1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 2: What's up, besties. It's a new year and a new 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 2: chance to rewrite the narrative. So today we're highlighting the 4 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 2: life changing power of mentorship at any age. We've got 5 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 2: De Laurs Julie Morton, CEO of Step Up here with us. 6 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 2: She's sharing how mentorship changed her life and why she 7 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 2: owes so much of her success to the women who 8 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: guided her along the way. It's Monday, January sixth. I'm 9 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 2: Simone Boyce and. 10 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 3: I'm Danielle Robe and this is the bright Side from 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 3: Hello Sunshine, a daily show where we come together to 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 3: share women's stories, laugh, learn and brighten your day. Yet, 13 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 3: the new year is here, and it's more than just 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 3: a new calendar year, you know. I always feel like 15 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 3: the new year is a chance to hit reset and 16 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 3: start fresh. So, whether you're just like cleaning up the 17 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 3: confetti from your New Year's party or you're back into 18 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 3: your routine, I think this time of year has a 19 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 3: way of making us feel brand new. 20 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: Do you feel it. 21 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 2: All the time? January is my favorite month of the year. 22 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: I love the because it's my birthday month. 23 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 2: It's mine too. I'm not even like a big birthday person. 24 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: It's honestly just it's the fresh energy of January. Like 25 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 2: you were saying, it's a clean slate, and I just 26 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 2: love a new beginning. And then also, you know we 27 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: live in la and La is particularly green during that 28 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 2: time of year, and I think that does something for 29 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: me positively psychologically. 30 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: Well, here's the thing that has been on my mind. 31 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 3: Psychologists call this fresh start a fresh start phenomenon, and 32 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 3: it's this mental boundary that inspires us to leave failures 33 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 3: behind and face the future with hope and determination. So 34 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 3: that feeling is psychologically proven, Samon. It creates this like 35 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 3: wiping the slate clean momentum and Wharton behavioral economics professor 36 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 3: Katie Milkman writes, people are more open to change when 37 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 3: they feel they have a fresh start. Think about that, 38 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 3: whether it is the start of the year, or a 39 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 3: milestone birthday, or even a simple Monday morning, we all 40 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 3: have the opportunity to reseet. 41 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 2: Well, Danielle, everything you're saying aligns with what Wendy Wood 42 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 2: told us on the show when we interviewed her about 43 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 2: habit forming. Yes, she said that the best time to 44 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 2: implement new habits is when you have a fresh start, 45 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 2: When you have this sweeping environmental or circumstantial change in 46 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: your life. 47 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 3: That's exactly it. And it's actually especially potent after a 48 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 3: setback too. So one of those two things. And so 49 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 3: now I think is the perfect time because it's the 50 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 3: turn of the holiday. It's this renewed commitment to health, 51 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 3: to productivity, to personal growth. But it's not magic, right, Like, 52 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 3: we can't just hope that all the changes happen. To 53 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 3: really make the most of them, we have to recognize 54 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 3: the energy of this moment. And I think instead of 55 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 3: making these big, sweeping, overwhelming resolutions, start small. Let's pick 56 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 3: one thing that we want to focus on and make 57 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 3: a plan to build it into our routine. So what's 58 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 3: one thing you're either implementing or taking away. 59 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 2: This is something that I typically implement at the beginning 60 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 2: of every year, and that is just an increased focus 61 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: on consistency. I tend to start out the year pretty consistent, 62 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 2: you know, with like waking up early, working out every day. 63 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 2: But by the end of the year, I just sort 64 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 2: of get lazy. And I honestly think that's okay, Like 65 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: I embrace it and I think it's healthy, but I 66 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 2: do enjoy you know that kickstart at the start of 67 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,119 Speaker 2: the year. That just really encourages me to be more 68 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 2: disciplined and consistent. I love that, how about you. 69 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 3: Okay, this is going to sound annoying, so please excuse me, 70 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 3: but I haven't done cardio in like five years. Like 71 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 3: I just love lifting weights, and for the sake of 72 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 3: my heart, I'm really going to try and implement some cardios, 73 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 3: some more walking, maybe even some running if I can 74 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 3: get away with it. But it's one small thing I'm 75 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 3: going to implement. 