The AWNY Mentoring Community

Gina Garrubbo, EVP at BlogHer, Speaks to AWNY’s Mentoring Community

2010-08-24T06:54:00.000-07:00

On August 18th, the AWNY Mentoring Community met for breakfast at Yahoo! Chair of the AWNY Mentoring Committee and President of TRY Coaching, Terry Yoffe, gave the opening words and introduced our special guest, Gina Garrubbo, EVP at BlogHer. Committee member, Cheryl Darmanin, Senior Director of Account Management at Yahoo! prompted Gina with questions about how mentoring has shaped her successful career.

Gina spoke of two different types of mentors. The kind that supports you in the traditional sense and the kind that pushes you to your limits through tough love. Both have played a significant role in how Gina approaches both corporate life and motherhood. One of her biggest suggestions to finding happiness as you climb the corporate ladder was to choose your bosses carefully by always working for people who share your values. She also told the group about the importance of involving your children in your work life by showing them what your work is all about and sometimes even having them visit the office.

As described on Blogher.com, since 2005, BlogHer's mission has been "to create opportunities for women who blog to gain exposure, education, community and economic empowerment." In a recent article in Ad Age about the record-breaking BlogHer 2010 Convention, Gina was quoted saying, "[The BlogHer woman] wants to know what's happening. [Marketers] have to give her greater value, they have to be authentic, and they have to listen to her. If the brand brings something of value to this woman, she will love that brand and advocate for that brand -- in her words, in her way."

Thank you Gina Garrubbo for the gift of your time and advice. Keep up the excellent work at BlogHer!

*For more information on being a member of AWNY and participating in the 2011 Mentoring Program, visit AWNY.org or call the offices at 212-221-7969.

Save the Date for the AWNY Mentoring Program Leadership Breakfast on August 18th by Vicky Sullivan

2010-08-16T12:42:00.000-07:00

AWNY’s mentoring program is all about celebrating today’s industry leaders while cultivating the leaders of tomorrow. For this reason, we have selected one of the most ground-breaking women in the communications industry to address our mentoring community at our upcoming breakfast at Yahoo! on Wednesday August 18th. Gina Garrubbo, fellow AWNY member and Executive Vice President of BlogHer, Inc, the largest community of women who blog, with a publishing network of 2,500 blogs and a reach of 21 million unique visitors per month, will be speaking about her professional philosophy and how it relates to mentoring.

This is an excellent opportunity to hear one woman’s story about how mentoring helped her become an innovative and influential women in the industry. You will also have the chance to exchange ideas and experiences with other mentors and mentees within AWNY’s growing mentoring community. Hope to see you there.

*Please note that this event is open only to AWNY members actively participating in the mentoring program. If you are interested in joining AWNY and being a part of the 2011 mentoring program please visit http://www.awny.org/

Get on Par with your Mentor/Mentee this Summer

2010-06-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Looking for someplace new and exciting to go for your next meeting with your mentor or mentee? The sport of golf has long been associated with closing business deals and career success. On July 28th from 6-8 p.m. AWNY will be holding our Annual Golf Clinic at Chelsea Piers sponsored by TRAFFIQ. For this month’s mentoring meeting, take a break from the coffee shop or your usual meeting place and attend AWNY’s premier summer networking event as a mentoring pair. No previous golf experience is required. We will also be holding a raffle with coveted prizes generously donated by companies such as the PGA Tour and The Wall Street Journal. Every attendee will leave with a gift bag full of free swag.

Signup on the AWNY website: http://www.awny.org/module-Pagesetter-viewpub-tid-3-pid-74.html!

Members' Suggestions: Modern Mentoring Q & A

2010-06-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

Ruby Gottlieb, Director of Learning & Development Initiatives at Horizon Media Inc., shared with us an article recently published in The New York Times Jobs section on how the modern mentee has gone from being a silent partner to a contributor of ideas and even a reverse mentor. Here is an excerpt:

A Modern Mentor Is a Listener, Too by Eilene Zimmerman
Published on June 4 2010 in The New York Times

Traditionally, a mentor has been someone senior to you who helps you build skills and make connections. Although that definition generally still holds, the boundaries have changed somewhat, says Lois J. Zachary, president of Leadership Development Services in Phoenix and author of “The Mentee’s Guide: Making Mentoring Work for You.”

“The mentee or protégé has gone from being a passive learner — where the mentoring is done to you as you sit at the foot of the master — to an active learner who directs the process,” Ms. Zachary says. “It’s much more collaborative now; there is more precision and structure.”
Click Here to Read More...

If you would like to share ideas and suggestions with the AWNY Mentoring Program, please email us at awnymentoring@gmail.com.

The Young Executive V.I.P. Silent Auction is the Perfect Opportunity for Mentees to Network, Bid, and Win by Vicky Sullivan

2010-05-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

The 13th Annual Young Executive V.I.P. Silent Auction will be held on May 13th from 6-9 p.m. at USA Today. This is one of our most talked about and anticipated AWNY fundraising events of the season. It is a great opportunity for young executives new to the industry to network with their peers and bid on time with some of the most accomplished high level advertising executives. Be sure to check out our list of 60+ participating V.I.P.s. Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for guests and can be purchased online. We encourage all of our mentees to attend this event. There will be raffle drawings for awesome prizes such as a Tiffany necklace, a Martha Stewart gift basket, and much more. All attendees will receive a gift bag.

Don’t be Another Vendor: Become The Trusted Advisor by Vicky Sullivan

2010-04-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

I recently came across a must-read book for anyone looking to succeed in a client related field entitled The Trusted Advisor by David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford. This book was a recommended to me by the Managing Director at 360i when I was an intern at the company and it changed the way I approach business. The simple concept of genuine trust is the ultimate solution to winning a client's business, keeping it, and getting glowing recommendations. It can result in rewards such as higher job security/pay and happier working conditions. No matter where you are in your career, I guarantee that this book and its 5-step process will change the very way you approach your business relationships.

Perhaps, the most successful way of doing business is reminiscent of a simpler time. In the old days, the people you would do business with on a daily basis would be the same people you would consider your personal friends or trusted advisers. For example, you would go to your local pharmacist or grocer with a personal crisis unrelated to their business. This is the ideal way to be viewed by your clients. The revolutionary knowledge found in The Trusted Advisor will help you achieve this goal.

Best of the Best Business Books for the Ages

2010-04-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

A newsletter from TheLadders.com recently resurfaced a 2008 article by Dan Coughlin featuring his list of most important business books. Here is an excerpt:

Best of the Best Business Books for the Ages
Filed on December 8, 2008 on TheLadders.com

I decided to choose ten topics (ok, actually fourteen), select one book for each topic and then provide a brief explanation as to why I selected it.

Productivity
Less is More by Jason Jennings. Jason is the master at finding companies that are truly productive, narrowing his list to the absolute best of the best and then immersing himself into... Click Here to Read More...

If you would like to share ideas and suggestions with the AWNY Mentoring Program, please email us at awnymentoring@gmail.com.

Taking it to the Next Level by Lori Wigler

2010-03-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

A topic Beth and I have discussed is motivating a team and leading key people to the next level in their careers. While some things are easy to measure (e.g. understanding media and using tools), it’s difficult to teach someone how to think “big picture”, to be “strategic”, and to think from a “holistic brand perspective”. I've been struggling with this task as I prepare my Account Executive for the next level. Beth gave me great suggestions and I recently put one to immediate use with a twist!

If a team member's work is not up to par or has errors, rather than fixing it for them or pointing out the issues, inform the employee that it isn't client ready. Direct the employee to spend more time with the project to find the mistakes. For example, I recently set up time with my Account Executive for something I call “Supervisor School”. I gathered a few recently completed emails or projects which I had revised. We spent about an hour going through four examples and talked about why I made revisions from a bigger picture perspective. Some of my key rules:

Always ask why: we often are working at such a fast pace that we become task oriented vs. thinking about the big picture. You should attain the objective and end goal for each project. This will ensure the employee is always thinking about the next steps and will ask the right questions.

