of the deal.I've done this for years and the jems of wisdom and humanity that my mentors have shown me has improved my professional life, and more importantly, they often changed the way I think about my work and about my world in a way that trainings and workshops just can't.
They've always been older, wiser, and way cooler than I am. I have been so lucky that they have humored me enough to spend their time with me.
But as I left San Diego a few weeks ago, I realized the neat hierarchy I have placed on my mentor-mentee roles was turned upside down. I found myself at farewell lunches looking across the table from people who were hip, young and extremely dedicated. People who a few years ago were students, interns, or trying to get jobs. And in the past few years I have seen them transform themselves and, in doing so, our field.
The people I used to prep for job interviews are now the people who are leading the way - and doing so in largely their own way.
So, who is mentoring who? Instead of a hierarchy, I've left San Diego with a more circular concept of mentorship. Intergenerational sharing is something that the U.S., and specifically professional Californians, are not exactly known for. But, I'm hoping that my experience may reflect a new beginning happening all over: a system where younger and seasoned people are able to come to the same table and share, learn, and apply.