76 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 2: Isn't it interesting that fitness is like the first thing 77 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 2: that so many people think of when it comes to 78 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: fresh starts within a year. 79 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: That's such a good point. We both really kind of 80 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: touched on that. 81 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. 82 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: Wow, Well, I. 83 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 3: Think it's important to think about what your thing is. 84 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 3: What is your fresh start moment of the year, whether 85 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 3: it's eating better or being more present, or taking your 86 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 3: phone out of your room. Good luck with that I tried, 87 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 3: or you know, starting the hobby that you've always been 88 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 3: dreaming about. 89 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: I think now is the perfect time to go for it, Danielle, 90 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 2: it's not too late. Twenty twenty five might be the 91 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 2: year that you put your phone outside of your room. 92 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 2: Do you absolutely not. 93 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: Okay, there we go, well, simone. 94 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 3: Besides both of our birthdays, January is also National Mentoring Month, 95 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 3: and this month is dedicated to celebrating the power of 96 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 3: mentorships and shining a light on how mentorship can actually 97 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 3: change a young person's life. 98 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 2: I gotta be honest, I'm kind of I'm heading into 99 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: this conversation kind of bitter because I never had a mentor. 100 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 2: I have to figure it all out. Not too late, 101 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: I guess, yeah, or maybe it's time to you know, 102 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: mentor someone else that can be really fulfilling too. But listen, 103 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: I have good reason to be envious of people who 104 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 2: have benefited from mentors because, according to a study commission 105 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 2: by the national nonprofit called Mentor, more than fifty percent 106 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 2: of adults credit their mentors for their success in life, 107 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 2: and fifty eight percent of young people say their mentor 108 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 2: has supported their mental health. Wow. That's incredible. Yeah. 109 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 3: One specific program that I've been able to witness firsthand 110 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 3: that really changes the lives of both the mentors and 111 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 3: the mentees is called Step Up. It's a mentorship nonprofit 112 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 3: whose mission is to help girls define and achieve their 113 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 3: unique visions of success. So much of it is about 114 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 3: becoming confident and connected and saying what's on your mind. 115 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 3: They even have wonderful tactical programs like how to write 116 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 3: a resume and a cover letter. I've had the opportunity 117 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 3: to work with them on and off since I lived 118 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 3: in Chicago, like I don't know, like seven six, seven 119 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 3: years ago, and it's one of the few programs I 120 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 3: keep coming back to because the work is so great. 121 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 2: Well, it's not just you, I mean our Hello Sunshine 122 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 2: leader Reese Witherspoon has directly invested in and supported this program, 123 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 2: and she was super intentional about making sure that the 124 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: curriculum included a financial literacy element. I love that. That 125 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 2: is so huge, huge, all right. For all the details 126 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: on step ups impressive mentorship programs, joining us today is 127 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: none other than Dolores Juliet Morton, the CEO herself. Having 128 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 2: experienced the benefits of mentorship firsthand, Delores is now reshaping 129 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 2: the present and future of Step Up. Did we mention 130 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 2: she's expanded their programs to include young women from eighteen 131 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 2: to twenty nine. Yeah, she's pretty much redefining what it 132 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: means to lift women up. Juliet Mortin, Welcome to the 133 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 2: bright side. Thanks for having me, It's gonna be fun. 134 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 3: Well, Simone and I are such huge Step Up fans. 135 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 3: We were so excited to finally be able to speak 136 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 3: with you. 137 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: I love Step Up fans. 138 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: Yes, it's easy to be a Step Up fan. 139 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 4: Right, Like it's a mission that you can't be mad at. 140 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 4: Who can say no to mentoring girls like? 141 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: Period? Easy, period exactly. 142 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 3: I got to experience Step Up firsthand when I worked 143 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 3: with the organization in Chicago, and I'll never forget watching 144 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 3: these girls. I met them at the beginning of the program. 