Mentorship is Leadership
Mentorship, for me, is leadership in its most natural form. It is about recognizing potential in others, taking their goals seriously, and walking alongside them as they turn ideas into action and tangible progress. Effective mentoring requires consistency, showing up repeatedly, listening deeply, asking thoughtful questions, and being willing to challenge, encourage, and celebrate. When it is rooted in genuine care, mentoring stops being a transaction or a checkbox and becomes a relationship built on trust, honesty, and mutual growth.
As a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metropolitan DC Chapter (NCBWDC), mentoring has been central to how I show up across our three key pillars: health, education, and economic empowerment. One of my most meaningful experiences has been through the NCBWDC Exceptionally Me program, where our chapter mentors young Black girls in Washington, DC by committing focused time and real listening to one student at a time. Over a 8-week span, we created space in our schedules to understand who each girl is, what she cares about, and how her ambitions can translate into real milestones and accomplishments. The message was consistent: honor your professional dreams while building character, staying true to your values, and using practical tools and techniques to pursue your goals with confidence. My mentee, for example, aspired to attend college and become a nurse while continuing to grow the braiding business she launched in high school—an early expression of both service and entrepreneurship.
My role as a mentor is not to choose a path for my mentees, but to create a supportive environment where they can clarify their own path. I aim to ask thoughtful questions, share relevant experiences, and provide tools, structure, and accountability so they can define success on their own terms. Mentoring is both practical and deeply personal for me: I enjoy talking about their journey whether it is school, business, time management, and planning, but also about self-belief, identity, and resilience. I mentor because I believe people deserve steady, thoughtful advocates in their corner—and because every time I invest in someone’s growth, I grow as well in perspective and purpose.
My call to action is simple: be available. Offer your time, your commitment, and your willingness to build genuine relationships through mentoring. All of us benefit from good advice, honest feedback, and shared experiences that we can carry forward on our life journeys. If you are considering how to give back in 2026, consider saying yes to a mentoring opportunity—someone’s future story may be shaped by the time you choose to invest. Consider receiving feedback and find a mentor for your journey.