5 W’s (who, what, where, when, why & how): think back to elementary school--does the final project address all of these key points clearly? For example, who is the consumer/demo? What is the objective? How will we achieve it? These are basics, but are imperative for discussions.

Get back to the clients' initial requests: have we answered it in the simplest terms? For example, we were asked for cancellation dollars and the AE provided a very detailed spreadsheet that highlighted by quarter, media type, etc. However, it failed to include a bottom line. While all the details were pertinent, we could have provided this as back-up and simply provided the bottom line amount to most efficiently answer the initial question.

This process helped set the precedence for my Account Executive of what the next level entails. I also made her aware that in the future, she should expect that I wouldn’t fix her work and instead have her spend more time with it. This process allowed me to set up my expectations upfront. My AE’s reaction to “Supervisor School” was incredibly positive. It was clear that I was invested in her growth and wanted to see her succeed. I have seen immediate positive changes in her work.

10 Questions You Should Ask Your Mentor by Vicky Sullivan

2010-03-18T06:56:00.000-07:00

There are no right or wrong questions to ask your mentor, but here are some guidelines that many help further develop a meaningful and productive conversation:

1. How did you get where you are today? Chances are you would like to someday be where your mentor currently is in their career. Hearing their story can often help you in writing your own.

2. What qualities do you look for in the people you hire? Someday at an interview, you will probably find yourself face-to-face with someone very similar to your mentor. Get the scoop on what these people are really looking for in a casual setting.

3. What do you see are upcoming trends in the industry? Since your mentor probably has more experience than you, it’s good to hear in advance what you might be facing in the future.

4. I am looking to _____ (e.g. switch my career from account management to account planning.) If you were me, what would you place your attention on and what are some pitfalls you would avoid? You mentor is there to guide you. Therefore, use your mentor's experience and knowledge to plan your own career advancement. I'm sure they wish they knew what they know now when they were in your shoes.

5. How should I approach my boss about _____? When you want to propose a new idea or tell your boss about an issue, it is often not what you say, but how you say it. You mentor’s previous experiences will help you find the superlative approach allowing you to arrive at the best solution.

6. What do you like most about your career? This could be a valuable question especially if you are thinking about switching careers or are not sure about what your next step should be. Your mentor could be a source of great insight into another area of the industry.

7. What characteristics or skills set you apart from your peers and enabled you to be so successful so quickly? Membership in AWNY is all about developing skills that will help advance your career quickly and more effectively. Who better to learn this from than your mentor?

8. How do you manage work/life balance? With a demanding career, it sometimes seems impossible to separate your job from your personal life. Your mentor probably has some tricks up their sleeve as to how to get the most out of your personal time.

9. How was your weekend? Getting to know your mentor on a personal level through their hobbies and interests is a very significant part of the mentor to mentee relationship. Feel free to form both a friendship and professional relationship with your mentor and sharing stories can help strengthen the bond.

10. When do you want to meet next? Both you and your mentor probably have very busy schedules so it is very important to plan ahead in order to stay on the same page. Do not let your time with your mentor lapse. If you can not meet set 15 minutes aside one day to speak over the phone.

More References:

25 Questions to Ask Your Mentor: http://ezinearticles.com/?25-Power-Questions-to-Ask-Your-Mentors&id=169121
Five Questions Every Mentor Must Ask: http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2009/03/five-questions-every-mentor-mu.html

Joining AWNY for Mentoring by Lori Wigler

2010-03-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

My name is Lori, I’m 33 years old, have been working in media for about 9 years and have been happily working at the same company for over 7. While I have had great managers, I never connected with an official mentor. I joined AWNY this year based on a co-worker’s recommendation of the AWNY mentorship program.

After applying to the mentoring program, I soon received a helpful welcome package with my mentor, Beth Egan’s, resume. I was overwhelmed by Beth’s success in the industry. She is currently a Managing Partner at Mediaedge, but once held a position similar to where I am in my career now. The similarity gave me an immediate sense of connection to her and made my long-term goals seem realistic. I asked around and was thrilled at the reaction when I mentioned Beth’s name. I was told she was “real”, “great to work with” and a “great person”. While I’ll always make my own judgments about people, her great reputation just furthered my excitement about starting our mentor/mentee relationship.

Beth and I first met at the AWNY kick-off breakfast. I was standing in line to get coffee and although I had no idea what she looked like, I instantly smiled at the woman getting in line behind me. It was Beth! Although I had some pre-conceived notions about top management at other agencies, Beth seemed the complete opposite of all of those things- we made plans to have lunch the following week near my office and we arrived at the same time- 15 minutes early.

We both admitted that we’re new to a mentor/mentee relationship and we weren’t exactly sure how to structure our conversations. This actually made me feel comfortable just speaking, without a set agenda. Beth was a great listener and she even wrote down some things to send me following our lunch. I’ll share the outcome of our meetings soon...

Members' Suggestions: Professional Skills Article

2010-03-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

Lynn Zalokar, Membership Manager of AWNY, shared with us an article recently published on MSN Careers that talks about professional skills everyone should learn. Here is an excerpt:

What They Should Have Taught You in School
Filed on Feburary 24, 2010 on MSN Careers with Career Builder

From not knowing how to balance a checkbook to handling a tough boss, many schools don't teach their students how to deal with basic issues they will encounter in their career. We asked employees and employers what skills they wish were taught in schools to see what they thought were the most glaring omissions. Click Here to Read More...

If you would like to share ideas and suggestions with the AWNY Mentoring Program, please email us at awnymentoring@gmail.com.

Book Recommendation for Monthly Meetings by Shahnaz Shroff

2010-03-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

How Remarkable Women Lead is not only a remarkable read but also a great framework to shape your mentoring relationship for the year.

The recommended Centered Leadership model includes five basic elements: meaning, framing, connecting, engaging and energizing. These elements are explained using personal stories shared by more than one hundred female leaders who were interviewed over the course of five years. Food for thought and idea generation, these elements can help structure conversations during monthly mentoring meetings.

I highly recommend this book as it is inspirational in tone and offers practical advice that might help empower both new and experienced female leaders.

Members' Suggestions: Mentoring Article on Financial Times

2010-02-09T06:15:00.000-08:00

Ruby Gottlieb, Director of Learning & Development Initiatives at Horizon Media Inc., shared with us an article recently published in Financial Times that talks about mentoring and its application in all situations. Here is an excerpt:

The Careerist: Mentoring by Rhymer Rigby
Published on January 24 2010 in Financial Times

Viewers of The X Factor television talent show in the UK will be used to hearing judges like Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole talk about “mentoring” their new acts. Indeed, whether you are dealing with boy bands or bankers, there is more to mentoring than just pep talks and pointing out directions to the nearest pub. Click Here to Read More...

If you would like to share ideas and suggestions with the AWNY Mentoring Program, please email us at awnymentoring@gmail.com.

Ask AWNY: The Money Issue

2010-02-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

Q. Dear AWNY,
This is my first year being a mentor, and I was wondering if it’s customary for mentors to pay the bill when they meet up with their mentees. Thanks!

A. As a mentor, you are already sharing valuable time with your mentee, giving them one-on-one attention and guidance, so please don’t feel any pressure to grab the check every time you meet. Going dutch is the norm, especially for mentors who are just a few years senior. Some pairs take turns- then every other month one person gets to be treated!

On the flip side, if you want to celebrate your mentee’s personal victory at a fun, new restaurant or your favorite wine bar, you can insist on paying if you’re comfortable doing so.

