My journey into mentorship was somewhat accidental but turned out to be one of the most
rewarding experiences of my professional life. In this blog, I want to share my thoughts on
mentorship, based on my experience of trying to find a mentor, as well as being a mentor for
Women in Mining South Africa.
I got involved in mentorship for somewhat selfish reasons. When the opportunity to mentor arose, I
saw it as a way to balance my work and personal life. Little did I know that it would become a
transformative journey and a two-way street of sharing experiences and learning valuable lessons.
But before I talk about myself as a mentor, let me tell you about how I was mentored.
Taking charge of my journey
I will admit that I struggled to find a mentor for myself. To this day, I still don’t have a traditional
mentor. I found that it was a challenge to connect with people. They either lacked the time or a
structured approach to mentorship. In addition, there is a real scarcity of female mentors.
As a result of my challenges in finding a suitable mentor, I realised that I needed to take charge of
my mentorship journey. Mentorship, as I discovered, doesn’t need to follow a linear path. It can be a
structured process. But it can also be a collection of insights gathered from different sources. It
doesn’t matter whether you are sitting at the bus stop or chatting at work; you can always pick up
little nuggets that you can use in crafting your career journey.
With this insight, I made a conscious effort to abandon the “resting bitch face” I had so carefully
cultivated. Instead, I worked consciously to be approachable and open. I wanted to create an
environment where meaningful conversations could flourish. I love to talk, but I have learned to
listen, absorb, and apply the lessons in the workplace.
Joining ‘Women in Mining’ helped me expand my network and provided valuable insights into
building relationships. I try to attend many events and look for every opportunity to learn. Even at
home, cleaning my house, I will have talks on YouTube videos playing in the background.
Becoming a mentor
My mentorship journey – made up of wisdom from all over – has empowered me to become the
mentor I wish I had. My slogan is “Not on my watch”. I won’t let another girl miss the boat if I can
help.
I am currently mentoring ten women. We have a WhatsApp group. Sometimes, I am the only person
posting; other times, something I say resonates, and we have lively interactions. Each week is
different, and what each woman needs help with is different.
As a mentor, I focus on self-awareness, self-regulation, and understanding how influential figures
can elevate your professional journey. We may talk about how to get the best out of people and
situations or what to do when confronted with a bad leader or someone we don’t identify with.
I encourage my mentees to read books like “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, “Nice Girls
Don’t Get the Corner Office”, and “Boardroom Dancing” – these all offer valuable lessons for
personal and professional growth.
We talk a lot about networking. A diverse network is essential to ensure we’re always speaking to
the right people. It’s not necessary to be loud in the boardroom if we are talking to a few of the
right people. And sometimes, bronchitis and asthma aside, the smoking area is your friend.
I try to be relatable with my mentees because no one wants to feel judged. And I encourage
everyone to live Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself”. Be in the moment. As the song says, you only get
one shot. You’ll miss the beauty of small things and not see little opportunities if you’re not present.
Lose yourself in the moment constantly, continuously, and unashamedly.
Finding yourself a mentor
When it comes to being mentored, you can do things my way – gain knowledge and pick up nuggets
of wisdom everywhere. Or you can find someone to work with you on your goals and your path to
achieving them.
If you are looking for a mentor, I can’t emphasise enough the need for someone influential.
Everyone has a different career path, but if you want to move up, you need someone to advocate for
you in rooms you may not yet have entered. If you’re ambitious, being selfish about your career is
important. Find the right people who can help you achieve your goals.
Rise together
Mentorship is not just about gaining knowledge; it’s a transformative journey that challenges you to
grow to be the best woman you can be and empowers you to help others. Embrace the journey and
share your experience and knowledge generously. Let’s lift each other together.