It\u2019s a wonderful way to give back and help others grow and learn!<\/h2>\n

L-R Becca Berkenstadt, Alyssa Burns<\/p><\/div>\n

I know the importance of having – and being – a mentor.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been told throughout my career in marketing and communications how vital a mentoring program could be to my career, but none of the companies I worked for – including Edelman Worldwide and Kraft Foods – offered one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, the Professional Women\u2019s Club of Chicago\u2019s Mentorship Program filled that gap for me.\u00a0 After serving as president of PWCC four years ago, the following year I become a mentor in PWCC\u2019s mentorship program.\u00a0 Currently I\u2019m co-chair of the Mentorship Program, along with the extraordinary Kate Solis Silva, whose energy, enthusiasm and spirit make her a tremendous partner.\u00a0 I\u2019m thrilled that the mentorship program has grown year-over-year.\u00a0 When the mentorship program started five years ago, there were seven mentor\/mentee matches. We grew to 27 matches this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

I currently have two mentees of my own \u2014 Becca Berkenstadt and Pallavi Goodman.\u00a0 They specifically asked me to be their mentor. This was humbling to me.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I first mentored three years ago, the biggest surprise was how much I learned from my mentee.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t realize at the time how beneficial mentoring could be for both parties.\u00a0 This continues with both of the mentees I have today.\u00a0 They never cease to amaze me with their enthusiasm, willingness to learn and their unending drive to be successful.\u00a0 They truly are remarkable.<\/span><\/p>\n

The mentoring relationship is built on mutual trust, respect and communication.\u00a0 One of the most important skills I can give my mentees is the capacity to believe in and be kind to themselves.\u00a0 My goal was to guide my mentees and let them make their own choices.\u00a0 I wanted to encourage them to capitalize on their own strengths.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mentoring is so more than the transfer of advice, knowledge and insights.\u00a0 It\u2019s much more satisfying than that.\u00a0 It\u2019s a wonderful way to give back and help people grow and learn.<\/span><\/p>\n

I really love mentoring.\u00a0 It has life-long benefits. Developing these professional relationships can be life-changing.\u00a0 I know it\u2019s changed mine.\u00a0 I am honored to be a part of the PWCC Mentorship program and thankful to have the opportunity to see my mentees grow and flourish.\u00a0 Not only have they become women I admire and respect, but they\u2019ve become my friends.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t ask for anything more.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a wonderful way to give back and help others grow and learn! I know the importance of having – and being – a mentor. I\u2019ve been told throughout my career in marketing and communications how vital a mentoring program could be to my career, but none of the companies I worked for – including Edelman Worldwide and Kraft Foods […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[6,7,13,11,10,12,14,9,8],"class_list":["post-411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-tips","category-pwcc","tag-alyssa-burns","tag-alyssa-burns-communications","tag-becca-berkenstadt","tag-mentor","tag-mentoring","tag-mentorship-program","tag-pallavi-goodman","tag-professional-womens-club-of-chicago","tag-pwcc"],"yoast_head":"\n