145 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 3: Then at the end of the program, we had this 146 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 3: little event and they got up on stage and they 147 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 3: were different girls. 148 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: They got up on stage, they. 149 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 3: Put their hands on their chest, on their heart, over 150 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 3: their head and they said, I am confident, I am strong, 151 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 3: I can do anything I put my mind to, and 152 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 3: they believed it. And those were not the same voices 153 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 3: I heard at the beginning of the program, and I 154 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 3: was just I'll never forget it. 155 00:07:59,080 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: I was blown away. 156 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 2: And that was in one mentoring session. 157 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 4: One mentoring session that wasn't because they had been doing 158 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 4: things for weeks and months with us. 159 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: That was one session, and you saw that transformation. So 160 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 2: what you said was so powerful, Danielle, just looking at 161 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: the transformation before and after of these girls. What exactly 162 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: happens in a step up mentoring session for anybody who's 163 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 2: a little bit new to this process. 164 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 4: Sure, so all of our mentoring sessions are curated. Our 165 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 4: mentors don't have to come in with specific skills or experiences. 166 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 4: We are team designs and activity that is specific. 167 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 2: It might be focused. 168 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 4: On them being able to tell their personal story and 169 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 4: their personal narrative, or it could be something as simple 170 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 4: as time management, right, and so really it's in a curated, active, 171 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 4: engaged space. So both the girl and the mentor, there's 172 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 4: no you don't feel intimidated. You feel supported and cared 173 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 4: for and confident. So we want the mentor to feel 174 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 4: confident going in and the mentees to feel confident leaving 175 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 4: out on whatever that issue is that they were talking about, 176 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 4: whether it is perfecting my pitch or time management or 177 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 4: conducting a job search, whatever those things are. 178 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 3: I think back to my early twenties in my first 179 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 3: three jobs, and I've said this on the podcast before, 180 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 3: but I felt so unprepared and out of my depth, 181 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 3: not for the actual job, but for the office relationships 182 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 3: and dynamics and talking to my boss and what was 183 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 3: expected and how to say things with a positive spin 184 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 3: and be an encouraging peer and leader and follower. I 185 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 3: was so much I can't even imagine what mentorship would 186 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 3: have done. 187 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: Right. 188 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: So I love that you guys are expanding this program. 189 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: Did you feel that way too? Oh? 190 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely? 191 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 4: Not just I mean I was a first generation college student, 192 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 4: so neither of my parents went to college, so I 193 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 4: didn't know. When I went to college, I thought that 194 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 4: the degree was success, like I'm going to get this 195 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 4: degree and magically the carpet's going to roll out and 196 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 4: everything's going to work. But I didn't know, Oh, you 197 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 4: need to do internships while you're in college and you 198 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 4: need you know, you need to build relationships and network. 199 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 4: I was like, no, I need to get good grades. 200 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 4: Like that was all I was focused on. And so 201 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 4: whether it's going to college or going into the military, workforce, 202 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 4: wherever you're going, when you're done with high school, you 203 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 4: still need that support. And so everything from navigating college 204 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 4: to my first job too. I remember one job, I 205 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 4: got my terrible performance review, the worst. And I was 206 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 4: an a student in high school and in best grades 207 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 4: in college and then I get this, you know, needs improvement. 208 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 4: It's like, I like, who are you talking to improvements? 209 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 4: I got some improvement for you. And I actually ended 210 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 4: up calling someone that I knew in high school that 211 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:54,719 Speaker 4: as a mentor in high school and told them about it, 212 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 4: and they were like, well, you know, remember that time, 213 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 4: you know, you got this bad grade and you went 214 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 4: back to your teacher and talked to them about it, 215 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 4: and you know, they helped you to improve, like use 216 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 4: those same skills that I was like, oh, and I 217 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 4: didn't have the language to even refer to that as mentorship, right, So, 218 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 4: but they helped me to navigate that. And you know, 219 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 4: look at this bad performance review as really it was 220 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 4: an opportunity to demonstrate what you can do. So don't 221 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 4: look at it as you know, you're awful and you 222 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 4: quit your job, do I need on the wrong path? 223 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 4: But more look at it as an opportunity to prove yourself. 