The idea for this post, "Our Moms Are Mentors" came to me as I was writing the eulogy for my mom, Eileen Beckford who died unexpectedly on October 3, 2012. I have been thinking a lot about my mother, who she was, and the conversations we had, and I realized that she was a great mentor to many. Quite simply, a mentor is someone who guides and mentors you, and Eileen excelled in that role. My mother acted as a sounding board to many. You could bounce ideas off her, or talk things through with her, and she would share her perspective with you. Ever heard about tough love? She would not sugar coat things, and she told us what we needed to … [Read more...]
Why You Need a Mentor
July 19, 2012 by
Mentors are trusted advisors who guide their protégés on their professional development. Here are some articles that I have curated that give compelling reasons to have mentors. Why You Need A Mentor: This is an excellent article by Bloomberg Business Week which goes into the nitty gritty of mentoring – what to expect from mentors and protégés. It even touches on how to search for mentors. 5 Reasons Why You Need a Mentor: Steve Leach writes this article for entrepreneurs but it is applicable to anyone if you look at the ideas broadly. Mentors help you to shape your ideas, hold you accountable, open doors for you and offer … [Read more...]
2011 Interviews for Mentoring
December 8, 2011 by
These are some of the people I interviewed this year to act as your mentors. In case you missed any of the interviews, when you get the opportunity, take a moment to read them. While you are reading the interviews, think of what you have in common with the interviewees, and ask yourself, what can I learn from them that I can use in my work and life? You can also find these interviews and more on the Mentors page of the blog Mind your Qs please! She was the first female CEO of a steel company in Canada (Part I) (Part II) She left a successful search consulting business to become a human excellence coach (Part I), (Part II) The life … [Read more...]
The Invisible Mentor Interviews Kevin Popović, Communications Director, Ideahaus
June 2, 2011 by
Interviewee Name: Kevin Popović, Communications Director Company Name: Ideahaus Website: http://www.ideahaus.com Avil Beckford: Tell me a little bit about yourself. Kevin Popović: My job has evolved. I call myself a communications director so I help my clients direct all their communications – marketing, strategy, corporate identity and branding, advertising, design issues, public relations and quite a lot of social media these days. Quite simply, I help my clients figure out what to say and how to say it to their target markets. Avil Beckford: What’s a typical day like for you? Kevin Popović: If I had two days … [Read more...]
Interview With Invisible Mentor Kamel Hothi, Director, Lloyds Banking Group
May 26, 2011 by
Interviewee Name: Kamel Hothi, Director Company Name: Lloyds Banking Group Website: http://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com Avil Beckford: Tell me a little bit about yourself. Kamel Hothi: I’ve been working for 32 years in the banking world. I’m a Director at Lloyds Banking Group. I’m married, I have two children and I live in a very strict Indian traditional family. Avil Beckford: What’s a typical day like for you? Kamel Hothi: Very, very busy. To be honest, there is no me-time. I tend to leave the house at about 6:30 to get into the office in London (UK). It’s about an hour and a half’s drive. I look after … [Read more...]
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