Mentoring Stories

Katrina Dickson

Katrina's Mentoring Story

When I think back to my 20’s I did not have anyone who acted as a mentor. We were expected to be independent and work things out for ourselves. The idea of mentorship was not mainstream. Supporting me did not seem to occur to the first few managers I had. I now realise that to support someone requires a person to have a certain strength and vulnerability in themselves.  If that mentor is also a leader, some form of ‘servant leadership’ is required. A servant leader knows that supporting staff is more likely to result in greater overall results for a team, and a happier workplace. However, servant leadership is relatively rare, with leaders potentially more inclined towards ‘command and control’.

I have had several people who have been role models (usually unknowingly). The first of these is my grandmother. She engaged with everyone, no matter who they were, what they did or how old they were. She was interested in people, asked questions and truly listened to the answers, was poised, always well-groomed and admired by many. I decided to model myself on her many years ago. I learnt that first impressions do count, friendliness and openness builds connections and makes for all round happiness, and that age is meaningless unless you let it be meaningful. It is wisdom that counts.

Two people, while not mentors, changed the course of my life. My children had started school, I was on many committees, lived on a farm, but I was yearning for more. I went to a talk by Jan Logan, who had founded a highly successful luxury jewellery brand. Prior to this, she had lived on a farm in north-west NSW and had started making jewellery to sell at local markets. She started small, took courageous risks, saw opportunities, and did not see age as a barrier. At a similar time, I watched an interview with Ita Buttrose. She was strong but kind, spoke her mind, seized opportunities and learnt from setbacks. Like Jan Logan, Ita Buttrose is still going strong. After these talks, I realised that the time to start is now. So, I did an MBA, which led to a PhD. I cannot imagine where I would be if I had not taken that first step.  

My PhD supervisors are the closest I have had to mentors. Both highly intelligent professors, they knew how to guide and support me in reaching my potential. They could see that I was very self-motivated and driven, and juggling many other things in my life. They never pressured me. I will always value their ongoing support, guidance, friendship, and mutual respect.

Along the way, I have learnt to ask for help when I need it. People usually like to help, and it can save a lot of time if I can avoid re-inventing the wheel, or avoid failures.  I am now also happy not to try and ‘do it all’. This requires a certain vulnerability: I am happy to admit that there are things I do not know, or things I do not know how to do. There are things that I inherently don’t love doing, so I ask for help, or outsource. I can then spend my time on things I am good at, and that I enjoy. For me assistance from others can come in many forms, not just a formal mentoring relationship. Take what works for you, leave what doesn’t, and if you find a good mentor, go for it!