Mentors, Mentees, and the Magic in Between✨

I recently attended a private screening of an independent documentary I’ve been assisting with. It’s been an honor to collaborate with such talented people, and to see their vision come to life on the big screen was pure joy.

We were mingling in the lobby after the viewing when someone called out my name. It was Bob, an old colleague of mine. We haven’t worked together in over two decades, but have followed each other’s careers via social media. He and his team had recently won an Emmy (deservedly so), so I was thrilled to congratulate him in person.

Memory Lane and the Power of Influence

During my long drive home, I was reminiscing about our days back at Discovery on E/W Highway. I was new to television, cutting my teeth as an editor and jumping into producing. I had zero production experience, but I did have management and organizational credentials. And oh–a lot of moxie.

Producers like my colleague and so many others nurtured me, both directly and indirectly. Experience grew, and moxie became less relied upon.

I also met up with Sam, an old employee of mine. We worked together for about five years, and I watched him grow from a slightly nervous associate producer to a confident wildlife field producer and camera operator. It was a joy to see him. I harbored a small amount of pride at seeing him blossom, although in reality, my impact was minimal.

However, as I reflect on it, I’m not sure if the influence we give or receive is ever minimal. Just like Bob and countless others helped me improve and grow as a producer, I offered the same guidance to Sam and numerous others. There is an absolute joy in seeing someone thrive.

Why Mentorship Matters — Even to Your Bottom Line

Do you or your organization think you don’t have the bandwidth to mentor? Don’t believe in all the ‘woo-woo’ benefits and only think of the bottom line?

Guess what. It helps your business grow.

Here is how a study at the University of California-Davis describes mentorship programs:

“Mentees have an opportunity to gain practical knowledge and insight from a seasoned employee who has achieved a level of expertise they aspire to attain. Mentors have an opportunity to expand their repertoire of professional knowledge and skills through their instruction and facilitation of others. The organization has the opportunity to further develop and disseminate the wealth of talent, skill and knowledge of its employees.”

Look at that last sentence: Employee retention equals less money spent on recruitment. Internal growth of employees means retention of institutional knowledge. It’s a win-win-win. ✅✅✅

Pass the Torch, Share the Magic🔥✨

You should celebrate everyone’s success. There are enough victories for all of us. 🥂

Every person who has mentored me — Bob, Theo, Jay, Kandy, Pamela, Gaynelle, Maureen, Ashley, etc. — is a cherished part of my narrative. I hope to pass that same support and guidance to countless others. It’s an honor to boost others to success. 🚀

To all those who mentor and receive guidance from others: Embrace these relationships. They are lasting and meaningful partnerships.

And if you don’t mentor — do it! Bring someone under your wing and support them as they flourish.

I happily pass a torch to the next generation of talent. I hope that the magic continues. ✨