One rule of thumb is to stick to casual spots if you want to keep things simple--grab coffee and something sweet at your favorite coffee shop so you can always pay with a few singles and still have change for the tip jar.

Whatever the setting, when you keep the focus on your mentee’s professional progress, it will help you build a relationship of trust and gratitude more than anything else!

Ask AWNY features questions sent in by the Mentoring Program community! Send your anonymous mentoring questions to awnymentoring@gmail.com.

Starting the day off with a Mentoring Breakfast: A Recap by Vicky Sullivan

2010-02-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who came to our 2010 Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast on Tuesday Feb. 4th! This year we paired 113 mentors and mentees (the most ever!) and had over 100 attendees during the event. Members networked and mingled, and Terry Yoffe of TRY Coaching, LLC and Chair of the Mentoring Program Committee, started by addressing the importance of mentoring and how one can get the most out of the program.

As a new programming format, the crowd was split in half between mentors and mentees and regrouped in separate rooms to address mentoring roles and questions. The mentors’ discussion was lead by Terry, while the mentee's discussion was lead by Cheryl Darmanin, Senior Director of Account Management at Yahoo! and Mentoring Committee Member. The mentors compared how they meet and communicate with their mentees. Lyle Landon recommended using www.meetup.com which is a social network geared toward setting up offline meetings. Others recommended meeting your mentee for breakfast before work since most NYC restaurants are quietest in the morning.

Meanwhile in the mentee room, some mentees expressed concern about how their employers would react (and if it is acceptable) to participation in an outside mentoring program. Cheryl reassured that multiple mentors from different areas of the business are perfectly acceptable and employers should support AWNY’s participants in their desire to further their careers through mentoring. She also stated that their participation might inspire their companies to create an internal mentoring program. One of the biggest suggestions was to have a plan/timeline outlining your goals between you and your mentor.

Books on professional development were also suggested throughout the breakfast. They included: StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath, a book devoted to developing your strengths and finding your top 5 talents, How Remarkable Women Lead co-authored by Joanna Barsh, Geoffrey Lewis, and Susie Cranston which creates a model of work and life for women leaders, and Basic Black by Cathie Black, who is president of Hearst Magazines and one of Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business in 2006 http://awnymentoring.blogspot.com/search?q=Basic+Black

The crowd rejoined at the end of the event for a video demonstration of the AWNY blog was given by Amy Lam, Digital Marketing Manager at Direct Brands. This video is available for viewing at:
http://www.screencast.com/users/AWNYMentoring/folders/Jing/media/d547d0b9-671c-43d8-b5a0-4dbea0d9fcde.

There will be two other free exclusive mentoring events in the Spring and in the Fall and check back for more in-depth book reviews! Watch for emails or sign up for the RSS feed today!

Digital Tools That Help Mentoring Communication by Amy Lam & Vicky Sullivan

2010-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

We have come to rely on certain digital tools to efficiently manage our communication with our mentoring partners. Here are 4 free tools that we think everyone should be familiar with and how we personally use them:

Google Calendar is a virtual day planner similar to Microsoft Outlook.

How Amy Uses It: "I like to send meeting requests so my partner not only gets a reminder (that syncs with other applications, e.g. Outlook), but I have the peace of mind when I get a confirmation email stating that they've accepted the meeting. My friends and I also allow schedule sharing so when we make plans, we automatically know each others' availabilities."

Google Reader compiles digital content from different sources all into one place.

How Amy Uses It: "I set alerts for my mentors' names and companies so I get up-to-date news and gain further insight on their professional environment. I'm also always curious about what people choose to pay attention to or where people get their news so this tool conveniently allows me to receive (and share!) resources from other Google users."

Skype provides phone service from anywhere in the world using the Internet (as a side note, they provide instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing as well).

How Amy Uses It: "I actually haven't used it yet in a mentoring situation, BUT it was potentially a great way to talk with my mentor when she was traveling outside the U.S. last year. The calling service is free, but the drawback is that both you and the other user must register in order to use it together."

LinkedIn is a social network geared toward professional and career development.

How Vicky Uses It: "It was a great resource for researching my mentor before I met him. I found out where he went to school, where he has worked and what mutual connections we had--even how he looked like so I knew who to look for in my initial mentoring meeting. You can also ask your mentor for a recommendation on LinkedIn and use it as a reference source."

Amy Lam is an online marketing manager at Direct Brands, Inc., responsible for enhancing brand experiences and generating conversions through all Bookspan's e-commerce sites.

Vicky Sullivan is the New Media Manager at Advertising Women of New York.

Staging the 1st Meeting: Tips for Mentors and Mentees by Vicky Sullivan

2010-01-11T12:37:00.000-08:00

With only a few weeks until the Kick-Off Breakfast on February 2nd at Yahoo!, all newly matched mentors and mentees should have contacted each other and sent an RSVP to the AWNY office via email in regards to the breakfast. The idea is for mentors and mentees to have met prior to the kick-off event. This first meeting can be both exciting and nerve-racking. Here are a few tips on how to make the most out of this preliminary encounter:

Be Professional: Though this is a mostly casual get-together, you are still meeting with someone in your industry so it is still a semi-professional meeting.
Meet Half Way: Meeting at a place that serves food or coffee is always a great icebreaker. Starbucks is a good option and there is one on almost every street corner in the city. If lunchtime is convenient, meet for lunch. However, with the craziness and unpredictability of the New York workday, meeting before or after work might be a better option. Try meeting at a central location; somewhere in between where you both work. If you do not have time to meet set aside time to speak over the phone.
Prepare: Before you even contact your mentor or mentee ask yourself what you are looking to get out of this. What would you like to achieve during your time together.
Make a Connection: As far as conversation goes, have fun. Though it may be helpful to talk about job-related topics, making a personal connection is what this meeting is really about. However, make sure you think of a few conversation starters before you arrive at your first meeting. Simple questions such as:
- What made you want to join AWNY?
- Where did you go to school?
- Tell me more about what you do.
Set Goals: The mentor and mentee are both at different stages in their career. Each should look to and make the other aware of how they plan to use this program to further their career.

Good luck and don’t forget to Learn Share Grow.

You can now find AWNY on Twitter: http://bit.ly/7IjiEv and Facebook: http://bit.ly/4UVE3b

AWNY's 2010 Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast

2010-01-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

AWNY's Mentoring Kick-Off breakfast will be held on Tuesday, February 2nd. Come learn how to make the most of your mentoring partnership, network with others in the program and meet the mentoring committee! We have changed the programming format this year so please read all the details below. See you soon!

What: AWNY's Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast*
When: Tuesday, February 2nd
7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. (Breakfast served at 7:45 a.m.)
Location: Yahoo, Inc.
1065 Avenue of the Americas (Entrance is on West 40th Street), 12th floor
Times Square Conference Room
RSVP: by Friday, January 29th to the AWNY office at (212) 221-7969
Program: All sessions start promptly at 8:00 a.m.
Intro Session for Mentees
Q & A Session for Mentors
The entire group will gather together for any further questions at 8:30 a.m.

*Complimentary for AWNY 2010 mentoring program participants. Attendance is limited. Due to strict security and space limitations, sorry no walk-ins.

Welcome to the 2010 AWNY Mentoring Program Community by Terry Yoffe, Mentoring Program Chair

2010-01-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

And what a year 2010 promises to be. This year we have paired 113 mentees and 113 mentors, the most paired since the mentoring program began 13 years ago.

When we started this program no one ever dreamed that it would have evolved into what it is today. The numbers speak for themselves which is a true testament to AWNY, its members and the dedication of those people that help create the best program ever year in and year out.

Each year the mentoring committee looks back and assesses what we did well and where we can improve and then we go to work, making it happen. Two years ago we created our AWNY mentoring blog because we felt that there was a need for community within our program and what better way to bring mentees and mentors together than through a blog. We have been perfecting it each year and in the coming year we will have many wonderful stories, suggestions, resources and information to share with you.

This year we have changed our application forms, making it easier for both mentees and mentors to be more specific about who they would like to be paired with. And this year we are offering Reverse Mentoring to those that would like to share knowledge; a young professional sharing the newest and latest technology information with a more senior professional.
And even our Kick Off breakfast on Tuesday, February 2nd will have a different format than past years. This year we are going to separate the mentees and mentors and have a Q&A for each group so that mentees can get better acquainted with the program and the mentors can learn more about their roles.

Yes, 2010 is promising to be a championship year for the AWNY Mentoring Program because each of you has made it happen with your continued support of our community and each year we are reaching new heights.

On behalf of the entire Mentoring Committee and Program I want to say THANK YOU for reaching out and giving of your expertise, experience, time and energy, whether you are a mentee or mentor, to truly making a difference.

In closing, I will remind you of our tag line: LEARN, SHARE, GROW and that is what I hope for each of you this coming year.

With Appreciation and Gratitude,

Terry Yoffe & the Entire Mentoring Committee

The All-Important Plan B by Lyle Landon & Adrienne Blanks

2009-12-22T06:53:00.000-08:00

The AWNY Mentoring pairing of mentee Adrienne Blanks, Account Executive at the New York Times, and mentor Lyle Landon, National Sales Director at NCI got off to a great start with a friendly phone conversation and plans to meet for lunch in January. As soon as they were seated, Adrienne announced, “I have some news, I’ve been laid off.”

Lyle, an experienced mentor, realized that her anticipated agenda would have to be scrapped to deal with this new, urgent development. Adrienne was adamant that she wanted to continue with the program, and that she would be relying on it even more to help her develop and execute a new short-term and long-term plan. When Lyle got back from lunch, she got the news that her position, among others, also had been eliminated, effective immediately. What a beginning!

Adrienne and Lyle continued to have mentoring meetings - in diners in NJ, in cafes in New York and then via phone conversations when Adrienne went home to Houston to explore employment opportunities there. They both encouraged one another to investigate other specialties within media, as advertising sales positions were continuing to disappear. Adrienne networked through colleagues and friends and worked as an Independent Contractor managing regional marketing promotions. Lyle, who had established her own company in 2007 for freelance sales and marketing projects, became an independent representative for her former employer and an out-of-home college media company. These were short-term solutions for both women, but important steps that generated cash flow and built confidence.

As of December, Adrienne continues to do contract work as a marketing manager and has launched theblvdmag.com, an online magazine catering to the lifestyle of the culturally aware twenty-somethings in the greater Houston area. Lyle’s client base has expanded beyond ad sales to include an outplacement services company, Bloomingdale’s, the US Census and a nonprofit dance company.

Adrienne said, “The AWNY mentoring program afforded me the opportunity to meet a dynamic mentor who helped guide me through this challenging year.” Lyle said, “I can’t wait to see what happens in the AWNY Mentoring 2010 program!”

Ask AWNY

2009-12-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

Ask AWNY features questions sent in by the Mentoring Program community!

Q. I joined the Mentoring Program this year and had a great time with my mentor. I want to keep learning from new people, though, so I applied for a new mentor in 2010. Here's my problem— I want to keep up some kind of relationship with my current mentor since she's very easygoing and I trust her judgment. What is the best way to broach this topic with her before the year is up? I feel awkward because I don’t want to offend her in any way. Thanks!

A. You should absolutely keep up a relationship with your mentor! That said, navigating your mentor relationship after the New Year can be daunting, because ambiguity can create unnecessary anxiety.

"Are you...breaking up with me??!"

I promise it will not be that dramatic. Successful formal relationships end all the time— think about the last professional workshop you attended. It's a compliment to your mentor that you want to join the Mentoring Program again and stay in touch with her— it shows you found it (and her) to be a valuable part of your professional growth.

First, take charge. Approach the topic with your mentor the same way you discussed your goals when you met. A great time to bring it up is when you talk about your 2009 achievements (don’t forget to thank her for contributing to your success!) and list out your goals for 2010.

Even if you encountered obstacles during the year, don't be afraid to bring them up! You can both work together to brainstorm ways to learn from your experiences, so don’t pass up the opportunity.

Next issue: After your last “official” meeting, you likely won’t meet up once a month, but if your relationship is strong, you can still go to your mentor with the same kinds of problems or triumphs that you did during the previous year.

Mentoring Program veterans have told me about their current relationships with former mentors, and their experiences range quite a bit. It's very common to catch up often with a "former" mentor, but without the same regularity and focus as that first year. While some pairs simply swap emails around personal and professional milestones, some still make coffee dates and others call when they need a pep talk, an unbiased point of view or just want to say hello. (Shameless plug: some mentees invite their former mentors to AWNY events!) The happy medium is whatever you both want it to be.

The good news is that mentors don’t disappear or turn into pumpkins after the Times Square ball drops. You should always be cultivating a "cabinet" of professional mentors, so get excited— it sounds like you are well on your way. Good luck!

Send your mentoring questions to awnymentoring@gmail.com. All senders will remain anonymous!

Fresh Perspectives: How to Make the Most Out of Your Reverse Mentoring Experience by Christa Babcock

2009-11-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

In today’s dynamic advertising landscape, it has become increasingly important for Senior Managers to stay up to date with the latest concepts within our industry. The constant learning of new technology, new methods of communication within an organization, new perspectives on where our industry is going, and what other ways exist to make us better managers, overall are elements that correlate highly to a successful growing firm today.

Started in the mid 1990s by Jack Welch, the original purpose of Reverse Mentoring was to educate several hundred senior level professionals within GE and on new technologies by using the top young talent that the firm had just acquired. Today Unilever, Pepsi, Disney, Yahoo!, and Mindshare are all examples of organizations that are reaping the incredible benefits of this exciting path of discovery.

So, how can you use it and make the most of this great opportunity today?

1) Plan and Manage: At the very first meeting, set your goals for the overall mentorship experience. What is it that both of you hope to gain? Determine the metrics for how you will measure your partnership’s growth. As it may be the first time both parties are trying out these new roles, it is crucial to have a game plan set out in advance to avoid confusion for sessions and meetings throughout the process.

2) Keep An Open Mind: This experience is all about fresh perspectives. As a mentor, your best assets are the experiences that you’ve had as a new member of the working world, and the thoughts on where things are going and how we can improve them for our industry. Likewise, as a mentee, you are bringing a great opportunity for a younger mentor to gain great perspective of how to communicate more effectively with senior managers and see what C-Suite executives find to be crucial to the future of our business world.

3) Leave Your Status and Title At The Door: Reverse Mentoring is about coming to the discussion table without the current reference of where you are today in your firm’s hierarchy. This requires an openness of the mentee, as the young mentor might not be experienced with leading discussion and also of the mentor as the mentee might not be used to receiving such candid thoughts from a less experienced professional. Remember however, you are both there to engage and learn in a wonderful environment.

Monthly Mentoring Discussion Topic: Transitional Review by Amy Lam

2009-11-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

Unlike a student's life in school, where definitive stages are marked by the end of a grade or a semester, I became accustomed to a continuous flow of daily routines and lifetime objectives. I couldn't pinpoint the reason for my feelings of restlessness, but I realized I needed a way to better gauge my life. I decided a few years ago to use the end of the year as my own reminder to consciously take time in private and reflect on the past months. I would count the number of office projects I've completed, new people I've met, new programs I've learned, trips abroad I've taken, and personal dollars I've saved to ultimately answer the questions: Did I have a good year? Am I happy with how this year turned out?

This year I found myself frustrated by the pace of my professional growth so I took on my annual survey as a more frequent habit. My monthly meetings with my AWNY mentor reinforced the exercise and helped me see the flaw in my review: my measurements did not provide the true gauge that I wanted. My mentor encouraged me to redefine myself, own my abilities and explore different opportunities. As a result, I have refined my own personal review process that better serves my growth and my life as a whole.

For the month of December, I encourage you to work with your mentoring pair in reviewing this year together. Think about the following questions: How have you grown from the day you wrote your mentoring application last year to now? How has the mentoring relationship changed you? Here are my tips for starting the conversation and developing your own review process:

Reflect on the past. Find your old mentor application(s) and reread what you wrote. How have you and your mentoring partner worked towards addressing your concerns? What did you like/dislike throughout your mentoring journey and why? What have you learned and how are you applying this knowledge? What are you most/least proud of and why? Talking with your partner or just talking aloud can clarify your thoughts and stimulate more ideas. Know you will not do all your reflecting in one sitting so spend time your own before and after discussing with your partner. Take notes--it may come in handy when you define your future goals.
Acknowledge your present. Know where you are now in order to get to the next point. How do you feel about your current situation? What do you want and why? What is and isn't working for you? Use the AWNY mentoring application as a tool and start a list of your current personal/professional desires. Understand it can take time to reach your next point so in the meanwhile, celebrate how far you have come with your partner!
Set your future. Visualize yourself and your life. How do you see yourself 3 years from now? How do you see yourself 10 years from now? How does your present align with your future? What do you find is holding you back? Define your goals and set your priorities. Breakdown the most important goals into baby steps to formulate a plan. Set a timeline for each step and determine your measurement of success. Work with a partner and commit to checking-in with each other often. Ask your partner for feedback. Know your goals can change as you learn more throughout the process.

Amy Lam is an online marketing manager at Direct Brands, Inc., responsible for enhancing brand experiences and generating conversions through all Bookspan digital platforms.

Share: Nadine McHugh at the Leadership Breakfast Series by Amy Lam and Sue McCauley

2009-11-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

Our second exclusive Leadership Breakfast Series featured Nadine McHugh, Managing Director, MindShare, as the guest speaker at Yahoo! on October 15th. Interviewed by Terry Yoffe, Personal & Professional Development Coach and chair of the AWNY Mentoring committee, Nadine talked about key themes in mentoring, leadership and work/life balance. She is proud to be part of the AWNY Mentoring program, as it gives her an opportunity to give back to the community and to reflect on her roots.

She started in the advertising industry with the dream of being a copywriter. Her initial plan was to land a job in account management and transition into copy writing, but she ended up in the world of media planning. She attributes her career success to her family upbringing and motto: "I never thought I couldn't do anything" and advises women to tune into their natural skills to be successful by "listening to your gut." She also noted that people should not be hung up at having a precise career path because choices are now changing faster than ever and may result in a "zig-zag" route.

Throughout her career, her leadership success came from observing other people and deciding which behaviors she wanted to own (and not to own). She has very fond memories of one of her mentors, her first boss. He had a special way of connecting with people. He:

Knew how to rally the group
Had an attitude that was not above anyone
Taught others to not be afraid to use common sense
Had a great sense of humor
Did little things that meant so much (i.e. bring people flowers spontaneously) - Knew when people had enough
Was passionate about his work
Had perspective on life
Knew how to get from point A to B quickly
Was a great storyteller
Took risks

One of the most important lessons she learned was to maintain a level of integrity and focus. "As you move up, you need to be aware of what you put out there for people below." Nadine warned about those who "drink their own kool-aid" when they get to a certain level. "It is so important to be able to see yourself in the mirror." She continues to find pockets of inspiration and be a good role model to her children.

During the Q&As portion of the breakfast, Nadine addressed several different topics:

Work/Life Balance
- She does not work towards balancing her life. "I strive to be and do the best that I can. Be true to yourself and who you are."
- Understand what feeds your soul
- Take pause to figure out what you want to do
- Explore and ask constantly
- Be good to yourself
- Exercise
- Eat better
- Do what's right for you
Motivation
- Keep looking for pockets of inspiration
- You just have to pull yourself up; rise to the occasion
- Be innovative, be resourceful
- Talk about it--have conversations and reassess the situation
- Don't beat yourself up for 6 months when you start a new job - get your feet on the ground and get comfortable
- You learn from failures in life
- When you freak out, you paralyze yourself
- Listen to intuition aka: your "gut"
- Give yourself credit and be kinder to yourself
- As women, it is natural for us to reflect inward; whereas men forge forward
Mentoring
- Be open to learning
- Don't be afraid to be creative
- Follow your intuition: Use & Trust; Go with your gut!
- Keep charging
- You can be anything you want to be, as long as you are happy
- Believe you can do it
- Allow ourselves to use your natural gifts
- Discover formal and informal mentors in life and decide which behaviors you want to emulate and others that you just observe
- Take risks, be bold & think outside the box
- Be mindful of your behavior
- Be creative
- Maintain level of integrity
Inspirational Life Mantras
- Grass isn't always greener
- Strive to do the best you can everyday
- Be true to yourself
- Define your own parameters
- Embody a desire to learn
- Have a path/idea of where you want to go
- Sit & figure out what makes you special - what are you bringing to the table? What's your brand? Who am I? What do I want to be? What feeds your soul?
- Take pause to figure out what you want to do
- Ask questions & explore
- Stay focused on who you want to be and be proud of who you are

On Nadine's reading list is Cathie Black's (President of Hearst Magazines) 2007 book: "Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life)."

Sign up now for the 2010 AWNY Mentoring Program

2009-10-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to get yourself a mentoring partner for 2010. There is no charge to participate, but lots of rewards in return. The deadlines for the 2010 Program are: Monday, November, 2nd for mentees and Monday, November, 16th for mentors. Sign up today!

The application forms are available for downloading:

Mentor Application: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AePCwgRbaJkQZGZuZG1tZmhfOWR0ZzRra2N0&hl=en
Mentee Application: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AePCwgRbaJkQZGZuZG1tZmhfNzU5NHMyN2Nn&hl=en

Please follow the directions on the applications. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Beth Warren at elizabethawnyc@gmail.com or Terry Yoffe at terry@TRYcoaching.com.

New for 2010 – Reverse Mentoring!

Reverse mentoring offers the opportunity to gain technical expertise and a different perspective. It might be a younger member (in the mentoring role) paired with a more experienced member or a peer-to-peer relationship where both participants have a lot to teach and lot to learn. Provided we get enough mentee and mentor participants -- we are offering this as an addition to our traditional mentoring program.

Volunteer with your Mentor!

2009-09-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

On October 10th, join the AWNY Young Execs committee to volunteer at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer- it's a unique activity to experience with your mentor/mentee, plus a great way to get to know your fellow AWNY members. This will be the 3rd consecutive year of our support squad, and every time we've found it to be inspirational to cheer on the walkers, who have all been touched by cancer in different ways, as well as a lot of fun to see new and familiar AWNY ladies in a different kind of setting. All while wearing pink, of course! Details are below- don't forget to check out the blog for pictures, updates and more info.

OFFICIAL EVENT DETAILS

What: AWNY cheering on Avon walkers

When: Sat, Oct 10th from 12 - 3:30 pm

Group brunch afterward. Venue TBD.

Where: Stuyvesant Square

2nd Ave between 15th & 16th Street

Who: AWNY members & non-members. All are welcome!