224 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 4: So just even those little things how to respond to 225 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 4: a performance review is one of the things that a 226 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 4: young woman engaged in step ups programs can talk to 227 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 4: a mentor about. 228 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 3: That's actually what I'm curious about hearing you talk about 229 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 3: a review. What are the common challenges that you're hearing 230 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 3: women in their twenties tell you that they're facing that 231 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 3: they're needing this mentorship. 232 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 4: One is navigating job searches, and that's everything from conducting 233 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 4: the search to so do I have the right resume 234 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 4: or preparing for an interview. So that's a lot of 235 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 4: it is that, but they are also needing support in 236 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 4: financial literacy, financial management and so you know your four 237 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 4: O one K and when you should start investing in 238 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 4: putting you know, money into your four one K. So 239 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 4: a lot of them are asking for how do I 240 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 4: get career clarity? 241 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 2: Right? 242 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 4: So we think, oh, I want to be a social worker, 243 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 4: but I don't really know any social workers, but it 244 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 4: sounds good. And then I get the job and I'm like, oh, 245 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 4: this is not at all what I thought all health 246 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 4: social workers, that's not I'm using that as an example. 247 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 4: But when you get in the job, what you thought 248 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 4: it was going to be is not at all the 249 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 4: actual work. And so they're like, wait, so now I 250 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 4: have this degree, how can I use this in a 251 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:52,839 Speaker 4: different way than what I thought I was going to 252 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 4: use it for? And so that's one of the things 253 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 4: that a mentor can help a young woman to figure. 254 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 3: Out I just talked to a good call friend who's 255 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 3: an attorney and we were having a heart to heart 256 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: because she became a mom and she's frustrated at her job. 257 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 3: And she was like, if I would have known what 258 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 3: my career entailed, I would have never gone down this path. 259 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: And I was like, do you mean that? And she 260 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: said absolutely. 261 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 3: But I didn't have anybody to show me or tell me, 262 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 3: and I didn't know, No, I just saw what I 263 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 3: saw on TV. 264 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 4: When we first started doing our work, especially with young adults, 265 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 4: we were like, what is exactly do they need from 266 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 4: us at this point? So we put it all in 267 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 4: the context of careers and having someone you know that 268 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 4: you know you can call on to help you, and 269 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 4: having a place like Step Up that you know you 270 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 4: can come to to find the mentor who's going to 271 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,319 Speaker 4: be able to help you to navigate that space is 272 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 4: so special important. And I've only been at the helm 273 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 4: of Step Up for five years, but one of the 274 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 4: things that I think about is what did I need? Like, 275 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 4: I'm building the organization that Dolores needed when she was fourteen, sixteen, 276 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:03,839 Speaker 4: twenty five, twenty nine, so that is the stuff up 277 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:05,680 Speaker 4: that I'm trying to imagine. 278 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 2: What did Dolores need? We've got to take a short break, 279 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:17,079 Speaker 2: but we'll be right back with Dolores Morton. And we're 280 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 2: back with Dolores Morton. I want to talk about mentorship 281 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 2: more broadly, because I'm sure there are some of our 282 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 2: bright side bessies who are listening and thinking, Man, I 283 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: could really benefit from a mentor, but I'm probably outside 284 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 2: of the age range of step up. And it's really 285 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 2: impressive to take a step back and think about how 286 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 2: mentors have shaped the lives of so many of the 287 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 2: change makers that we all admire in our society today, 288 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 2: people like Maya Angelou, who famously mentored Oprah. Amy Poehler 289 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 2: was an early believer. In one of my favorite shows, 290 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 2: Broad City, Michelle Obama was Barack Obama's mentor at the 291 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 2: law firm where they met, Yes as coworkers, No, she 292 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 2: was assigned to be his mentor. Isn't that wild? So 293 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 2: you never know where a mentorship will take you, to 294 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 2: the wedding chapel to the White House. But my question is, 295 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 2: how do you know a mentorship relationship is the right fit? 296 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 2: How do you know when you found the right mentor. 