What makes a great "Mentor"?

Erin Harris

Mentoring is a consistent theme within our tech sector. Rob Bennett made mention of it last week in his acceptance speach for the Colin Lennox Award at the Viatec Awards. I'm curious to hear from the seasoned talent in the industry, what makes a good mentor? Why do you do it? What are some of the words that come to mind when you hear the word "mentor"?

Thanks for your insights!
Erin

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Deanne Turnbull Loverock

VIATeC

Thanks for asking this question, Erin. Mentors I work with have mentioned a number of reasons for giving back:

- They like to share their (sometimes hard-won!) knowledge with others
- Mentoring others strengthens their coaching and leadership skills
- They like to give back to the community that has supported them when THEY needed the help
- It’s a great way to stay current and involved

I’m curious to hear what the mentors and mentees have to say.

Cheers, Deanne

David W. Giles

I had the opportunity to be a Mentee through VIATeC and BC HRMA and really valued the experience. Mentors provide a new/different perspective and share information, experience and knowledge with their Mentees. I found that my Mentor's helped "stretch" and push me beyond my comfort level while offering support - which helped me succeed through some difficult projects.