The All-Important Plan B by Lyle Landon & Adrienne Blanks

The AWNY Mentoring pairing of mentee Adrienne Blanks, Account Executive at the New York Times, and mentor Lyle Landon, National Sales Director at NCI got off to a great start with a friendly phone conversation and plans to meet for lunch in January. As soon as they were seated, Adrienne announced, “I have some news, I’ve been laid off.”

Lyle, an experienced mentor, realized that her anticipated agenda would have to be scrapped to deal with this new, urgent development. Adrienne was adamant that she wanted to continue with the program, and that she would be relying on it even more to help her develop and execute a new short-term and long-term plan. When Lyle got back from lunch, she got the news that her position, among others, also had been eliminated, effective immediately. What a beginning!

Adrienne and Lyle continued to have mentoring meetings - in diners in NJ, in cafes in New York and then via phone conversations when Adrienne went home to Houston to explore employment opportunities there. They both encouraged one another to investigate other specialties within media, as advertising sales positions were continuing to disappear. Adrienne networked through colleagues and friends and worked as an Independent Contractor managing regional marketing promotions. Lyle, who had established her own company in 2007 for freelance sales and marketing projects, became an independent representative for her former employer and an out-of-home college media company. These were short-term solutions for both women, but important steps that generated cash flow and built confidence.

As of December, Adrienne continues to do contract work as a marketing manager and has launched theblvdmag.com, an online magazine catering to the lifestyle of the culturally aware twenty-somethings in the greater Houston area. Lyle’s client base has expanded beyond ad sales to include an outplacement services company, Bloomingdale’s, the US Census and a nonprofit dance company.

Adrienne said, “The AWNY mentoring program afforded me the opportunity to meet a dynamic mentor who helped guide me through this challenging year.” Lyle said, “I can’t wait to see what happens in the AWNY Mentoring 2010 program!”

Ask AWNY

Ask AWNY features questions sent in by the Mentoring Program community!

Q. I joined the Mentoring Program this year and had a great time with my mentor. I want to keep learning from new people, though, so I applied for a new mentor in 2010. Here's my problem— I want to keep up some kind of relationship with my current mentor since she's very easygoing and I trust her judgment. What is the best way to broach this topic with her before the year is up? I feel awkward because I don’t want to offend her in any way. Thanks!



A. You should absolutely keep up a relationship with your mentor! That said, navigating your mentor relationship after the New Year can be daunting, because ambiguity can create unnecessary anxiety.

"Are you...breaking up with me??!"

I promise it will not be that dramatic. Successful formal relationships end all the time— think about the last professional workshop you attended. It's a compliment to your mentor that you want to join the Mentoring Program again and stay in touch with her— it shows you found it (and her) to be a valuable part of your professional growth.

First, take charge. Approach the topic with your mentor the same way you discussed your goals when you met. A great time to bring it up is when you talk about your 2009 achievements (don’t forget to thank her for contributing to your success!) and list out your goals for 2010.

Even if you encountered obstacles during the year, don't be afraid to bring them up! You can both work together to brainstorm ways to learn from your experiences, so don’t pass up the opportunity.

Next issue: After your last “official” meeting, you likely won’t meet up once a month, but if your relationship is strong, you can still go to your mentor with the same kinds of problems or triumphs that you did during the previous year.

Mentoring Program veterans have told me about their current relationships with former mentors, and their experiences range quite a bit. It's very common to catch up often with a "former" mentor, but without the same regularity and focus as that first year. While some pairs simply swap emails around personal and professional milestones, some still make coffee dates and others call when they need a pep talk, an unbiased point of view or just want to say hello. (Shameless plug: some mentees invite their former mentors to AWNY events!) The happy medium is whatever you both want it to be.

The good news is that mentors don’t disappear or turn into pumpkins after the Times Square ball drops. You should always be cultivating a "cabinet" of professional mentors, so get excited— it sounds like you are well on your way. Good luck!

Send your mentoring questions to awnymentoring@gmail.com. All senders will remain anonymous!

