Understanding Mentorship Importance in Career Growth
Obstacles are a part of every job. The question is how we deal with them when they arise.
Early in my career, I felt that I had to excel at every aspect of my work to be valued. I would try to overcome every obstacle on my own without seeking help. This was not a great idea, as I learned the hard way.
It took a while, but I got the message that seeking help from others was a strength rather than a weakness. Once that realization took hold, I set about creating a network of colleagues – internal and external – that I could tap into on matters large and small. Over the years, I’ve found that this approach has made a huge difference for me personally and professionally. I also have found that I seek out obstacles and challenges now that I am much more equipped to navigate them.
This is why I know mentorship is so important. Early in my career, I was fortunate to have a wonderful mentor who supported me as I progressed in my career. Now, I pay it forward and help guide other young women trying to advance their careers.
One of the best pieces of advice I received from my mentor was to actively embrace challenges and never shy away from obstacles. Instead, look for opportunities in less obvious places, and don’t be afraid of trying to create something from nothing. Over the years, I’ve followed that advice, seeking opportunities that others did not find attractive — like selling in the most challenging territories — or that didn’t exist, like creating a new position within the organization and presenting it to management.
I strongly believe every woman in business should have a mentor. Building social capital at work can be challenging, especially in settings where there are fewer women. When I mentor an individual, one of the key things I try to do is encourage them to venture outside their specific area of expertise and open themselves to learning new disciplines. For instance, I’ll encourage a young woman on the sales and marketing team to learn more about the financial side of the business because that breadth of knowledge could help her make it to the C-suite someday.
Empowering Women through Women of ibex
As a strong believer in mentorship, I founded the Women of ibex, a program for female-identifying employees designed to inspire, empower, and transform. It aims to increase opportunities and create growth, advancement, and success through education, mentoring, and networking. The program promotes an environment that recognizes the value of women’s contributions within ibex and beyond the company.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to be yourself. As women, we often think we need to conform and restrict how we present ourselves in professional settings. I was far too tentative at the beginning of my career and was reluctant to fully integrate my personality into my work. The reality, however, is that you will come across as more authentic — and be more successful — when you allow your true self to shine.
About the Author
Name: Julie Casteel
Professional Title: Chief Strategic Accounts Officer and CMO
Bio: Julie Casteel is the Chief Strategic Accounts Officer and CMO at ibex, where she oversees the company’s largest, most tenured clients and ibex’s marketing strategy. Julie has been responsible for new client sales efforts for ibex since 2016. She also led the company through a strategic rebranding movement to a public market, as well as helping drive the company’s consistent double-digit year-over-year growth.