RSVP: aimeslam@gmail.com or maryriley@hotmail.com

Blog: Details on http://awnysupportsavonwalk.tumblr.com/

Leadership Breakfast Series: Nadine McHugh

2009-09-20T05:29:00.000-07:00

Our second Leadership Breakfast Series will feature Nadine McHugh, Managing Director, MindShare. Currently an AWNY member and a mentor, she will talk to us about her leadership philosophy and experience as it relates to mentoring:

Veteran strategic planner and manager, Nadine McHugh has spent the majority of her career at WPP companies; first at Ogilvy & Mather, and later at Mindshare, which she joined when the company’s U.S. operation was established in late 2000. Nadine is committed to training and raising the bar on communication planning. She is the Director of the M Academy, GroupM’s U.S. training program. As part of that commitment, she has created and directed several of Mindshare’s North American media workshops.

EVENT DETAILS:

When: Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast served at 7:45 am, program starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Location: Yahoo, Inc.
1065 Avenue of the Americas, 12th floor (entrance is on West 40th Street)Times Square Conference Room

RSVP: These exclusive events are complimentary, but by invitation only to all 2009 AWNY mentoring program participants. Due to strict security and space limitations, no walk-ins will be allowed. Please RSVP by replying to your email invitation or contacting Lynn at the AWNY office at 212-221-7969 by Tuesday, October 13th.

What are you interested to learn at this event? What questions would you want to ask Nadine McHugh? Post your thoughts now!

Special thanks to Yahoo, Inc.

Share: Fran Hauser answers more questions!

2009-07-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

Fran Hauser graciously volunteered to answer a few questions after speaking at the Leadership Breakfast Series in June. The following are Fran's answers to two questions posted by our blog readers.

Q. As a woman with an impressive job who has climbed the career ladder to a spot that many of us aspire to reach someday, what do you see as your next steps? What are the next set of goals you'd like to achieve, either for yourself personally and/or your career?

A. I would like to run my own business one day. I think that would be an incredible next step in my career (although, I don't think I am quite there yet). I am still enjoying my current role too much. On the personal side of things, I would love to start a family.

Q. While managing 150 people at age 27 at Coca Cola, you obviously grasped some key principles of management at a young age. What are key pieces of advice for: 1) first-time managers and 2) young managers whosupervise older colleagues?

A. Key pieces of advice for first-time managers: learning how to delegate doesn't mean totally letting go (you still need to stay close enough to the situation to be aware of when you need to get involved). Remember that different people are motivated by different things (someby money, some by public recognition, some by being given exposure to senior management, etc..) so you need to adapt your style. Always take a step backand and revisit what success looks like for the business and/or for a specific project. Be specific with what your expectations are (especially with junior staff) sometimes to the point of working with them to sketch out a template of what the final product/presentation should look like.

Key pieces of advice for young managers who supervise older colleagues: identify what the older colleagues' strengths are that complement your "gaps" and let them know that you are really going to be relying on them for that. Do a lot of listening (make it clear that you respect their experience and their opinions) and earn their respect by delivering results.

Special thanks to Fran Hauser & Cheryl Darmanin.

Share: Fran Hauser at the Leadership Breakfast Series by Christa Babcock

2009-06-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

Fran Hauser, President of Digital for the Time Inc. Style and Entertainment Group,was interviewed by Cheryl Darmanin, Sr. Director of Account Management at Yahoo, at Yahoo as the first speaker for an exclusive Mentors/Mentees breakfast meeting series at Yahoo on June 9th. Fran oversees all business, sales, product development and production functions for the digital products of the PEOPLE Brand, Entertainment Weekly, In Style and Essence. She joined PEOPLE Digital as General Manager in February 2006. She shared incredible insights into the life of a leader, and how one can grow into a leadership role, and answered questions from the floor. Below are questions and answers from the event. If you didn’t make it to the event and have questions for Fran, please blog them here. Fran has graciously volunteered to answer a few questions and the mentoring committee will make selections by Monday, June 22nd.

Q: I think a lot of people have parents that guide them into or away from certain careers. Tell me a little bit about your childhood, growing up and how that impacted your career today?

A: Growing up, I got great guidance right at home. My parents were actually both new to this country from Italy. They didn’t speak a word of English, so there I was as a child, making the phone calls if something needed to be fixed in the house, and helping to take on that more adult role. As for the career I chose, I remember in college that they were fine with me studying business and pursuing finance. They didn’t think it was a bad thing, at all. However, I also saw both of my parents work incredibly hard and despite the language barrier, I saw them succeed. Just watching them do that gave me huge motivation to succeed, as well.

Q: What do you look for in a leader – whether you are hiring externally or promoting from within? Why is that important to you?

A: At Time, all of the leaders have one characteristic in common; they exude a quiet confidence. As leaders, we ask ‘am I projecting confidence as a leader even during a tough time?’ Quiet confidence, not aggressive confidence. Watch people during difficult situations.

Q: How do you manage work/life balance?

A: Scheduling. I schedule time for philanthropy and for time for my family. Every Sunday to this day, I see my family. We spend time together. At first you say, ‘Oh. I’m going to get back on Monday and have 200 e-mails, so let me just get some of that done now.’ But then you realize that you get sucked into that and that it is, in fact, okay to wait until Monday. By scheduling that time, you can make sure that you fulfill your work life balance. It is important not to get sucked into the weeds.

Q: You are a board member of the Women’s Leadership Foundation. Tell me about that organization and why is it important to you?

A: The goal of The Women’s Leadership Foundation, which works primarily in New Jersey and New York City is to help girls in Urban areas, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to, get into college. We provide Financial Aid and Scholarships. When the Executive Director first met with me, she said it was important to make sure I was only on one Board and that this was it and I liked that. The girls who participate in this program would never have a chance to go to college. It makes me cry to think about it and it is amazing to see what they accomplish.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Thinking about building products that excite and delight in what consumers want!

Leadership Breakfast Series: Fran Hauser

2009-05-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

The AWNY Mentoring Program is introducing the Leadership Breakfast Series! These new exclusive events will feature a distinguished guest who will come in to talk about their leadership philosophy and experience. The one hour sessions are a great opportunity to receive career advice from a professional, as well as to interact with others in the AWNY mentoring program.

Our first event will feature Fran Hauser:

Fran Hauser serves as President of Digital for the Time Inc. Style and Entertainment Group, overseeing all business, sales, product development and production functions for the digital products of the PEOPLE Brand, Entertainment Weekly, In Style and Essence. She joined PEOPLE Digital as General Manager in February 2006.

EVENT DETAILS:

When: Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 from 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast served at 7:45 am, program starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Location: Yahoo, Inc.
1065 Avenue of the Americas, 12th floor (entrance is on West 40th Street)
Times Square Conference Room

RSVP: These exclusive events are complimentary, but by invitation only to all 2009 AWNY mentoring program participants. Due to strict security and space limitations, no walk-ins will be allowed. Please RSVP by replying to your email invitation or contacting Lynn at the AWNY office at 212-221-7969.

What are you interested to learn at this event? What questions would you want to ask Fran Hauser? Post your thoughts now and we will feature your comments with answers in a follow-up blog entry!

Special thanks to Yahoo, Inc.

Grow: Mentor Q&A

2009-05-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

Q. My Mentor is insightful but she is considerably older than I am and I wonder if someone in Middle Management might have a different perspective than she has as an Executive?

A. This is a very good question and you can ask this without fear of offending her. When one is interviewing it is a rather standard question to ask “If I am hired, what would success look like from 1. the boss’ perspective 2. the subordinate's perspective and 3. the President’s perspective. For instance your question could be framed as: "Since you have a number of different Middle Managers working for you, can you share what their criteria were for employees they recently promoted?"