Fresh Perspectives: How to Make the Most Out of Your Reverse Mentoring Experience by Christa Babcock

In today’s dynamic advertising landscape, it has become increasingly important for Senior Managers to stay up to date with the latest concepts within our industry. The constant learning of new technology, new methods of communication within an organization, new perspectives on where our industry is going, and what other ways exist to make us better managers, overall are elements that correlate highly to a successful growing firm today.

Started in the mid 1990s by Jack Welch, the original purpose of Reverse Mentoring was to educate several hundred senior level professionals within GE and on new technologies by using the top young talent that the firm had just acquired. Today Unilever, Pepsi, Disney, Yahoo!, and Mindshare are all examples of organizations that are reaping the incredible benefits of this exciting path of discovery.

So, how can you use it and make the most of this great opportunity today?

1) Plan and Manage: At the very first meeting, set your goals for the overall mentorship experience. What is it that both of you hope to gain? Determine the metrics for how you will measure your partnership’s growth. As it may be the first time both parties are trying out these new roles, it is crucial to have a game plan set out in advance to avoid confusion for sessions and meetings throughout the process.

2) Keep An Open Mind: This experience is all about fresh perspectives. As a mentor, your best assets are the experiences that you’ve had as a new member of the working world, and the thoughts on where things are going and how we can improve them for our industry. Likewise, as a mentee, you are bringing a great opportunity for a younger mentor to gain great perspective of how to communicate more effectively with senior managers and see what C-Suite executives find to be crucial to the future of our business world.

3) Leave Your Status and Title At The Door: Reverse Mentoring is about coming to the discussion table without the current reference of where you are today in your firm’s hierarchy. This requires an openness of the mentee, as the young mentor might not be experienced with leading discussion and also of the mentor as the mentee might not be used to receiving such candid thoughts from a less experienced professional. Remember however, you are both there to engage and learn in a wonderful environment.

Monthly Mentoring Discussion Topic: Transitional Review by Amy Lam

Unlike a student's life in school, where definitive stages are marked by the end of a grade or a semester, I became accustomed to a continuous flow of daily routines and lifetime objectives. I couldn't pinpoint the reason for my feelings of restlessness, but I realized I needed a way to better gauge my life. I decided a few years ago to use the end of the year as my own reminder to consciously take time in private and reflect on the past months. I would count the number of office projects I've completed, new people I've met, new programs I've learned, trips abroad I've taken, and personal dollars I've saved to ultimately answer the questions: Did I have a good year? Am I happy with how this year turned out?

This year I found myself frustrated by the pace of my professional growth so I took on my annual survey as a more frequent habit. My monthly meetings with my AWNY mentor reinforced the exercise and helped me see the flaw in my review: my measurements did not provide the true gauge that I wanted. My mentor encouraged me to redefine myself, own my abilities and explore different opportunities. As a result, I have refined my own personal review process that better serves my growth and my life as a whole.

For the month of December, I encourage you to work with your mentoring pair in reviewing this year together. Think about the following questions: How have you grown from the day you wrote your mentoring application last year to now? How has the mentoring relationship changed you? Here are my tips for starting the conversation and developing your own review process:

1. Reflect on the past. Find your old mentor application(s) and reread what you wrote. How have you and your mentoring partner worked towards addressing your concerns? What did you like/dislike throughout your mentoring journey and why? What have you learned and how are you applying this knowledge? What are you most/least proud of and why? Talking with your partner or just talking aloud can clarify your thoughts and stimulate more ideas. Know you will not do all your reflecting in one sitting so spend time your own before and after discussing with your partner. Take notes--it may come in handy when you define your future goals.
2. Acknowledge your present. Know where you are now in order to get to the next point. How do you feel about your current situation? What do you want and why? What is and isn't working for you? Use the AWNY mentoring application as a tool and start a list of your current personal/professional desires. Understand it can take time to reach your next point so in the meanwhile, celebrate how far you have come with your partner!
3. Set your future. Visualize yourself and your life. How do you see yourself 3 years from now? How do you see yourself 10 years from now? How does your present align with your future? What do you find is holding you back? Define your goals and set your priorities. Breakdown the most important goals into baby steps to formulate a plan. Set a timeline for each step and determine your measurement of success. Work with a partner and commit to checking-in with each other often. Ask your partner for feedback. Know your goals can change as you learn more throughout the process.