297 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 4: M it's a good question. I think it's authenticity. It's 298 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 4: it's really from the mentee perspective. I am looking for 299 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 4: someone that I can be comfortable being vulnerable with that 300 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 4: I don't have to be my best self with you 301 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 4: in this moment because I really am coming to you 302 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 4: for help and support and guidance. And so I think 303 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 4: that that's when you know that you don't have to 304 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 4: be polished or put together every time you're with your mentor, 305 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 4: then you've found somebody that is going to be engaged 306 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 4: with you, you know, for a long time, and really 307 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 4: am able to be invested in you. But I also 308 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 4: say that I think it's important to not think of 309 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 4: your of needing just one mentor. If you think about 310 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 4: your friends like your friends are all you know. I 311 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 4: have one friend Tara who I always pass my clothing by, 312 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 4: like hey, like is this the right outfit? 313 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 2: Like? What are these? She's my fashion group. Absolutely I 314 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: was sending like is this match? Like? Is this am 315 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 2: I doing the most? Am I doing enough? 316 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 4: So there's Tara, or there's Stephanie who gives me books. 317 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 4: Are you know Evelyn who is kind of the one 318 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 4: who's pushing me and cheering me on and like you 319 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 4: can do this. 320 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 2: Or Karen who told me to. 321 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 4: Apply for this job as a CEO, I was like, 322 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 4: I'm not a CEO and you really are, and so 323 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 4: she so you need I would say, don't just look 324 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 4: to one mentor for everything. I think that that's I'm 325 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 4: sure as much as Michelle. Now I'm jealous of Barack 326 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 4: for all new reasons. So Michelle Obama was a great mentor. 327 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 4: I'm sure he had other mentors as well, as I 328 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 4: think that that's important. You need different mentors at different 329 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 4: stages in your life, but also for different reasons, right, 330 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 4: And so I think that that's important as you are, 331 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 4: as you're thinking about mentorship, becoming a mentor or receiving mentorship, 332 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 4: I think that it's important. 333 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 2: If I were Michelle Obama, I would never let him 334 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 2: live that down, like I would always bring that up, 335 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 2: like you just remember I was here. I was your mentor. 336 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 2: Everything you are is because of me. Oh, he knows, 337 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 2: he knows, he knows, for sure, he knows. So as 338 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 2: I'm hearing you talk, I'm thinking about my career journey 339 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 2: and I did. I never really had a mentor in 340 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 2: the traditional sense, But I did have people who brought 341 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: my names up in rooms that I wasn't in, and 342 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 2: that happened in several different situations and occasions throughout my career. 343 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 2: So I do agree that mentorship can look different for 344 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 2: different people. But I think the reason one of the 345 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 2: reasons why I never had a traditional mentor is because 346 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 2: I didn't want to burden anyone and I was scared 347 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 2: of being another responsibility on someone's to do list. And 348 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 2: I think in our culture in America, there is this 349 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 2: culture of self reliance where we are really hesitant to 350 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 2: burden other people. But you brought up a word that 351 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 2: I think is really important in this conversation, which is vulnerability, 352 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 2: and I'd love to talk about that a little bit more. 353 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 2: Why is vulnerability in mentorship so important because it does 354 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 2: require us to put ourselves out there. 