People want advice and support from a mentor.

76% of people think mentors are important according to Forbes.

But there’s a problem…

Only 37% of professionals have a mentor.

Most are missing out on these mentorship opportunities:

✅️ Someone trusted and experienced to bounce ideas off
✅️ Someone to discuss challenges with
✅️ Access to someone experienced in a new field
✅️ Someone who has been in the same or similar roles
✅️ Someone to problem solve and brainstorm with
✅️ Access to expertise one doesn’t currently have

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How can this gap be bridged? Let me know below.

Dasanj Aberdeen

Dasanj Aberdeen is an entrepreneurial spirit who embodies the combination of left-brain logic and right-brain creativity. She is a consultant and proponent of multidisciplinary education, approaches and pursuits. She writes about their benefits in modern times and integrating multiple interests into a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle. She’s a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University with a concentration in Technology & Innovation Management, jointly delivered by the Fox School of Business and College of Engineering.

“What are some topics to discuss with my mentor?”

A mentee had this question recently.

Keeping a mentor engaged and using their time wisely takes practice.

The mentee previously discussed the following with their mentor:

✅️ Current project
✅️ Career goals and path to the next level
✅️ Hot skills in the market
✅️ Mentor’s career path

But the mentee wasn’t sure what to discuss next.

They asked and got some additional suggestions:

✅️ Further education
✅️ Work / life balance
✅️ Future projects
✅️ Career lessons learned
✅️ How mentors helped the mentor

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What else would you add to this list to discuss with a mentor? Let me know below.

Dasanj Aberdeen

Dasanj Aberdeen is an entrepreneurial spirit who embodies the combination of left-brain logic and right-brain creativity. She is a consultant and proponent of multidisciplinary education, approaches and pursuits. She writes about their benefits in modern times and integrating multiple interests into a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle. She’s a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University with a concentration in Technology & Innovation Management, jointly delivered by the Fox School of Business and College of Engineering.

Dear Mentee,

You’re doing great where you are!

But you need help with what’s next.

How do you prepare for what you haven’t experienced? 🤔

This is where a mentor is helpful.

They’ve been there. Done it. Seen it.

And if not, they probably have suggestions.

You’ll see the value of having a mentor here.

Here are a few things to get your mentor’s input on:

✅️ Feedback on your goals
✅️ Feedback on your plan to achieve your goals
✅️ How to track progress with your goals
✅️ How to prepare for a new project
✅️ Feedback on your continuous learning plan
✅️ How to broker a new connection
✅️ Examples, templates & other resources

Your mentor has many tools in their toolbox.

And these tools will give you a jump start!

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What else would you seek your mentor’s help with? I’d love to hear below.

Dasanj Aberdeen

Dasanj Aberdeen is an entrepreneurial spirit who embodies the combination of left-brain logic and right-brain creativity. She is a consultant and proponent of multidisciplinary education, approaches and pursuits. She writes about their benefits in modern times and integrating multiple interests into a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle. She’s a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University with a concentration in Technology & Innovation Management, jointly delivered by the Fox School of Business and College of Engineering.

I didn’t know to ask for a mentor early on.

Becoming someone’s mentee often happened by chance.

Either the mentor was committed to giving back and helping others.

Or we were already developing a mutually beneficial relationship.

But at some point, they made an intentional decision to help me.

How so?

By sharing what they learned from years of experience.

This saved me from learning the hard way.

This also helped me approach my goals with accountability.

Committing to be a mentor takes time.

There’s no guarantee that the mentee will take the advice.

There’s no guarantee that goals will be achieved by a set time.

But when it works out, the mentor and mentee celebrate the win together.

The teamwork and collaborative journey to growth are worth it.

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What’s your experience with a mentor-mentee relationship? Let me know below.

Dasanj Aberdeen

Dasanj Aberdeen is an entrepreneurial spirit who embodies the combination of left-brain logic and right-brain creativity. She is a consultant and proponent of multidisciplinary education, approaches and pursuits. She writes about their benefits in modern times and integrating multiple interests into a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle. She’s a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University with a concentration in Technology & Innovation Management, jointly delivered by the Fox School of Business and College of Engineering.