Amy Lam is an online marketing manager at Direct Brands, Inc., responsible for enhancing brand experiences and generating conversions through all Bookspan digital platforms.

Share: Nadine McHugh at the Leadership Breakfast Series by Amy Lam and Sue McCauley

Our second exclusive Leadership Breakfast Series featured Nadine McHugh, Managing Director, MindShare, as the guest speaker at Yahoo! on October 15th. Interviewed by Terry Yoffe, Personal & Professional Development Coach and chair of the AWNY Mentoring committee, Nadine talked about key themes in mentoring, leadership and work/life balance. She is proud to be part of the AWNY Mentoring program, as it gives her an opportunity to give back to the community and to reflect on her roots.

She started in the advertising industry with the dream of being a copywriter. Her initial plan was to land a job in account management and transition into copy writing, but she ended up in the world of media planning. She attributes her career success to her family upbringing and motto: "I never thought I couldn't do anything" and advises women to tune into their natural skills to be successful by "listening to your gut." She also noted that people should not be hung up at having a precise career path because choices are now changing faster than ever and may result in a "zig-zag" route.

Throughout her career, her leadership success came from observing other people and deciding which behaviors she wanted to own (and not to own). She has very fond memories of one of her mentors, her first boss. He had a special way of connecting with people. He:

• Knew how to rally the group
• Had an attitude that was not above anyone
• Taught others to not be afraid to use common sense
• Had a great sense of humor
• Did little things that meant so much (i.e. bring people flowers spontaneously) - Knew when people had enough
• Was passionate about his work
• Had perspective on life
• Knew how to get from point A to B quickly
• Was a great storyteller
• Took risks

One of the most important lessons she learned was to maintain a level of integrity and focus. "As you move up, you need to be aware of what you put out there for people below." Nadine warned about those who "drink their own kool-aid" when they get to a certain level. "It is so important to be able to see yourself in the mirror." She continues to find pockets of inspiration and be a good role model to her children.

During the Q&As portion of the breakfast, Nadine addressed several different topics:

1. Work/Life Balance
   - She does not work towards balancing her life. "I strive to be and do the best that I can. Be true to yourself and who you are."
   - Understand what feeds your soul
   - Take pause to figure out what you want to do
   - Explore and ask constantly
   - Be good to yourself
   - Exercise
   - Eat better
   - Do what's right for you
   
2. Motivation
   - Keep looking for pockets of inspiration
   - You just have to pull yourself up; rise to the occasion
   - Be innovative, be resourceful
   - Talk about it--have conversations and reassess the situation
   - Don't beat yourself up for 6 months when you start a new job - get your feet on the ground and get comfortable
   - You learn from failures in life
   - When you freak out, you paralyze yourself
   - Listen to intuition aka: your "gut"
   - Give yourself credit and be kinder to yourself
   - As women, it is natural for us to reflect inward; whereas men forge forward
   
3. Mentoring
   - Be open to learning
   - Don't be afraid to be creative
   - Follow your intuition: Use & Trust; Go with your gut!
   - Keep charging
   - You can be anything you want to be, as long as you are happy
   - Believe you can do it
   - Allow ourselves to use your natural gifts
   - Discover formal and informal mentors in life and decide which behaviors you want to emulate and others that you just observe
   - Take risks, be bold & think outside the box
   - Be mindful of your behavior
   - Be creative
   - Maintain level of integrity
   
4. Inspirational Life Mantras
   - Grass isn't always greener
   - Strive to do the best you can everyday
   - Be true to yourself
   - Define your own parameters
   - Embody a desire to learn
   - Have a path/idea of where you want to go
   - Sit & figure out what makes you special - what are you bringing to the table? What's your brand? Who am I? What do I want to be? What feeds your soul?
   - Take pause to figure out what you want to do
   - Ask questions & explore
   - Stay focused on who you want to be and be proud of who you are

On Nadine's reading list is Cathie Black's (President of Hearst Magazines) 2007 book: "Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life)."

