In honor of Women’s History Month, we want to shine a light on the valuable role of female mentors. Female mentorship is more important than ever, particularly in the context of career advancement and organizational culture-building. Despite progress, significant disparities persist between women and men in senior leadership roles, salaries, and more. In fact, today is Equal Pay Day. Not a holiday! This date symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year.
So how can female mentors help? Certainly everyone can benefit from mentorship, especially people just starting in their careers or in a career transition. Women may experience more nuanced advice from a professional sisterhood. A female mentor’s lived experience can provide an important viewpoint on how to decode the politics and culture of the workplace, self-advocate in salary negotiations, and how to navigate performance and promotion conversations. Male mentors are also helpful in all these ways, and I would advise any young professional to add both male and female mentors to your personal board of directors.
As a woman in a leadership position, I recognize the importance of paying it forward and serving as a mentor to others. In fact, mentoring is a big part of the job description of a CEO both within our own organizations and within our networks. At BBBS, it is also the core of our work: I see first-hand the profound impact mentorship has on young lives. Mentorship opens doors, provides guidance, and creates opportunities that can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Whether it is a young adult in our Community College program, or a child in middle school participating in a fun day of STEAM challenges, we are committed to providing our youth with equitable opportunities, ensuring that every child we serve has the support they need to reach their full potential.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us not only honor the remarkable women of the past but also empower the women of today and tomorrow through mentorship. By sharing our experiences, offering guidance, and creating opportunities for growth, we can continue to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create a more inclusive and equitable world for all.
Connie Askin, CEO