355 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 4: We all all want to feel like we are bringing 356 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 4: something to the table, right, bringing our best selves, and 357 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 4: you know, we want to be polished. We want folks 358 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 4: to feel comfortable bringing our names up in rooms. But 359 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 4: from a mentor's perspective, if all they're bringing is their perfection, 360 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 4: then I can't see myself in your perfection, right because 361 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 4: I'm not where you are yet, and so I'm going 362 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 4: to be hesitant to talk about my mistakes and those things, 363 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 4: and the mistakes is where the learning happens. And so 364 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 4: by being vulnerable and willing to share your mistakes and 365 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 4: what you've learned along the way, I think that then 366 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 4: I can I can make a better connection to you. 367 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 4: And so I would say all mentoring starts with vulnerability 368 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 4: and honesty, and you know, it creates it's a connection 369 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 4: and a place to start the conversation when you can say, 370 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 4: you know, I went into an interview and I was 371 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 4: so unprepared and this has happened to me that it 372 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 4: was the wrong interview. I was prepared for a different interview. 373 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 4: I was like on a big job search at the time, 374 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 4: and so I was like, oh God, that was not 375 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 4: the right job. 376 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 2: I always prepared for a different one. 377 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 4: And I tell that story to young women that I 378 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 4: mentor so that they know, you know, and I'm telling 379 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 4: them that story to help them to not make that mistake. 380 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:38,919 Speaker 4: But you said something simone about not wanting to burden someone, 381 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 4: and I think one of the things that's important to 382 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 4: me is that young women know that they deserve mentorship. 383 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,199 Speaker 4: Mentorship isn't just a nice thing to have. It is 384 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 4: necessary and critical. And mentorship can be formal and informal. 385 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 4: It's not only the per like you are my mentor, 386 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:02,159 Speaker 4: like It's about conversation and connection and guidance and you know, 387 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 4: helping someone to move you, you know, incrementally along your path. 388 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 2: And I think the vulnerability conversation goes both ways, right, 389 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 2: because it requires vulnerability on the part of the mentee 390 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 2: too to be open about what their biggest scariest dreams 391 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 2: are or you know, what their biggest scariest fears are. 392 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 4: Yes, so true, you know, And that's the by the 393 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 4: mentor being being vulnerable, the young person the mentee on 394 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:32,880 Speaker 4: the receiving and feels more comfortable being vulnerable as well. 395 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 4: You know, that creates that that's part of the connection 396 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 4: that you're creating, that sense of permission exactly. 397 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, I love that permission. 398 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:45,159 Speaker 3: And I'm wondering if you had a mentor or are 399 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 3: you attracted to this because you went without. 400 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 4: Simone said something about not having a mentor in the 401 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 4: traditional way, and I don't think that even when I 402 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 4: was in high school, I didn't realize I was receiving 403 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 4: mentorship when I was. I had a one woman, Nellie Watkins, 404 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 4: who forced me into a competitive oratory, so competitive public 405 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 4: speaking in Louisiana. And she would take me in on 406 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 4: weekends to these competitions and you know, you get to 407 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 4: the competition and they give you a topic. You got 408 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 4: to go in your room, write a speech, and then 409 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 4: come and give the speech. 410 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 2: And amazing training. 411 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 4: I use that training in my real life today, you know. 412 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 4: But she was somebody who invested in me, took some 413 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 4: time and saw an opportunity and saw a place where 414 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 4: she could help me along my path. And I can 415 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 4: stand up now, you know, I've stood in front of 416 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,719 Speaker 4: thousands of people on stage and I can do that 417 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 4: because of Nellie Watkins. And I have a current mentor, 418 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 4: Karen Williams, who helps me. I like to use the mentor, 419 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 4: still have a mentor I have. She's somebody that you know, 420 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 4: I what do you ask her about everything? 421 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 2: You know? I knew her before I took the step 422 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:02,360 Speaker 2: up role. 423 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 4: But you know, when I was, I'd been in one 424 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 4: job for fifteen years, It's like, okay, that was cute. 425 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: Time to move on. 426 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,439 Speaker 4: And I called Karen and she kind of helped me 427 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,119 Speaker 4: to think about what was important to me in my 428 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 4: next job. So she encouraged me five years ago to 429 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 4: put my hat in the ring for this. But then, 430 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 4: you know, whether it's like I'm I'm challenged with this 431 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 4: thing with my staff, or you know, I've got a 432 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 4: new donor, but I'm not sure what to pitch to