Sign up now for the 2010 AWNY Mentoring Program

Now is the time to get yourself a mentoring partner for 2010. There is no charge to participate, but lots of rewards in return. The deadlines for the 2010 Program are: Monday, November, 2nd for mentees and Monday, November, 16th for mentors. Sign up today!

The application forms are available for downloading:

• Mentor Application: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AePCwgRbaJkQZGZuZG1tZmhfOWR0ZzRra2N0&hl=en
• Mentee Application: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AePCwgRbaJkQZGZuZG1tZmhfNzU5NHMyN2Nn&hl=en

Please follow the directions on the applications. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Beth Warren at elizabethawnyc@gmail.com or Terry Yoffe at terry@TRYcoaching.com.

New for 2010 – Reverse Mentoring!

Reverse mentoring offers the opportunity to gain technical expertise and a different perspective. It might be a younger member (in the mentoring role) paired with a more experienced member or a peer-to-peer relationship where both participants have a lot to teach and lot to learn. Provided we get enough mentee and mentor participants -- we are offering this as an addition to our traditional mentoring program.

Volunteer with your Mentor!

On October 10th, join the AWNY Young Execs committee to volunteer at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer- it's a unique activity to experience with your mentor/mentee, plus a great way to get to know your fellow AWNY members. This will be the 3rd consecutive year of our support squad, and every time we've found it to be inspirational to cheer on the walkers, who have all been touched by cancer in different ways, as well as a lot of fun to see new and familiar AWNY ladies in a different kind of setting. All while wearing pink, of course! Details are below- don't forget to check out the blog for pictures, updates and more info.

OFFICIAL EVENT DETAILS

What: AWNY cheering on Avon walkers

When: Sat, Oct 10th from 12 - 3:30 pm

Group brunch afterward. Venue TBD.

Where: Stuyvesant Square

2nd Ave between 15th & 16th Street

Who: AWNY members & non-members. All are welcome!

RSVP: aimeslam@gmail.com or maryriley@hotmail.com

Blog: Details on http://awnysupportsavonwalk.tumblr.com/

Leadership Breakfast Series: Nadine McHugh

Our second Leadership Breakfast Series will feature Nadine McHugh, Managing Director, MindShare. Currently an AWNY member and a mentor, she will talk to us about her leadership philosophy and experience as it relates to mentoring:

Veteran strategic planner and manager, Nadine McHugh has spent the majority of her career at WPP companies; first at Ogilvy & Mather, and later at Mindshare, which she joined when the company’s U.S. operation was established in late 2000. Nadine is committed to training and raising the bar on communication planning. She is the Director of the M Academy, GroupM’s U.S. training program. As part of that commitment, she has created and directed several of Mindshare’s North American media workshops.

EVENT DETAILS:

• When: Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
  Breakfast served at 7:45 am, program starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.

• Location: Yahoo, Inc.
  1065 Avenue of the Americas, 12th floor (entrance is on West 40th Street)Times Square Conference Room

• RSVP: These exclusive events are complimentary, but by invitation only to all 2009 AWNY mentoring program participants. Due to strict security and space limitations, no walk-ins will be allowed. Please RSVP by replying to your email invitation or contacting Lynn at the AWNY office at 212-221-7969 by Tuesday, October 13th.

What are you interested to learn at this event? What questions would you want to ask Nadine McHugh? Post your thoughts now!

Special thanks to Yahoo, Inc.

Share: Fran Hauser answers more questions!

Fran Hauser graciously volunteered to answer a few questions after speaking at the Leadership Breakfast Series in June. The following are Fran's answers to two questions posted by our blog readers.

Q. As a woman with an impressive job who has climbed the career ladder to a spot that many of us aspire to reach someday, what do you see as your next steps? What are the next set of goals you'd like to achieve, either for yourself personally and/or your career?

A. I would like to run my own business one day. I think that would be an incredible next step in my career (although, I don't think I am quite there yet). I am still enjoying my current role too much. On the personal side of things, I would love to start a family.

Q. While managing 150 people at age 27 at Coca Cola, you obviously grasped some key principles of management at a young age. What are key pieces of advice for: 1) first-time managers and 2) young managers whosupervise older colleagues?

A. Key pieces of advice for first-time managers: learning how to delegate doesn't mean totally letting go (you still need to stay close enough to the situation to be aware of when you need to get involved). Remember that different people are motivated by different things (someby money, some by public recognition, some by being given exposure to senior management, etc..) so you need to adapt your style. Always take a step backand and revisit what success looks like for the business and/or for a specific project. Be specific with what your expectations are (especially with junior staff) sometimes to the point of working with them to sketch out a template of what the final product/presentation should look like.

Key pieces of advice for young managers who supervise older colleagues: identify what the older colleagues' strengths are that complement your "gaps" and let them know that you are really going to be relying on them for that. Do a lot of listening (make it clear that you respect their experience and their opinions) and earn their respect by delivering results.

Special thanks to Fran Hauser & Cheryl Darmanin.

Share: Fran Hauser at the Leadership Breakfast Series by Christa Babcock

Fran Hauser, President of Digital for the Time Inc. Style and Entertainment Group,was interviewed by Cheryl Darmanin, Sr. Director of Account Management at Yahoo, at Yahoo as the first speaker for an exclusive Mentors/Mentees breakfast meeting series at Yahoo on June 9th. Fran oversees all business, sales, product development and production functions for the digital products of the PEOPLE Brand, Entertainment Weekly, In Style and Essence. She joined PEOPLE Digital as General Manager in February 2006. She shared incredible insights into the life of a leader, and how one can grow into a leadership role, and answered questions from the floor. Below are questions and answers from the event. If you didn’t make it to the event and have questions for Fran, please blog them here. Fran has graciously volunteered to answer a few questions and the mentoring committee will make selections by Monday, June 22nd.

Q: I think a lot of people have parents that guide them into or away from certain careers. Tell me a little bit about your childhood, growing up and how that impacted your career today?

A: Growing up, I got great guidance right at home. My parents were actually both new to this country from Italy. They didn’t speak a word of English, so there I was as a child, making the phone calls if something needed to be fixed in the house, and helping to take on that more adult role. As for the career I chose, I remember in college that they were fine with me studying business and pursuing finance. They didn’t think it was a bad thing, at all. However, I also saw both of my parents work incredibly hard and despite the language barrier, I saw them succeed. Just watching them do that gave me huge motivation to succeed, as well.

Q: What do you look for in a leader – whether you are hiring externally or promoting from within? Why is that important to you?

A: At Time, all of the leaders have one characteristic in common; they exude a quiet confidence. As leaders, we ask ‘am I projecting confidence as a leader even during a tough time?’ Quiet confidence, not aggressive confidence. Watch people during difficult situations.

Q: How do you manage work/life balance?

A: Scheduling. I schedule time for philanthropy and for time for my family. Every Sunday to this day, I see my family. We spend time together. At first you say, ‘Oh. I’m going to get back on Monday and have 200 e-mails, so let me just get some of that done now.’ But then you realize that you get sucked into that and that it is, in fact, okay to wait until Monday. By scheduling that time, you can make sure that you fulfill your work life balance. It is important not to get sucked into the weeds.

Q: You are a board member of the Women’s Leadership Foundation. Tell me about that organization and why is it important to you?

A: The goal of The Women’s Leadership Foundation, which works primarily in New Jersey and New York City is to help girls in Urban areas, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to, get into college. We provide Financial Aid and Scholarships. When the Executive Director first met with me, she said it was important to make sure I was only on one Board and that this was it and I liked that. The girls who participate in this program would never have a chance to go to college. It makes me cry to think about it and it is amazing to see what they accomplish.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Thinking about building products that excite and delight in what consumers want!

Leadership Breakfast Series: Fran Hauser

The AWNY Mentoring Program is introducing the Leadership Breakfast Series! These new exclusive events will feature a distinguished guest who will come in to talk about their leadership philosophy and experience. The one hour sessions are a great opportunity to receive career advice from a professional, as well as to interact with others in the AWNY mentoring program.

