Simple Actions, Immense Impacts: How Mentorship Changed My Perspective

For many people, mentorship can play a central role in figuring out who they are and who they want to be. But the prospect of mentorship can be daunting; how do you even find a mentor, much less become one for someone else?

We spoke with Jordan S. from Fisher Investments about his experiences with mentorship in his career and his personal life. Below, he shares his approach to mentorship and its importance in building up members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Please introduce yourself and describe your role at Fisher Investments.

My name is Jordan S., and I’m the Team Leader of the Global Marketing Data Privacy and Operations Team. Our team supports the Marketing department in onboarding new vendors, reviewing marketing campaigns, risk management, legal contract routing, training, and more. Outside of my day-to-day, I serve as the Pride employee resource group leader for my office. As a leader, I focus on connecting and supporting employees who are members or allies of the LGBTQ+ community.

In your opinion, why is being a mentor important and what are the personal benefits?

Mentorship gives you the opportunity to see through another’s eyes while simultaneously sharing your perspective in a way that is mutually beneficial. It allows you to learn, educate, and have an impact beyond yourself. We each have our own unique experiences that can positively influence someone else, even if we don’t realize it.

Have you ever acted as a mentor for someone in a professional capacity? If so, what did that look like?

As a Team Leader, I’m constantly acting as a mentor for members of my team. This can take the form of small things, such as basic day-to-day activities and communications, or larger, more intentional mentorship efforts during development conversations or feedback sessions. I’ve always loved helping people, and my job allows me to do that often.

What is your approach to connecting with your mentees?

I believe that connections with mentees can come in all forms—humility, shared experiences, vulnerability—and that connection goes both ways. Being a mentor doesn’t mean you know everything, or even more than your mentee. It means you want to focus on bettering someone else and ultimately learn from one another along the way.

Do you believe there are enough mentors in the LGBTQ+ community? What would be your advice to attract more mentors?

I believe that mentorship is constantly occurring within the LGBTQ+ community, whether or not people know that’s what they’re doing. It can happen through normal interactions where the concept of mentorship may not necessarily be identified or defined, though it is likely felt. In my experience, the “unofficial” mentorship moments can be the most meaningful and feel the most natural.

I would love to see more ongoing mentorship in the community, and I believe it starts with reshaping how we view mentorship. Mentorship can seem intimidating if it’s portrayed as a highly structured responsibility. However, it doesn’t have to be a big thing to have a big impact. Just by lending support during a tough time, you can serve as a mentor. My advice would be to keep your mind open to what others are doing, saying, and experiencing. From there, you’ll likely find plenty of opportunities to impact another person’s life for the better.

Do you have any advice for LGBTQ+ professionals who want to become mentors?

My advice is to go for it! Living authentically as an LGBTQ+ professional may be daunting at first, but it’s important that we can all bring our true selves to work and share who we are with those around us. Before starting in the workforce post-college, I never would’ve imagined I’d be able to confidently exist as exactly who I am at work. Fortunately, I’ve found a company where I can be open about my identity.

If you’re unsure how to approach mentorship at work, I recommend leaning on an employee resource group. I’ve found these to be a safe space to build connections within the community. Outside of work, I also suggest chatting with your “chosen family,” whoever that may be, to get their perspective on how to translate mentorship from the personal space into the workplace.