Growing Organizations – and People – One Relationship at a Time
If you ask for the secret to my achievements in the advertising industry — what has allowed me to build an award-winning agency with over 120 brilliant, passionate team members — I won’t point to a pitch deck, a campaign, or even a client. I’ll point to people.
And among the most influential of those people are the mentors.
Before I was a founder, I was finding my way. Before I gave advice, I took it. Mentorship wasn’t a line on my resume; it was the lifeline that pulled me up and propelled me forward. Today, as a business owner and creative leader, it remains the most important investment I make, not only in others but in myself.
From Mentee to Mentor: A Full-Circle Journey
One often thinks of mentorship as a career, college, or perhaps even a high school relationship. But when I think about it, from the time I was six years old, I had a mentor. My parents were certainly dedicated to instilling solid values and ensuring I was engaged in academics, but I mean a non-family member mentor. At six, I was enrolled in the Metco program, one of the first school integration programs. What this meant was that I was bussed from my home in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to Lincoln, Massachusetts, about 20 miles away. They assigned us host families, and mine was Dr. Benjamin Spock, known for his expertise in child development and parenting. Part of the role of the host family was to provide mentorship to those of us who were growing up in communities with less access to economic stability, educational excellence, and professional career role models. In this sense, my exposure to mentoring started when I was young.
By the time I went to Babson College, where I focused on my entrepreneurial passions, I was well aware of how important it was to network and get input from those with greater experience than myself or my friends and family. I also understood the importance of paying it forward as I engaged in school politics and became Babson’s first Black, Gay Student Body President. Mentoring others gave me a sense of service and perspective.
At Babson, because of my involvement with student government, I interacted with the Board of Directors. This ultimately led to a mentor who would change my life, although I suppose that could be said of each of them. Roger Enrico, CMO of PepsiCo, was indeed the mentor who had the greatest impact on my professional life. I still remember how he challenged me to think big, encouraged me to focus on innovation, and taught me the value of teamwork. because of him, I learned how to carry myself, recover from losses, own victories, listen deeply, and lead humbly.
Today, I’ve mentored dozens of creatives, strategists, account managers, and fellow entrepreneurs. But I never stopped being a mentee. That reciprocal journey of growth is at the heart of mentoring.
The Business Case for Mentorship
1. Mentorship Builds a Thriving Company Culture
We often discuss company culture. In fact, we recently had a three-day Summit with every team member flying in from throughout the country and beyond. Company culture was woven into every session and present in the breaks, meals, and evening activities. We celebrated our values, doubled down on our commitment to diversity, and conducted team-building activities. And one of the most sought-after connections people wanted to take away with them was a connection to mentorship.
It was evident that real culture is modeled, not mandated. When mentorship is embedded into your organization, people feel seen. They feel they belong. They know they matter beyond their job descriptions. This has always been important but, since the pandemic, even more so. Gone are the days when one could arrive early or stay late and get some one-on-one time with a respected leader within your company whose office may have been down the hall or who bumped into you at the copier.
Because we continue to offer our team remote work options, we are always coming up with new ways to bring team members together in meaningful ways. We have also added Collaboration Days, a weekly in-office day that inspires in-person communication and interactions across departments. We allocate time for career discussions, not just project reviews. And we track mentorship as a key performance indicator, not for performance, but for fostering a sense of belonging. Because when people feel mentored, they’re more likely to stay, grow, and mentor others.
2. Mentorship Shapes Future Leaders
Some of the most promising creatives I’ve worked with had incredible instincts but lacked the confidence to voice them. And, by the way, my use of the word “creatives” applies to talent across the agency, in every discipline, from the classic creatives who write and design to account management, finance, strategy, production, experiential, and the list goes on. If you are working in advertising, you are problem-solving, and if you’re problem-solving, you are creative. Mentorship unlocks everyone’s leadership potential. It’s how institutional knowledge and belief are transferred.
One of my proudest moments wasn’t an award or a campaign; it was witnessing a young woman I mentored ascend to lead her own department. She told me, “You saw something in me before I did.” That’s the power of mentorship. It lends you a vision of your future self when your current self is still uncertain.
3. Mentorship Drives Business Success
Let’s face it: this industry moves fast. New technologies, platforms, and expectations emerge constantly. What remains constant is the need for humans to feel supported, challenged, and connected.
Mentoring helps keep your team agile, curious, and emotionally intelligent. It bridges generational gaps and fuels collaboration. It creates continuity during transitions. Perhaps most importantly, it builds loyalty in an era where side hustles and career-hopping are common. I believe mentorship is the most scalable way to grow leaders inside your organization, not just hire them from the outside.
Consider this: According to a 2022 study by MentorcliQ, 84% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs, and retention is 20% higher for employees who are mentored. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a strategic move that contributes to sustained success.
The Personal Growth Catalyst: Mentoring
1. Mentorship Enhances Self-Awareness
When you mentor, you’re compelled to reflect. You can’t offer guidance without examining your own path. It forces you to check your ego, own your mistakes, and articulate your learnings. That’s how you grow.
Some of my most significant realizations as a leader emerged not in solitude but in conversations with those I was mentoring. Their questions reminded me why I started. Their insights challenged me to evolve.
2. Mentorship Rekindles Passion
Even the most exciting industries can wear you down. Mentoring reminds you of what you love about the work. It reignites that original spark, the one when you were still figuring things out, taking risks, and hungry for success.
Witnessing someone else experience their first big pitch or breakthrough moment rejuvenates your own drive. When approached with intention, mentorship is energizing, not draining.
3. Mentorship Leaves a Lasting Legacy
Awards are gratifying. Revenue is essential. But what will people remember? The leader who took time. The leader who genuinely inquired about their well-being. The leader picked up the phone instead of sending an email. That’s legacy.
Mentoring is how you leave your imprint on someone else’s journey, invisible perhaps, but visibility isn’t the point.
Practical Steps to Foster a Mentorship Culture
- Formalize Mentorship Initiatives
Don’t just hope mentorship happens or insinuate that initiating a mentorship relationship is the responsibility of the mentee. Create structures—onboarding pairings, mentorship circles, monthly one-on-ones—that embed it into your organization’s fabric. - Recognize and Reward Mentorship
Celebrate individuals who uplift others. Incorporate mentorship into performance reviews. Highlight stories of internal mentorship successes. Make it matter. - Encourage Cross-Departmental Mentorship
Promote mentorship across departments, generations, and cultures. Some of the richest insights come from unexpected pairings. - Lead by Example
Be transparent about who mentored you. Share your gratitude. Actively mentor others. Culture starts at the top.
The Final Word: Be the Mentor You Once Needed
In every industry, we need mentors. Especially in those arenas like advertising, where creativity meets pressure and ideas are currency. We need truth-tellers, encouragers, and guides.
So be the mentor you once needed. Or better yet, be the mentor you still need — because mentorship doesn’t stop at a title or a trophy. It’s how we honor those who helped us rise. And how we ensure we’re never riding alone.
By Aaron Walton, WALTON ISAACSON AGENCY
