There are three young ladies I mentor and advise who will reach a milestone birthday in 2012. It's one that has a zero in it.
Each of them has brought it up on their own more than a few times when we've talked in the last few months and of course I chuckle when they do. I will say I'm very proud of them as they have become accomplished "early." Must have been something in the water in 1982.
To wit:
Mentee #1: I've been mentoring her for exactly 10 years. In late 2001, I was looking for someone in college to write about becoming a journalist while still in school. I mentioned this to a colleague at NPR who suggested this undergraduate at Amherst College. My colleague and this young lady at one time lived in the same neighborhood and worked together on a start-up in the late 90's. After we chatted, she became the first columnist (today we call them "bloggers") for the next generation radio website. Today she's a managing editor at a San Francisco radio station, a partner in a Spanish-language media start-up and lead singer in a band. Oh yeah.
Mentee #2: A young lady from El Paso was introduced to me by the person who coined my nickname, "Padrino." In 2005, she was a finalist for a fellowship at NPR and was deeply interested in working as a reporter. She worked in both print and radio while in school and her first job out of school was at a paper in Texas. She knows what she wants to do and has never stopped going way out of her way to get the skills she needs to keep growing. And, she is in El Paso, a place where there is news. The ability to write, edit, produce and pitch on deadline are fundamental for sure, but if you are known as someone can consistently hit those targets, editors will keep calling you. She intrinsically understands the value of having a good reputation.
Finally, Mentee #3 is the CEO of this company. Our conversations are not about journalism but about business. Recently, we both attended an angel investors gathering in Newark, NJ and I gave her a ride back to D.C. where she had a series of meetings with possible investors and partners. Although it's barely been three years since she and I first talked. it's great to see how she has taken flight. Unlike most start-ups, her company has been growing very methodically. She did two major pivots during the past five years and now has a very clear vision of her company and the kind of staff she wants to lead. Her staff is amazing, dedicated, open and fun. They believe in her and she in them.
These aren't the only three people I coach but I'm writing about them because they are the same age and I feel lucky that they call me and want to know what I think. As it is for anyone who is part of an ecosystem or network, your next step is to ask yourself: "Now that I have received for a while, what can I do to give?"
One person can't do everything, everyone can do something.
*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog
