Finding a Mentor in Your Industry

The best mentors won't find you, You have to find them. My core values for career development: • Ownership - Taking responsibility for your growth • Courage - Moving through discomfort for what matters • Reciprocity - Creating value, not just taking it What I can't stand is seeing people wait for career opportunities while mistaking passivity for patience. Here's how to ask potential mentors (without feeling awkward): 1/ Be direct about your goals Don't beat around the bush. Tell them exactly what you need. "I was promoted to senior engineer and want to level up my systems architecture skills. Would you be willing to mentor me?" 2/ Tell them why you chose them People appreciate knowing what drew you to them specifically, showing you’ve done your homework. "I'm reaching out because of your experience leading engineering teams at high-growth startups." 3/ Start with a small ask Don't request a long-term commitment right away. "Would you be open to a 30-minute video call to connect?" 4/ Be gracious if rejected Sometimes people don't have bandwidth. That's okay. "I understand you have significant demands on your time." 5/ Ask for alternatives If they decline, their network might be your next opportunity. "Is there anyone you'd recommend I connect with instead?" 6/ Approach with the right mindset Confidence in your goals. Respect for their time. Gratitude for their expertise. I've seen too many careers stall because of fear of rejection. But I promise: The temporary discomfort of reaching out is nothing compared to the permanent pain of career stagnation. Stop waiting for the perfect mentor to appear. Make the first move today. What strategies have worked for you when finding mentors? Image Credit: GraciousQuotes --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

Most people freeze when they want to reach out to someone influential. Here’s the 5-step formula I’ve used to connect with the CEO of Scribe, the co-founder of Leland, the content team at Notion, and even creators I admire 👇 1. Follow first. Connect later. Don’t just hit “connect.” Follow them, spend a few weeks learning from their content and activity. Be a quiet observer. 2. Find your entry point. Look for a personal connection - a post you loved, a campaign you admired, a shared background, a comment thread you can join. 3. Create context. Once you find something specific, DM them with a message that shows: → You’ve done your homework → Why this moment made you want to connect → What you admire or learned from them 4. Make the ask polite + specific. Don’t write paragraphs. Respect their time. Example: “Would love to ask you 1 question about your work at [company] – totally okay if now’s not a good time!” 5. Nurture the connection. Even if they don’t reply, keep engaging with their content. Most of my opportunities came weeks after my first message. This method helped me land internships, collaborations, interviews, and lifelong mentors. Try this 5-step system and tell me what worked. #linkedin #network #tips

How do you find a mentor? Last week, I wrote about how essential it has been for me to find mentors in the VC space, and how that was also true during my playing career in the NBA. The advice to find one is simple. Doing the actual finding, though, can be a challenge. So, what are some steps that could work? 1️⃣ Who Do You Already Know? That mentor may not already be in your network, but they’re one, two or three calls or emails away from someone who is. Do you know anyone that’s in the field or on the path you’re looking to forge? Do you know someone who might know someone? Did your cousin’s friend’s former boss start their own company, and that’s what you want to do? Is another former student of your favorite history teacher now a software engineer, and you’re interested in that, too? You’ll have to ask around to find that out (I’m not assuming you know much about your cousin’s friend’s old boss). And you’ll have to cast a wide net. And you’ll have to be willing to put yourself out there. I have been lucky enough to find myself in some incredible rooms with impressive people thanks to my career in the NBA. But that wasn’t the end of it. I had to be willing to put myself out there, to share my interests and questions, to encourage them to see me as more than a hooper, in order to create connections. Which leads us to… 2️⃣ Don’t Be Afraid to Ask It’s not always natural or comfortable to ask for help. But, often, that’s the only way you’re going to get it — and get it in the way that you truly need. So, don’t be afraid to ask that person in your network, or who you know just a little, or that you worked with in the past, if they’d be willing to chat. Don’t be afraid to do some research, identify someone that’s on a path that you find drawn to, and reach out by sending a brief note. You might not hear back. A lot of times, honestly, you won’t. But, eventually, you will hear back. You will find someone that’s eager to offer you what they’ve learned along the way. And when you do… 3️⃣ Nurture the Relationship  Once you find that person, remain engaged. Stay curious. Express gratitude. Figure out a cadence of communication that works for both of you. Consider if there’s anything you can offer them — and, trust me, no matter who that person is or where you’re at, there is; it could be as simple as a warm smile or steadily maintaining eye contact as you listen. When I was an OG for some young bucks in the league, I loved it, because it felt like it kept me youthful, and I was able to connect with a newer generation and learn about their passions. 💡 For those of you who have had mentors, what have been the keys to finding them? 💡 💡 For those of you who have been mentors, what’s been an effective way that your mentee has connected with you? 💡 #linkedinsports #mentorship #venturecapital

This is Probably the WORST Thing You Can Do with Your Mentor: Following Their Lead. Let me explain: Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors who shaped my journey. Each of my mentors have added innumerably to my growth and learning, and I’m endlessly thankful to them. However, I’ve also learned a crucial lesson: you won’t get the best out of your mentor if you're not in charge of your own learning & development. You can have the best mentor by your side but if you're unable to discover yourself, you'll never kearn a thing. Here’s the biggest misconception about mentorship: People believe that a mentor's role is solely to lead. While guidance is essential, the best mentors are those who follow the lead of their mentees. Instead of dropping vague gems of wisdom every once in a while, they take time to understand your aspirations and help you reach new heights. Write it down and never forget: A mentor’s job is not to dictate your path, but collaborate with you on your journey. If you’re lucky enough to find a mentor, here’s are 8 ways in which you can get the most out of that relationship: 1/ Ask Tough Questions: Don’t shy away from challenging discussions. I always appreciated when my mentors provide honest feedback. It helped me refine my vision towards my business. 2/ Paint the Bigger Picture: Help your mentor understand the long-term vision you’re working towards. When they see the bigger picture, they can provide insights that help you with your goals. 3/ Create a Comfortable Space: Provide an environment where your mentor feels comfortable challenging you. Be open to their perspectives, and encourage them to push you beyond your limits. 4/ Be Proactive: Take the initiative in scheduling meetings and setting agendas. Show your mentor that you're committed and ready to take a leap with them. 5/ Set Clear Goals: Clearly outline what you hope to achieve through the mentorship. This helps both you and your mentor stay focused and measure progress. 6/ Act on Feedback: When your mentor provides advice, make sure to implement it and report back on the results. This will help build a relationship of mutual trust with your mentor. 7/ Share Your Wins and Challenges: Keep your mentor updated on your progress, both successes and setbacks. This allows them to offer tailored advice and encouragement, and it fosters a deeper connection. 8/ Network on Their Behalf: Introduce your mentor to your connections or offer to help them in their endeavors. Mentorship can be reciprocal, and showing appreciation through support can strengthen your relationship. Let’s repeat it once again: the Best mentorship is actually collaboration. If you’re ready to invest in your development, you’ll find that the right mentor can open doors and inspire you in ways you never imagined. #Mentorship #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #Mentors

Mentorship is a game-changer for growth, but let’s face it: directly asking someone to be your mentor can feel... overwhelming. Here's my advice: DON'T ask. Instead, try this ⬇️ 💡 "𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 [𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢]. 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 20 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 [𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵]?" Why does this work? You're showing respect for their time and expertise without adding the pressure of another "job." It’s a win-win! 🙌 🔥 Key Tips to Build Real Connections:  ✅ Be clear and specific about what you want to learn. ✅ Keep your request short and focused. ✅ Create an environment where they know, like, and trust you. ✨ A personal story: I once introduced a Nobel Prize winner to an astronaut (yes, really 🚀✨)—two incredible minds who hadn’t yet crossed paths. Today, they’re collaborating on big ideas because they connected in an environment of trust and mutual respect. 🚀 Here’s the takeaway: You don’t need to be a Nobel laureate or an astronaut to make meaningful connections. Your unique strengths are enough to add value and build authentic relationships. Ready to level up your mentorship game? Start small, start focused, and watch the magic happen! 🌟

Stop wasting time asking people to mentor you. Try the Micro Mentorship Method instead. Not long ago, I wrote this to a new “mentor:” Subject: “Future Mentorship” Email: “How do you feel about 30 more minutes of mentorship toward the end of Q1? You truly have a lot of wisdom to share, and I'm always happy to talk shop about what I'm learning too.” I heard nothing back. I was crushed because I thought we’d had a decent initial virtual meeting. Did he not like me? Was he rolling his eyes at me? What went wrong? What went wrong was, “30 more minutes of mentorship” is vague. People are busy; they want to know EXACTLY how they can help and what SPECIFICS you need. When your request is too macro, it’s easy to deprioritize it. Use the Micro Mentorship Method to land that follow-up meeting. Here are three examples of Micro Mentorship requests. ✅ Could I grab 15 minutes to get your feedback on 5 slides I’ve created? I’m trying to influence my boss to put me up for promotion. ✅ Is it possible to introduce me to X? I’m interested in joining the marketing team one day, and I’d love to ask them about their career path? ✅ Are you open to giving me feedback on these 3 partners I’m considering working with? I believe you’ve worked with them before, and you could fast-track my decision. Can I email you the names for your quick take? Micro Mentorship works. I never heard back from that person above after I sent my original email. Five months later, I followed up with a request similar to this last one, and he got back to me within an hour. Mentorship can be such an important part of career growth. You need people ahead of you in their career to coach you in ways your manager can’t. This doesn't change that game. It just changes your positioning. It’s still mentorship; it’s just mentorship with a clear request and suggestion of how they can help. That’s often easier for a busy person to say yes to. If this was helpful, consider resharing ♻️ with your network, and follow me Jenny Wood for more actionable tips to thrive professionally.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗠 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿. 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸. That it was only for extroverts, salespeople, or those who knew the “right” people. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The truth? LinkedIn changed my career more than any job board ever could. From landing internships to publishing research and breaking into power & energy, the biggest opportunities in my career didn’t come from job boards—they came from building the right connections. Yet, so many professionals hesitate to network strategically because they: * Feel awkward reaching out to strangers * Don’t know what to say in a cold DM * Fear getting ignored or rejected I get it—I used to be the same way. But once I started using LinkedIn the right way, I landed mentors, internships, and research opportunities that shaped my entire career. Here’s How You Can Do It Today: ✅ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 * Look for professionals in your target field (engineers, hiring managers, senior leaders). * Use LinkedIn’s “People Also Viewed” section to find similar profiles. * Join industry groups to see who’s actively sharing insights. ✅ 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 Forget “Hi, can I pick your brain?” That doesn’t work. Instead, try this: 💡 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗠 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: “Hi [Name], I came across your profile while learning about [topic]. I admire your work on [specific project]. I’d love to hear your thoughts on [question]. Would you be open to a quick chat?” ✅ 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗠 * Like and comment on their posts genuinely * Share their work and add your insights * Make your name familiar before sending a message ✅ 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 People respond better when you bring something to the table: * Share an article or resource relevant to their work * Offer a fresh perspective on one of their posts * Ask a specific, thoughtful question instead of just “Can you help me?” The Outcome: I’ve used this exact strategy to build meaningful relationships that led to: ✔ Internship opportunities before I even applied ✔ Research collaborations that boosted my career ✔ Insights from industry leaders that I couldn’t find anywhere else If you’re not leveraging LinkedIn for strategic networking, you’re leaving opportunities on the table. 💡 Try this today: Pick ONE person you admire, craft a thoughtful DM, and hit send

I get asked, "How do I find a mentor?" a lot. But the answer is simpler than you think. It's 2 steps: 1. Find a role model 2. Ask You likely have someone you look up to at work. Someone that has traits or skills you wish you had. Go to that person and use this formula: > "Hey <name>, I hope you're doing well. I love it when I have the chance to work with you, and I look up to you and your ability to <skill you want to grow in>. Would you be open to helping me grow there as well?" I've had a 100% success rate by asking slight variations of this across the 15 mentors I've had in my career. Here's a filled-in example: > "Hey Alicia, I hope you're doing well. I love it when I have the chance to work with you, and I look up to you and your ability to write high-quality technical proposals. Would you be open to helping me grow there as well?" Here are a few other tricks to help you: 1. If you're nervous to ask directly, or don't know who to go to, then you can ask your manager for help finding a mentor. 2. Prefer explicit "skill asks" to general, "will you be my mentor" asks. It gives you and your mentor a clear goal. You can transition to a more broad mentorship later. 3. If you're not currently employed, finding a mentor will be a bit more difficult, or costly. But I recommend checking ADPList if you are looking for free mentorship. Again, know what you want help with though. Have these tips worked for you? Do you like the formula and think you can use it? Let me know below!

Here's my "Never ask for a mentor" framework that led to: - Mentorship from an NYC food entrepreneur - Writing for Ryan Holiday - My first 6-figure job - $2k to speak with zero experience - Getting on top business podcasts (before I had a business) - Moving from teaching to tech - Quitting my job and going solo I know this is going to help people: 1. Never use the "M" word - Never ever ever ever (ever) ask someone to be your "mentor" - This creates instant pressure - Start with a specific, thoughtful question about their work - Show you've done your homework on their background - Ask one simple question that will help you (that they can answer is less than 60 seconds) - Be SPECIFIC (Not "whats your best tip for somebody starting out..") - Keep initial outreach brief and respectful of their time 2. Take their advice and ACTUALLY DO IT - This is where 99% of people fail - When someone gives you advice, implement it immediately - Don't wait for perfect conditions - just execute - Document your process and results 3. Circle back with results - Return with "I tried what you suggested and here's what happened..." - Be honest about both successes and failures - Express genuine gratitude for their guidance - Nobody does this - they'll be genuinely surprised 4. Use that momentum to ask the next question - This creates natural permission to continue the conversation - Each exchange builds more trust and access - Focus on quality questions that show you're serious - Create a cycle of value exchange rather than a one-sided relationship 5. Repeat consistently - Continue this loop with multiple people in your industry - Be patient - relationships build over time - Gradually deepen connections through consistent follow-through That's basically it. People love seeing their advice put into action. While everyone else is asking for mentorship and doing nothing with it, you'll stand out by simply following through. Do this enough times and you'll build a network that creates true freedom - freedom where you will always have work if/when you want it and a support network that lasts a lifetime. Any questions? Was this helpful?