What makes a mentor?
Mentors can function as coaches, cheerleaders, or critics. They can be based on relationships that last decades or a few minutes. They can provide a venue for self-reflection or recognize unseen potential.
For January’s National Mentoring Month, Strada staff reflected on how mentors in all their forms have shaped their journeys as students and professionals.
“Effective mentoring is less about giving advice and more about creating conditions for confidence and growth,” said Kimberly Sluis, Strada vice president and chief of staff, postsecondary education. “The best mentors I’ve had the privilege to learn from have listened closely, challenged me with intention, provided honest feedback, and trusted me with real responsibility.”
One key to mentorship, the Strada colleagues who shared reflections agree, is passing on the best of what you’ve learned when you have an opportunity to mentor others.
