Mentorship has been a cornerstone of my career development, from my military days through my journey as a senior software engineer. Today, I actively mentor over 15 students, and I want to share why mentorship is so critical and how both mentors and mentees can get the most out of these relationships.
My own mentorship journey began in the military, where senior NCOs took me under their wing and taught me not just technical skills, but leadership, resilience, and how to navigate complex organizational structures. When I transitioned to tech, I was fortunate to have mentors who helped me understand industry norms, technical best practices, and career development strategies.
The impact of these mentorship relationships was so profound that I knew I wanted to pay it forward. When I founded our university's first ACM-W (Association for Computing Machinery Women) chapter, I saw firsthand how much students craved guidance and support from someone who had walked a similar path.
Mentoring isn't just about technical knowledge—though that's certainly important. Some of the most valuable mentorship happens around soft skills: how to communicate technical concepts effectively, how to navigate workplace dynamics, how to advocate for yourself during performance reviews, and how to build professional networks.
For underrepresented groups in tech, mentorship takes on additional dimensions. Many of my mentees are women, veterans, or first-generation college students who face unique challenges in tech environments. Part of my role is helping them develop confidence, recognize their own worth, and understand that their diverse perspectives are strengths, not weaknesses.
The mentorship relationship is bidirectional. While I provide guidance and support to my mentees, I learn tremendous amounts from them. They keep me connected to new technologies, different perspectives, and emerging trends in computer science education. Their fresh eyes often help me see problems in new ways.