leadership DEVELOPMENT Denise Ledi having a mentor
is an invaluable asset. Having someone who’s likely walked in your shoes and successfully navi-
who’s ‘been there and done that’ invested in your personal gated and overcame familiar barriers and challenges. and professional growth and development can mean the When you don’t see other people like you, successfully difference between success and failure. There are several doing what you’re doing, it can be harder to relate and benefits to working with a mentor, such as: • increasing your knowledge in your given field, • improving your problem-solving abilities,
create your own path. I’ve been both a mentee and mentor. My first mentoring experience was with a young Black man with a shared
• building your confidence, developing your leadership cultural background and an aspiring police officer. A skills,
mutual acquaintance facilitated our introduction. We had
• maximizing your business bottom line, work an inquisitive and frank discussion about my field of study performance, and or promotional opportunities, and (Criminology), how I translated that background into a • building your network.
thriving career, and what he wanted to do. He asked to
Mentorship can be a wonderful, mutually satisfying keep in touch as he embarked on his studies. experience however, it can also be daunting when you
I was shocked, humbled, honored, and a little scared.
cannot find the representation you’re looking for. Let’s face Was I really qualified for mentorship? What did I know? it; how often have you heard “I want or prefer a mentor Nonetheless I accepted. I’m proud to say he graduated who is Black; someone like me, who fundamentally under- near the top of both his academic and cadet class and has stands the uncomfortable truths of what it’s like being on risen within the ranks.
We have a 25 + year relation-
the receiving end of conscious and unconscious systemic ship that’s among my most gratifying relationships, both biases, racism, and or micro aggressions.” A person who personally and professionally. Since then, I’ve mentored has felt the isolation and pressure of being “the only one” countless others. doing what you’re doing without having to explain this.
Early in my career I was fortunate to have two
The desire to have a mentor with a shared cultural women mentors. One in leadership, the other an expeor racial profile isn’t superficial; it’s about having an estab- rienced coworker, neither is Black. These relationships lished, unspoken kinship and connectedness with someone commenced organically. 8 .
issue ii
I shared my challenges and
