Find Someone You Respect, Be Vulnerable, and Actively Listen: How to Make the Most of Mentorship

When you look back at your career journey, what moments stand out to you? What leaps of faith and people were imperative to your growth? For many, the answer to these questions involves mentorship and the other women who were there to support them.

For instance, take Amy Dexter, who grew from a Business Operations Specialist to a Direct Sales Regional Manager during her nearly 15-year career at DISH. How did she achieve this? Well, multiple women “have played roles in my career growth, development, and opportunities,” Dexter tells us.

The aid of women supporters and mentors enabled Dexter to try new roles and provided opportunities to truly define her own career at DISH, growing a career that aligned with her passions. 

Now, as a Direct Sales Regional Manager, Dexter views her career move into Direct Sales as the one that she is most proud of. And, the future continues to look bright, with Dexter emphasizing how great it is “to see the number of women who continue to move into leadership positions in the Direct Sales department.”

Dexter’s colleague Denise Fuller can also attest to the powerful effect supporting others can have on their careers. Fuller has been in the telecommunications industry since 2000, and she remembers how her journey started: as an administrative assistant facing a three-foot-high pile of paperwork on her first day.

Looking back on the experience, Fuller notes that she gained new skills and, most importantly, supporters, such as a peer at the company who would “take me with her on site walks, community meetings, zoning hearings, and more,” Fuller shares. “She would always tell me that you’re not going to learn everything sitting at this desk.”

And this has certainly proved true! Fuller learned the importance of taking charge of her career and how her “values and principals were more valuable than a paycheck and, in the end, everything happens for a reason.” Previously, she implemented this advice by stepping away from a stable but stressful job.

“I am thankful there have been many women who supported me and were always willing to share their knowledge and experiences,” Fuller, who is now the Senior Manager, National Real Estate and Development at DISH Wireless, tells us. “I hope my team also finds value in the things I expose them to.”

Elevating the careers of others and giving back is part of the culture at DISH — and Bincy Raphael, Senior Manager in the Tax department, is another example of someone who lives these values.

“Mentorship has been instrumental in shaping and advancing my career,” shares Raphael. Women mentors have helped Raphael with everything from finding her voice and confidence to the importance of networking and being a mentor herself. “I met many strong women leaders in various stages of their careers,” reflects Raphael. “Their journeys were not easy, but they believed in themselves and learned from each other's success and failure.”

Raphael has been at DISH for 12 years and is paying the support she’s received forward. “I have been an active mentor for newer members of the income Tax department,” she shares. “I am always looking for ways to expand and give back to our DISH community.”

“The best part of being a mentor is the incredible reward of building meaningful relationships with mentees,” Raphael notes. “It is a humbling experience where I am learning fresh perspectives from a diverse set of individuals. One of the great perks of being a mentor is my own development as a better leader, ability to provide thoughtful feedback, and guidance.”

As you can see, Dexter’s, Fuller’s, and Raphael’s career journeys are all testaments to the importance of mentorship and uplifting other women. Read on to learn more about their best tips for women seeking mentorship, those looking to make a difference, and more!

To start, can you tell us your top tips for mentors and/or mentees who are looking to make the most of this relationship? 

Dexter: 

• Be authentic and vulnerable — these characteristics allow you to make deep connections with people that are built on a platform of trust. 

• You also don’t have to have all the answers! Working through situations with your mentor/mentee can be a great learning experience for both of you. I have gotten as much from each of my mentees as they have gotten from me as their mentor.

Fuller: 

• Find someone you respect and don’t be afraid to ask them to be your mentor. 

• Be consistent with scheduling time together.

• Think about what you want out of the experience. Is it career advice? Navigating office politics? Understand the “why” behind what you are doing.

Raphael: 

• Active listening skills are one of the key skills a mentor needs to practice. 

• Understand that it is a two-way relationship, and you need to learn from each other.

• Share your experience, but don’t try to push your experience on to the mentee; be patient.

• Acknowledge and celebrate your mentee’s success.

• Evangelize the culture of mentorship and giving back.

What advice do you have for women who are looking to find a mentor or want to become a mentor for others?

Dexter: Identify what areas you want to work on and what characteristics you are frequently sought out for — this will help you identify your ideal pair.

Raphael:

• Do it! Find as many mentors as you can to learn and grow. 

• Define your goals and what you’re expecting to achieve from this relationship.

• Take initiative.

• Be open to feedback, including constructive criticism.

• Follow through on your action items.

• Be respectful and appreciative of your mentor’s time.

• Give back.

What are your top tips on how women can help advance the careers of those around them?

Fuller: 

• Be genuine in providing feedback when asked. 

• Share the spotlight. Give individual contributors and other managers the opportunity to have visibility to your leadership without acting as the filter.

• Listen to and watch other women talk about what they are passionate about.

• Don’t let the “noise" get to you. If you hear a lot of noise, remember that it may not impact you directly. If you can hang in there and look for gaps that need to be filled, you may be pleasantly surprised where you land.

Raphael: 

• Offer mentorship. Share your experience.

• Advocate for others. Bring their hard work, achievements, and positive influence to the forefront.

• Collaborate. Encourage collaboration among the women around you.

• Lead by example. Promote gender equality in the workplace as well as a safe and fair environment for your team to thrive.

• Network within your company. Bring women in leadership at your company together for a lunch and learn or Q&A session.

Personally, how do you go about lifting other women up with you?

Fuller: 

• If I know something, I want to share it. There is no point in keeping information to myself; It doesn't make me more valuable, it just makes everyone else's job more difficult.

• Make time to listen. I want to be the resource that can turn around someone's day, provide a different perspective, say one thing that inspires them, or just be someone they know won’t judge them. Because of this, there are days when my guest chair is full most of the day. I love watching my employees talk about something that they are excited about and seeing their eyes light up. From there, I try to suggest different paths to get them moving toward that passion.

• Share good things, no matter how small they seem. I once had a conversation with another leader who mentioned how great someone on their team handled a situation. When I had the chance, I told that employee about the compliment. It was important that they knew their manager spoke highly of them in front of others.

• Give credit where credit is due. You should take pride in bragging about your team’s accomplishments to leadership!