Grow: How to Perfect an Elevator Pitch About Yourself

2009-05-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

Daisy Wademan Dowling, author of Remember Who You Are and contributor to the Harvard Business Review recently provided 5 easy, intuitive, and incredibly inightful tips that will lead to perfect a strong elevator pitch. Read the featured article here: http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/dowling/2009/05/how-to-perfect-an-elevator-pit.html

Share: Where to Meet

2009-05-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

Now that the better weather is here you might want to set up your next mentoring meeting outdoors and explore some of the softer topics. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Midtown: Bryant Park 42nd/6th Ave -Pick up your lunch at the deli and meet here to discuss the pros and cons of mixing business with pleasure (take a share house with clients? date a peer at work?)
2. Downtown: South Street Seaport - Go for drinks after work and discuss how best to see where your industry is going and to stay current and play a leadership role
3. Midtown: St. Bart's outdoor cafe 51st/Park Ave. - Over an inexpensive lunch share best networking practices, sources and successes.
Mentoring should be a breath of fresh air. Enjoy and please share your favorite outdoor dining places with all of us....blog back!

Learn: The New Executive Woman

2009-04-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

According to Forbes Woman, "the new executive woman doesn't wear opaque panty hose and doesn't wait around for a promotion."

A new age of young female executives are taking the corner office by storm, viewing their careers strategically and not settling for jobs that do not challenge and advance them.

Read more about the new wave of female leaders, from Melissa Mayer of Google to Cheryl Sandberg of Facebook to Anne Mulcahy of Xerox.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/01/workplace-career-ladder-women-power-executive.html

Learn: Leadership Lessons from a Philanthropist

2009-03-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

In the March 2009 issue of The McKinsey Quarterly, Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund, shares leadership lessons from her experience in venture philanthropy in Africa. The video is embedded above - you can also view the transcript of her interview here:

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Organization/Talent/Women_and_leadership_Learning_from_the_social_sector_2336
Key leadership lessons from Jacqueline include:

"I had to learn to have the humility myself to really listen to their perspectives, and yet not stop there; to have the audaciousness to say, “It’s a good starting point, but we want to get you to this other place.”
"The real lesson for me was how that dignity is so much more important to the human spirit than wealth"
"[...] leadership as a way of inspiring, listening, and letting people [...] grow themselves in their own way.
"I’m a big optimist. I really believe in setting impossible goals and then making them possible."

Share: Photos from the 2009 Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast

2009-03-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

Check out the below link to view photos from the Mentoring Breakfast on 3/10/09:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7517401@N04/

Thanks again to the 75 attendees who made this event a success!

Share: Mary & Amy's Top 5 Tips on How to Be a Good Mentee/Mentor

2009-03-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone for coming to the Mentoring Breakfast at Yahoo! this past Tuesday. We had a great turnout with 75 mentees/mentors in attendance!

Here are the top 5 tips on how to be a good mentee/mentor that Mary Riley and Amy Lam presented at the breakfast. Enjoy!

1) Set a goal: what do you want to get out of the mentoring relationship? What area(s) do you want to work on? Are you seeking more industry knowledge? Do you want to learn/refine a skill?

2) Listen: What is the person really saying? How does one's body language emphasize their thoughts and ideas?

3) Be honest & open: The more honest and open you are, the more information the other person has to understand you, your point or your situation. Be honest with yourself. Have you been faced with a certain challenge time and time again because you are afraid to pursue a certain action?

4) Give feedback: Especially for mentees, are your mentors' suggestions helpful? What happened when you took action? How are you learning from your mentoring experience?

5) Know that you are not alone: The Mentoring Committee is here to help you. Each pair is assigned to a committee representative that is there to make sure things are going smoothly. Mentees can reach out to the Young Executives committee. There are great resources available.

Grow: Inspirational Quotes

2009-03-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

"A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could."

- Unknown

Share: Where to Meet

2009-03-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

Did you have a great first mentoring get-together? Looking for meeting inspiration? Trying to decide if you would benefit from a more structured mentoring relationship?

Comment on this post to share your ideas or pose questions regarding effective mentoring meetings.

Grow: Think Big

2009-03-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

A great mentor encourages her mentee to "think big," inspiring the exploration of business without any upward boundaries.

Many mentees are inspired by the stories of successful women - whether listening to the method with which their mentor solved a complicated strategic challenge, or reading the stories of successful leaders .

Even if you've seen this already, you can help but be inspired by Fortune's list of the 50 Most Powerful Women In Business:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostpowerfulwomen/2008/full_list/

Think big. Then, get there.

Share: What to Discuss

2009-03-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

Mentoring Idea: Attend an industry event with your mentee/mentor and set up some time to discuss the implications of the topic over coffee. If time doesn't permit a second meeting, catch up via phone or email.

Here are some upcoming AWNY events to consider for your next meeting:
March 11: 2008 Advertising Woman of the Year
March 24: Networking Clinic
April 1: Impact Awards
April 9: Boardroom Breakfast with Geralyn R. Breig
April 16: What's Your Next Move? - Trasferring Your Skill Set
April 23: Changing the Game Awards Luncheon
April 28: Nothing Happens Until You Learn How To Sell Yourself
May 27: Boardroom Breakfast with Sally Susman

Purchase tickets and see full details here:
http://www.awny.org/EventsCalendar.html

Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast on March 10, 2009

2009-01-22T16:35:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 2009 AWNY Mentoring Program! We're looking forward to learning, sharing, and growing together throughout the year. Please feel free to comment on posts anytime to share your feedback and ideas.

The AWNY Mentoring Committee is also excited to meet all of you at the 2009 Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast at Yahoo! on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

Learn how to make the most of your mentoring partnership
Have fun networking with others in the mentoring program
Meet AWNY mentoring co-chairs and committee members

Please find details below:

When: Tuesday, March 10th, 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. (Breakfast served at 7:45 am, program starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.)
Location: Yahoo, Inc., 1065 Avenue of the Americas (at West 40th Street), 12th floor, Times Square Conference Room
RSVP: By Friday, March 6th via phone at (212) 221-7969 or email at lynn@awny.org

Free for mentoring program participants. Attendance is limited. (No walk-ins due to strict security and space limitations.)

See you there!

Grow: Career Advancement in Tough Times

2009-01-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

When the economy gets tough, we get tougher! As strong-willed women, we know that tough economic times mean self-reflection and innovative thinking. Read more for do's and dont's that can help make the most of any situation:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_44/b4106052111185.htm?chan=careers_managing+your+career+page_top+stories

Grow: Q&A with a Mentor

2008-12-02T05:28:00.000-08:00

Mentee Question: Where I work there doesn't seem to be a management philosophy in practice. It seems like each publisher runs his or her own show. Wouldn't it be more successful if everybody treated everyone as if they were, or could be, a valuable member of the team. Is it like that in all publishing companies, or is this a corporate culture issue?

Mentor Answer: Companies do have different cultures, and individual magazine staffs have different cultures. The goal is to figure out what type of culture makes you most successful, and how you measure success. Most managers encourage individuality, so be the culture you want to have an articulate it. Today, lots of emails are signed off with an inspiring quote. People want to know who you are, and it will help you stay true to your course as well.

Mentoring Applications are now available for the 2009 Program

2008-10-22T05:41:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to get a mentoring partner for 2009. Mentors, one hour a month means so much to the person you are coaching. Mentees, don't miss the opportunity to work with someone who is completely dedicated to your growth.

There is no charge to participate, but lots of rewards in return. The deadlines for the 2009 Program are: Monday, November 3rd for mentees and Monday November 17th for mentors. Sign up today!

Get the Mentee application here: http://www.mediafire.com/?zft0jjzm4dz
Get the Mentor application here: http://www.mediafire.com/?jojmivhg1ji

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Amber Thomas, at ambert@heartbeatdigital.com or Terry Yoffe at terry@TRYcoaching.com.

