Leveraging a Mentor-Mentee Relationship
By: Lana Estok
If you have ever found yourself wondering how to make the most out of our Mentorship Program here in AMA, or any mentorship opportunity for that matter, this blog post is for you!
I am currently in my third year at Ohio State and this is my second year being a part of AMA. Last school year, I had the pleasure to get to know my amazing mentor, Katelyn Brass. We spent the school year getting to know each other, building a professional relationship, and ultimately cultivating a meaningful friendship. I had the opportunity to interview Katelyn as a post-grad AMA and Ohio State alum where she updated me on her life and shared her key learnings from the mentorship program. I am here to share a first hand account of a mentorship program success story that led to personal and professional growth, and greatly assisted in the landing of my summer 2024 internship opportunity with KeyBank!
Getting to Know Your Mentor
Let's start with a little bit of background on my mentor, Katelyn. Katelyn was a member of AMA for all four years of her college career, three of which she held positions on our E-Board as VP of Digital Marketing and Internal Vice President. She was an enthusiastic participant in the Mentorship Program all four years, starting as a mentee and ultimately moving into a mentor role for the remaining three years. I was lucky enough to catch Katelyn as my mentor in her final year at Ohio State, prior to her graduating in 2023. She earned a Marketing degree with a minor in Fashion and Retail Studies before starting full time at Key Private Bank in Westlake, Ohio as a Client Relationship Associate. She accredits AMA’s company visits and workshops as a big help to her becoming a strong candidate and the best fit for the role.
Katelyn and I were able to initially learn so much about one another through monthly coffee shop get-togethers where we shared what was going on in our lives and any updates from our past meetings. I would recommend mentees come to initial meetings with your mentor with a few questions ready to help break the ice. Of course these questions don’t need to be formal interview questions, but rather conversation starters that can act as a foundation for your relationship. I would ask Katelyn about her current classes, what she did outside of class, and what her career and personal goals were. Your mentor is at least one year older than you, meaning they have had experiences that you may not have had yet. Your mentor is there to give you advice and share what they learned from these experiences with you. Feel free to ask for professor recommendations, internship search suggestions, club involvement advice, and the overall navigation of Ohio State. While these are just a few conversation ideas, each mentor-mentee relationship will be unique and the best thing you can do is to have an open mind and go with the flow!
Internship and Career Specific Advice
As I mentioned above, Katelyn was a huge help in introducing me to KeyBank and connecting me with contacts that could give me tips and tricks throughout the Marketing Internship interview process. By asking thorough questions as a mentee, I was able to gain an inside scoop through Katelyn that ultimately encouraged me to apply and interview for the role. Once Katelyn had graduated and started her full time role, I asked if I could shadow her at her office for a “day-in-the-life” at KeyBank. This was an enlightening day where I had the opportunity to network with people in different roles at Key and learn about the culture first hand. I would highly recommend a mentee to shadow their mentor if the opportunity presents itself. Even if the particular company or position you shadow doesn’t interest you, all experience and networking will elevate you as a professional and internship candidate, regardless of where you end up applying.
Katelyn offered wonderful advice in my interview with her, stating “Your plans are going to change, and that’s completely okay! This should happen because it shows you have grown. What I thought I was going to be doing for a full-time job as freshman is a whole 180 to what I am doing now. Always strive for your dream internship or full-time offer, but never be too hard on yourself if you don’t get it the first time. You might fall into another job or industry that you never thought about before. You have your entire career ahead of you to have your dreams come true, don’t get stuck in the internship pressure. And stay off of LinkedIn – your time will come too”. This goes to show that everything works out in the end and every obstacle is only an opportunity for growth.
Mentorship Program Takeaways
I am very grateful that Katelyn and I were paired together in this program because this relationship has been incredibly positive and beneficial for my personal growth and professional career. Katelyn shared “My biggest takeaway from the mentorship program is to never be afraid to ask for help in any situation. Whether it's in class, or during your internship, there will always be people willing to help you. It can be intimidating, however, they will be understanding and impressed by your courage to do so”. As I shared earlier, asking questions and having a natural curiosity starts with your conversations with your mentor or mentee. This curiosity shouldn’t end there, rather you should carry that spirit and willingness to learn into your career and life post-grad. I am excited to continue my involvement in the mentorship program as a mentor and hopefully help others in the way Katelyn has helped me!