Mentors Might Be Surprised How Much They Get from The Experience
By: Kay Brungs Laud
It goes without saying that 2020 will be a year many will remember for decades to come. The monumental events that have shaped this year have already had an impact on our economy and job market. With 13.6 million American’s currently unemployed, I have reflected on what I can do as an individual and as a professional to help support students, recent graduates and professionals looking to make a career shift. It has made me think a lot about the people along my career path who took the time to provide guidance and advice.
When I was an undergraduate, I was lucky enough to have several extremely valuable experiences through internships, which also gave me access to incredible mentors. Without their support and professional feedback along the way, I certainly wouldn’t be the person I am today. As Allison+Partners Co-founder Scott Pansky so eloquently wrote in his blog, “Pay It Forward and Help the Next Generation,” it’s important as professionals to give back and make sure we invest in our future talent by helping them along their career paths.
Whenever I have been asked to conduct an informational interview with someone thinking about getting into public relations, review a resume or speak to a college class, I’m always thrilled to do so. For me, it’s a way I can pay it forward for all the support I’ve received over the years. However, recently I’ve looked for ways to make a bigger impact. So when I was asked to help Allison+Partners work with the LAGRANT Foundation to support the launch of its new mentorship project, I jumped at the opportunity.
Over the past few months, our team has worked closely with the foundation on ways our team members could participate in its new mentorship program and provide opportunities for both our mentors and their mentees to learn from each other. While the main goal of the program is to provide professional mentors to ethnic minority undergraduate and graduate students and young professionals in advertising, marketing and public relations, we also wanted to develop our agency’s side of the program to allow the mentee’s experiences to inform and share their unique perspectives with us.
The LAGRANT Foundation’s annual mentorship will run from October through April. One mentee from the foundation will pair with a mentor who is currently employed in a field that relates to the mentee’s career goals. Mentors will be a resource and provide guidance and support to their mentee’s professional goals. The time invested by the mentor and mentee will lead to new ideas, help build enthusiastic future leaders and nurture supporting professional relationships.
From my experience, I know just how rewarding it is to help someone as they start their career. It’s almost like going back in time – you get to share in their joys of discovering an area of passion and celebrate their successes! A bonus is just how much you get to learn from your mentee. I have always been amazed by the amount of creative ideas and new perspectives I got from the mentees I worked with throughout the years.
If you seek a rewarding way to help someone starting their career or looking to change their career, seriously consider becoming a mentor! You won’t regret the decision.
Kay Brungs Laud is a senior vice president and works out of Allison+Partners’ Chicago office. Prior to starting her career in public relations, she lived and worked in Washington, D.C., where worked on the Hill and was part of two presidential campaigns. She graduated from American University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Category: Corporate