Learn: How Talented Women Thrive

2008-10-22T04:28:00.000-07:00

We thought you would appreciate this recent study from The McKinsey Quarterly. McKinsey interviewed more than 85 women around the world to learn what drives and sustains successful female leaders. They distilled a model called “Centered Leadership” based on five broad, interrelated dimensions. The five dimensions are as follows:

Meaning – finding your strengths and putting them to work in the service of an inspiring purpose
Managing Energy – knowing where your energy comes from, where it goes, and what you can do to manage it
Positive Framing – adopting a more constructive way to view your world, expand your horizons, and gain the resilience to move ahead even when bad things happen
Connecting – identifying who can help you grow, building stronger relationships, and increasing your sense of belonging
Engaging – finding your voice, becoming self-reliant and confident by accepting opportunities and the inherent risks they bring, and collaborating with others

Click below for the full article from McKinsey:
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Centered_leadership_How_talented_women_thrive_2193

Comment to share your thoughts on this study.

Share: Mentoring Ideas and Books

2008-06-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

As we enter into the height of summer, here are a few ideas to keep the mentoring relationship fresh:

Delve into the interactive/digital landscape
Discuss general industry trends
Review specific trade articles of interest
Initiate a job shadowing experience
Critique movies and books
Join a book club
Research a relevant industry topic together
Launch a baking exchange/soup exchange/cookie exchange
Attend AWNY event together
Create a mini-resume workshop
Get together with other mentoring pairs for an outing/group discussion
Meet for a speed tutoring session i.e., public speaking, Adobe Photoshop

If you are interested in discussing a shared resource, download a list of recommended books that you may find engaging.

Happy Summer!

Share: Your Ideas

2008-06-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

How can we encourage more mentors to join the AWNY Mentoring Program in 2o09?

We'd love to hear your ideas - anything from increasing our promotional efforts to new outlets to find mentors. Comment on this post to share your thoughts. Thanks for the feedback!

Share: What to Discuss

2008-06-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Summer! After a brief hiatus, the AWNY Mentoring Blog is back and will be updated regularly with the latest mentoring updates, ideas, and inspiration. To pick up where we left off, below are some upcoming AWNY events to consider attending with your mentor/mentee.

Tickets are available at http://www.awny.org/static/rd_cal.html

Hope to see you there! Feel free to comment on this post to share other industry events that may be of interest to Mentoring Program participants.

June 4
Installation Luncheon with Mary Beth West, EVP Chief Marketing Officer, Kraft Foods, Inc.
The New York Hilton
1335 Avenue of the Americas
Cocktails: 11:30 p.m.
Luncheon: 12:00 noon
Tickets: $125 (Members)/$200 (Guests)/$1,750 (Table)

June 25
Golf Clinic
Chelsea Piers
Pier 19
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $75 (Members)/ $100 (Guests)

July 16
Social Networking Breakfast
Marriott Hotel
1535 Broadway
7:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Tickets: $75 (Members)/ $125 (Guests)/ $1,000 (Table)

July 28
Annual Golf Outing
Whippoorwill Country Club
Armonk, NY
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $1,400 (Foursome)/$350 (Single Ticket)

August 13
Women to Watch Luncheon
New York Hilton
1335 Avenue of the Americas
Cocktails: 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon: 12:00 noon
Tickets: $125 (Members)/$200 (Guests)/ $1,750 (Table)

Share: What to Discuss

2008-03-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

See below for some event ideas to consider for your next mentoring meeting. For example, you could attend the event together as a mentoring pair and then setup a follow-up time to discuss the event topic(s).

Comment on this post to share other industry events that may be of interest to program members.

March 27
Salary Gap Series I with Kathryn Mayer, KC Mayer Consulting, Inc.
“Building Healthy Competitive Relationships at Work
for Career Advancement - Get a Pacing Partner”
MSN
1290 Avenue of the Americas
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30

April 3
Salary Gap Series II with Kathy Aaronson, CEO/Founder, The Sales Athlete
“Are You Worth Your Weight in Gold? How to Negotiate a Fort Knox Salary”
MSN
1290 Avenue of the Americas
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30

April 10
Salary Gap Series III with Terri Edelman, Principal & Founder, The Edelman Group
“Essential Elements for a Successful Game Plan to Market Yourself”
MSN
1290 Avenue of the Americas
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30

April 17
“2008 Impact Awards AWNY Celebrates Mentoring” Luncheon
Confirmed participants to date:
Donna Campanella, Executive Director, Global Media, Avon Products, Inc. and Charlie Rutman, CEO, MPG
Sarah Fay, CEO, Isobar and David Verklin, CEO, Aegis Media Americas
Robin Steinberg, SVP Director, Print Investment & Activation, MediaVest
and Donna Speciale, President, MediaVest Worldwide

New York Hilton
1335 Avenue of the Americas
11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Members: $125 / Guests: $200 / Tables $1,750

April 30
Changing the Game Awards Luncheon
New York Hilton
1335 Avenue of the Americas
Cocktails: 11:45 a.m. Luncheon: 12:00 p.m.
Members: $125 / Guests: $200 / Tables $1,750

Registration: www.awny.org/cal.html or 212-221-7969

Share: Photos from the 2008 Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast

2008-03-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast on March 7th:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avh531/sets/72157604101030348/
Enjoy!

Share: Your Questions, Comments, and Suggestions on the Kick-Off Breakfast

2008-03-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

Thanks for attending the 2008 AWNY Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast - It was great to see so many of you there!

We're interested in your initial feedback and suggestions, so feel free to comment on any of the following (plus some!):

Thoughts, questions, or suggestions that you didn't get a chance to put forth at the Kick-Off Breakfast
Recommendations for resources to include on this blog (your favorite books, blogs, RSS feeds, articles, etc.)
Ideas for Mentee/Mentor activities - Share what you've been up to!

This blog will be updated regularly, so keep checking back for the latest AWNY Mentoring updates and inspiration.

If you have any questions about the AWNY Mentoring program, please contact Lynn Zalokar at lynn@awny.org or Terry Yoffe at terry@trycoaching.com.

Feel free to reach out to Allison Van Houten at awnymentoring@gmail.com if you have any questions about the blog.

Mentoring Kick-Off Breakfast on March 7, 2008

2008-03-06T08:11:00.000-08:00

AWNY Mentoring Program Kick-Off Breakfast Friday, March 7, 2008

Get together with your mentor or mentee
Hear from other mentors and mentees
Get great ideas for your mentoring partnership

Friday, March 7th
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Time Inc. - Luce Room, 2nd floor Conference Center
1271 Avenue of the Americas - Enter on the 50th Street side between 6th and 7th Avenues

E-mail Lynn Zalokar at lynn@awny.org by March 3rd to reserve your seat.

Plus, don’t forget your business card to enter to win a one year subscription to Fortune magazine! Thanks to Fortune Magazine for their generous support of this breakfast.

Hope to see you there!

Grow: You've received your mentoring pairs - Now what?

2008-01-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

Mentees - It's time to make the first call to schedule your first mentor meeting.

Think about what you would like to get out of your meeting, whether you simply introduce yourself, review your professional New Year's resolutions for 2008, or receive advice about current workplace issues. Maybe you read an interesting article that sparks discussion, or perhaps you'll attend an AWNY or industry event and the discuss topics of interest afterward. You can meet anywhere - at your mentor's office, over coffee, drinks, lunch or dinner, at an event, or at a mutually convenient location. The sooner you initiate your first mentor/mentee meeting, the more you'll get out of the program this year - so make that call soon!

Comment on this post to give other AWNY Mentoring members ideas and inspiration for their first meeting.

Welcome to The New AWNY Mentoring Blog!

2008-01-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

The new AWNY Mentoring Blog is the go-to destination for AWNY Mentoring updates, information and inspiration from both the Mentoring Committee and from you - the 2008 Mentoring Program participants. We encourage collective comments, feedback and new ideas that will help inspire ways to build a successful mentoring relationship. Come back often - Here's to mentoring success!