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Elle Morris Advertising

The benefits of a mentor-mentee relationship in business and in life

By Elle Morris, President

August 22, 2016 | 5 min read

I am one of the few women in executive positions in the field of design as president of the Americas at global design firm Elmwood.

Elle Morris

I would not be where I am today without the strong women with whom I’ve had the privilege of calling my mentors. These women were so impactful in my life that I knew if I was ever in a position to mentor other women, I would.

As my career has progressed, I’ve had the opportunity to pay it forward by mentoring a number of intelligent young women. As a mentor, I knew my role was to help these young women succeed, but what I didn’t expect were the benefits I’d receive in return. For every person I’ve ever mentored, they have mentored me back, making me a better leader, better professional and ultimately, a better person.

I currently mentor a young woman named Polly Sands, an account manager for Elmwood in Australia. We Skype regularly, share important industry news and update each other on current trends from our respective geographies. I counsel her on leadership and she gives me advice on new challenges I face in a constantly evolving work environment. For example, when I’m having trouble understanding the new generation of millennials entering the workforce, Polly never hesitates to say, “That’s so Gen X of you, Elle.” She provides a new perspective that improves my leadership abilities. Mentoring is a two-way street. It’s not me sitting on a mountain and preaching down. I learn from them and they keep me relevant.

Lauren is another woman I’ve had the pleasure of developing a mentor relationship with over the years. When she started as a strategist at a firm where I used to work, I actually approached her to be my mentor, even though I was technically her senior. Lauren reminded me so much of myself and I knew we could learn a lot from each other.

She was young and heavy-set, just like I was when I started my career in design. I had recently lost a lot of weight through a gastric bypass surgery and many women began seeing me as a threat for the first time. I experienced some really bad behavior from women who went out of their way to keep other women down. I wanted to share these lessons and experiences with Lauren, and learn how she dealt with these obstacles. When Lauren left her position and moved to California, I continued to mentor her both personally and professionally. We talked about weight and I provided support as she embarked on a weight-loss journey that changed her life. I also coached her through a major relationship dissolution, and our relationship only grew stronger. A mentor does not have to be strictly professional. When you have a 360° view of each other, it only strengthens the relationship. Lauren has shared that my guidance greatly impacted her life, but our relationship has meant just as much to me.

The opportunity to know Lauren and be a part of her journey has been a privilege. Because there was no pretense about differing professional levels, we let the relationship expand to all segments of our lives, and embarked on this mentoring relationship that has made me a better professional and person.

Another young women who I've mentored moved to Singapore and now lives in India. We’ve made it a priority to keep in touch despite the distance and time difference. Recently, I needed design help in India. She was able to provide multiple connections that greatly contributed to the project. Because of my relationship with her, I’ve not only learned from her travels and experiences, but she’s created new connections that have elevated my work. That’s the beauty of technology today. Unlike generations of the past, you don’t have to stay in the same geography to stay in touch. As the people I’ve mentored move around and make connections, I’ve been able to create this invaluable network that has become global.

As a mentor, you truly never know the impact you will have on another person’s career and life. It’s such an important relationship that not only helps the mentee succeed, but also helps the mentor continue to learn and flourish in unforeseen ways. I believe that for women to continue to succeed in design and obtain leadership positions, we must help each other through committed and mutually beneficial mentorship and support.

Elle Morris is president of the Americas at brand design consultancy Elmwood

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