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- Female mentorship helps build social capital, nurture ambition, and break down barriers to progress.
- Although it is career and work-related, values and the energy between a mentor and mentee need to align.
- Mentorship is not about wanting to become a clone of someone you admire but more about learning from those around you on your career and life journey.
Finding a suitable mentor, particularly in the workplace, is essential in helping women thrive in their respective fields. It could be argued that it is just like finding the right romantic partner or friend. Although it is career and work-related, values and the energy between a mentor and mentee need to align.
Female mentorship helps build social capital, nurture ambition, and break down barriers to progress. Berniece Hieckmann, the strategic business transformation executive head at Metropolitan, says whether you're just starting or looking to take your career to the next level, having a mentor or coach can significantly improve your chances of progress.
READ MORE | How mentorship can help you achieve your goals
She shares why she believes in the power of mentorship.
"Being young in South Africa is not easy. It takes courage and resilience to get through school, further education, find work to support those you love, and still find time to remember to be young. It's harder when you are alone."
Her journey has taught her a lot of lessons that she now imparts to the young people she mentors. "I am always looking out for hidden and undiscovered talent. Being young is amazing and terrifying at the same time. There is an inner desire to be an individual and to achieve – and at the same time, confusion and insecurity about how to use what you have inside you to navigate life. A mentor can help with this navigation."
READ MORE | Why mentorship matters for young women in STEM professions
Out of all the lessons, she says, she always tells mentees that "it is important to never lose your sense of curiosity. Asking 'why' is almost always more important than asking ‘what’. I advise young people to remain fascinated with as much as possible and follow the thread of curiosity in any direction that leads them.
She explains that mentorship is not about wanting to become a clone of someone you admire but more about learning from those around you on your career and life journey.
"Everyone has something valuable to teach, and at the same time, everyone also has flaws. The magic is in not trying to emulate the people you look up to but identifying the positive you wish to learn from them."
Information provided by M-Sports Marketing on behalf of Metropolitan
