President Joe Biden’s announcement that he will nominate a Black woman to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is shining a spotlight on the role mentors played in the careers of at least two possible candidates—and a reminder of the importance of mentors in the business world.
According to news reports, two of the possible Black candidates are California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger and
Ketanji Brown Jackson, a U.S. circuit judge for the District of Columbia.
Leondra Kruger
In a profile story about Kruger (”Kruger Steady, Careful in Mold of Supreme Court Mentor Stevens”), BloombergLaw.com noted that, “Leondra Kruger has called her clerkship for the late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens during the 2003 term ‘one of the most significant learning experiences I’ve ever had.’ In many ways, Kruger’s demeanor and approach to deciding matters of law mirrors that of her former boss.”
Ketanji Brown Jackson
The Financial Times reported that, “Born in Washington and raised in Miami, Florida, Jackson showed promise from her teenage years, when she became president of her high school’s student body and joined a competitive speech and debate team.
“Under the mentorship of her debate coach, she ‘gained the self-confidence that can sometimes be quite difficult for women and minorities to develop at an early age,’ Jackson said in [a] 2017 speech.”
Business Mentors
Mentors have played an important role in the careers and successes of several well-known business executives.
Ulta Beauty CEO Mary Dillon
The Wall Street Journal, in a story about the mentors who helped Ulta Beauty CEO Mary Dillon, wrote that, “She twice reached the corner office assisted by cogent counsel from trusted confidants. Mentors also taught her to “look for ways to help [other] people be successful.” Dillon said four of her advisors included:
- Andy McKenna, Chairman emeritus of McDonald’s Corp.
- Sol Trujillo, Chairman of Trujillo Group LLC and chair of Latino Donor Collaborative
- Anne Mulcahy, Former chairperson and CEO of Xerox Corp.
- Tracee Ellis Ross, Actress, producer and CEO of Pattern Beauty
Famous Mentoring Relationships
According to Pushfar.com, other famous mentor relationships include:
Steve Jobs Mentoring Mark Zuckerberg
“The two are said to have taken walks around Palo Alto discussing how Zuckerberg might manage and develop Facebook, as well as entrepreneurship. In 2011, upon Steve’s death, Mark Zuckerberg posted ‘Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.’”
Christian Dior Mentoring Yves Saint-Laurent
“Saint-Laurent became Christian’s personal assistant, learning the secret of the haute couture and how to run the company. ‘Dior fascinated me. I couldn’t speak in front of him. He taught me the basis of my art. Whatever was to happen next, I never forgot the years I spent at his side.’”
Warren Buffett Mentoring Bill Gates
“Two of the world’s most successful businessmen, Gates admits that over the years he has turned to Buffett for advice on various subjects and has referred to Buffett as a one-of-a-kind.”
Mentoring Advice For Business Leaders
Challenges
Mike Morini, the CEO of Work Force Software, shared recommendations for engaging, motivating and mentoring the next generation of business leaders.
He noted that, “For the first time in history, we have five generations of workers in the workforce. Answering the need to engage, motivate and mentor the next generation of leaders requires companies to offer personalized experience—at scale.
“There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer, especially for large employers who may also be dealing with multiple types of working populations, in addition to cultural and geographical differences.
“To account for that, we must ensure that our employees are engaged, motivated, and have access to resources. These methods are key to leading and managing talent and supporting a positive employee experience for the next generation of business leaders.”
Be Transparent
“Transparency is the most important thing a leader can practice and set as an example for rising talent. Leaders need to communicate openly and frequently so their employees are aware of what is going on in the business—the good, and the bad.
“Workers will not feel ‘part of the team’ if they’re not included in information that may affect their livelihood. Transparency further increases motivation and engagement among the team.”
Demonstrate Empathy
“If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that empathy is more important than ever. Many people are juggling increased and new challenges related to work, families, spouses, children, parents and more. That’s why showing compassion and understanding is so crucial in today’s world of work.”
“When an employee possesses the ability to empathize, especially in a managerial position, the business will, in turn, be able to retain top-tier talent and perform better —showing rising leaders the impact that compassion and empathy has on the overall business.”
Implement Workforce Management Tools And Systems
“Workforce management systems have played a big role in supporting employee engagement, increasing motivation, and enhancing communication.
“The ability for employees to freely ask questions or access resources in open information channels gives them agency in their positions and cuts down on time wasted seeking information from various departments. These extra programs, automated with a workforce management system, can go a long way towards increasing employees’ satisfaction and development within their role.”