Our first event will feature Fran Hauser:


Fran Hauser serves as President of Digital for the Time Inc. Style and Entertainment Group, overseeing all business, sales, product development and production functions for the digital products of the PEOPLE Brand, Entertainment Weekly, In Style and Essence. She joined PEOPLE Digital as General Manager in February 2006.

EVENT DETAILS:

• When: Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 from 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
  Breakfast served at 7:45 am, program starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.



• Location: Yahoo, Inc.
  1065 Avenue of the Americas, 12th floor (entrance is on West 40th Street)
  Times Square Conference Room



• RSVP: These exclusive events are complimentary, but by invitation only to all 2009 AWNY mentoring program participants. Due to strict security and space limitations, no walk-ins will be allowed. Please RSVP by replying to your email invitation or contacting Lynn at the AWNY office at 212-221-7969.
  

What are you interested to learn at this event? What questions would you want to ask Fran Hauser? Post your thoughts now and we will feature your comments with answers in a follow-up blog entry!

Special thanks to Yahoo, Inc.

Grow: Mentor Q&A

Q. My Mentor is insightful but she is considerably older than I am and I wonder if someone in Middle Management might have a different perspective than she has as an Executive?

A. This is a very good question and you can ask this without fear of offending her. When one is interviewing it is a rather standard question to ask “If I am hired, what would success look like from 1. the boss’ perspective 2. the subordinate's perspective and 3. the President’s perspective. For instance your question could be framed as: "Since you have a number of different Middle Managers working for you, can you share what their criteria were for employees they recently promoted?"

Grow: How to Perfect an Elevator Pitch About Yourself

Daisy Wademan Dowling, author of Remember Who You Are and contributor to the Harvard Business Review recently provided 5 easy, intuitive, and incredibly inightful tips that will lead to perfect a strong elevator pitch. Read the featured article here: http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/dowling/2009/05/how-to-perfect-an-elevator-pit.html

Share: Where to Meet

Now that the better weather is here you might want to set up your next mentoring meeting outdoors and explore some of the softer topics. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Midtown: Bryant Park 42nd/6th Ave -Pick up your lunch at the deli and meet here to discuss the pros and cons of mixing business with pleasure (take a share house with clients? date a peer at work?)
2. Downtown: South Street Seaport - Go for drinks after work and discuss how best to see where your industry is going and to stay current and play a leadership role
3. Midtown: St. Bart's outdoor cafe 51st/Park Ave. - Over an inexpensive lunch share best networking practices, sources and successes.
Mentoring should be a breath of fresh air. Enjoy and please share your favorite outdoor dining places with all of us....blog back!

Learn: The New Executive Woman

According to Forbes Woman, "the new executive woman doesn't wear opaque panty hose and doesn't wait around for a promotion."

A new age of young female executives are taking the corner office by storm, viewing their careers strategically and not settling for jobs that do not challenge and advance them.

Read more about the new wave of female leaders, from Melissa Mayer of Google to Cheryl Sandberg of Facebook to Anne Mulcahy of Xerox.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/01/workplace-career-ladder-women-power-executive.html

Learn: Leadership Lessons from a Philanthropist

In the March 2009 issue of The McKinsey Quarterly, Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund, shares leadership lessons from her experience in venture philanthropy in Africa. The video is embedded above - you can also view the transcript of her interview here:

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Organization/Talent/Women_and_leadership_Learning_from_the_social_sector_2336
Key leadership lessons from Jacqueline include:

• "I had to learn to have the humility myself to really listen to their perspectives, and yet not stop there; to have the audaciousness to say, “It’s a good starting point, but we want to get you to this other place.”
• "The real lesson for me was how that dignity is so much more important to the human spirit than wealth"
• "[...] leadership as a way of inspiring, listening, and letting people [...] grow themselves in their own way.
• "I’m a big optimist. I really believe in setting impossible goals and then making them possible."

Share: Photos from the 2009 Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast

Check out the below link to view photos from the Mentoring Breakfast on 3/10/09:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7517401@N04/

Thanks again to the 75 attendees who made this event a success!

Share: Mary & Amy's Top 5 Tips on How to Be a Good Mentee/Mentor

Thanks to everyone for coming to the Mentoring Breakfast at Yahoo! this past Tuesday. We had a great turnout with 75 mentees/mentors in attendance!

Here are the top 5 tips on how to be a good mentee/mentor that Mary Riley and Amy Lam presented at the breakfast. Enjoy!

1) Set a goal: what do you want to get out of the mentoring relationship? What area(s) do you want to work on? Are you seeking more industry knowledge? Do you want to learn/refine a skill?

2) Listen: What is the person really saying? How does one's body language emphasize their thoughts and ideas?

3) Be honest & open: The more honest and open you are, the more information the other person has to understand you, your point or your situation. Be honest with yourself. Have you been faced with a certain challenge time and time again because you are afraid to pursue a certain action?

4) Give feedback: Especially for mentees, are your mentors' suggestions helpful? What happened when you took action? How are you learning from your mentoring experience?

5) Know that you are not alone: The Mentoring Committee is here to help you. Each pair is assigned to a committee representative that is there to make sure things are going smoothly. Mentees can reach out to the Young Executives committee. There are great resources available.

Grow: Inspirational Quotes

"A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could."

- Unknown

Share: Where to Meet

Did you have a great first mentoring get-together? Looking for meeting inspiration? Trying to decide if you would benefit from a more structured mentoring relationship?

Comment on this post to share your ideas or pose questions regarding effective mentoring meetings.

Grow: Think Big

A great mentor encourages her mentee to "think big," inspiring the exploration of business without any upward boundaries.

Many mentees are inspired by the stories of successful women - whether listening to the method with which their mentor solved a complicated strategic challenge, or reading the stories of successful leaders .

Even if you've seen this already, you can help but be inspired by Fortune's list of the 50 Most Powerful Women In Business:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostpowerfulwomen/2008/full_list/

Think big. Then, get there.

Share: What to Discuss

Mentoring Idea: Attend an industry event with your mentee/mentor and set up some time to discuss the implications of the topic over coffee. If time doesn't permit a second meeting, catch up via phone or email.


Here are some upcoming AWNY events to consider for your next meeting:
March 11: 2008 Advertising Woman of the Year
March 24: Networking Clinic
April 1: Impact Awards
April 9: Boardroom Breakfast with Geralyn R. Breig
April 16: What's Your Next Move? - Trasferring Your Skill Set
April 23: Changing the Game Awards Luncheon
April 28: Nothing Happens Until You Learn How To Sell Yourself
May 27: Boardroom Breakfast with Sally Susman


Purchase tickets and see full details here:
http://www.awny.org/EventsCalendar.html

Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast on March 10, 2009

Welcome to the 2009 AWNY Mentoring Program! We're looking forward to learning, sharing, and growing together throughout the year. Please feel free to comment on posts anytime to share your feedback and ideas.

The AWNY Mentoring Committee is also excited to meet all of you at the 2009 Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast at Yahoo! on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

• Learn how to make the most of your mentoring partnership
• Have fun networking with others in the mentoring program
• Meet AWNY mentoring co-chairs and committee members

Please find details below:

When: Tuesday, March 10th, 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. (Breakfast served at 7:45 am, program starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.)
Location: Yahoo, Inc., 1065 Avenue of the Americas (at West 40th Street), 12th floor, Times Square Conference Room
RSVP: By Friday, March 6th via phone at (212) 221-7969 or email at lynn@awny.org

Free for mentoring program participants. Attendance is limited. (No walk-ins due to strict security and space limitations.)

See you there!

Grow: Career Advancement in Tough Times

When the economy gets tough, we get tougher! As strong-willed women, we know that tough economic times mean self-reflection and innovative thinking. Read more for do's and dont's that can help make the most of any situation:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_44/b4106052111185.htm?chan=careers_managing+your+career+page_top+stories