them. 433 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 4: Sometimes it's like should I go to this event? Like 434 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 4: so that, So it's it's a little should I wear 435 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 4: blue or pink? And so it's it's in little and 436 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 4: big ways. And that's the thing about mentorship. One of 437 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 4: my goals when I came to step up was to 438 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 4: demystify it and to make it less scary, you know. 439 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 2: So so so. 440 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 4: It's the it's the little things, but also you know, 441 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,360 Speaker 4: sometimes it's really transformational, like should I apply for this? 442 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 2: Can I do this? 443 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 4: And before I went into the interview, I was sitting 444 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 4: outside the building. I called Karen and she gave me 445 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,679 Speaker 4: the pep talk. So like your mentor can be your cheerleader, 446 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 4: your advisor, your counselor. You mentioned Oprah and Baya Angelo, 447 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 4: and like Oprah's my mentor. She doesn't know it, but 448 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 4: exactly she's my mentor, right, So like Michelle Obama. You know, 449 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 4: me and Barack have something else in common. We both 450 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 4: have Michelle Obama for our mentor. So that's like there's 451 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 4: formal but there's also people that we look to as 452 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 4: lights and guidance in our lives, whether we know them 453 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 4: or not. 454 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 2: That's mentorship. We can receive mentorship from them as well. 455 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I also think there's work mentors and there's life mentors. 456 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, that too. So for someone who's on the 457 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 2: other side of the equation and may be interested in 458 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 2: providing some wisdom and guidance in a younger person's life. 459 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 2: How do you know you're ready to become a mentor. 460 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:55,479 Speaker 4: I'll say women in particular sometimes are hesitant to become 461 00:23:55,520 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 4: a mentor because they are busy. So I don't know 462 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 4: that you're ever going to feel confident that you're ready. 463 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 4: I think that the magic that step up provides is 464 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:10,360 Speaker 4: that you get in the room and you realize, like, oh, 465 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 4: I'm mentoring. 466 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,400 Speaker 2: You know that's happening. It's happening. 467 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 4: Mentoring's happening, and so I think that's part of the 468 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 4: magic that we provide. So I don't know if that 469 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,959 Speaker 4: you ever know. It's whether you're willing to try. 470 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 2: The reason why I ask is because I and I 471 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 2: think you know other women that I know have a 472 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 2: tendency to second guests our own offerings, like how we 473 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 2: can be of service. You know, whether it's the rejection, 474 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 2: the criticism, just the inner critic, you know, the outer critic, 475 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 2: the voices from society that can tend to make you 476 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 2: second guests, like do I actually have anything to offer? 477 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 2: Woul anybody want to listen to what I have to say? 478 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 2: But it's great to hear from you that even though 479 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 2: you think you might not be ready, you probably are. 480 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,640 Speaker 2: You probably are. You've learned something, Yeah, you know right? 481 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 4: And I always think about it like I was a 482 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 4: fourth grade math tutor once, and I am by no 483 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 4: means a math genius, but I knew more than the 484 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 4: fourth grader, so I could help that fourth grader. 485 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 2: And so if you've got. 486 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 4: A little bit in your life that you are able 487 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 4: to help someone, So whether it's a teen girl or 488 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 4: a young adult, or a near peer, someone who's your age, 489 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 4: if a teen girl can mentor another teen girl or 490 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 4: a middle schooler, then woman, you're ready. Whoever you are 491 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,120 Speaker 4: out there, you are ready to be a mentor. You've 492 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,160 Speaker 4: got something to give. We all have something to give. 493 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 3: You don't have to commit a huge amount of time. 494 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 3: You guys have something called flash mentoring, right, what is that? 495 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 4: So flash mentoring Three things make it up. It is 496 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 4: short term, it is focused on something specific, and it 497 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 4: is based on experience and not expertise. And so it's 498 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 4: short term, like one hour, one conversation can make a difference. 499 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 4: It is focused. So I am coming into this mentoring relationship, 500 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 4: this mentoring moment with something specific that I'm working on. 501 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 4: So I have an entry in three days and I 502 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 4: want a mentor to help me with that. So it's 503 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:07,159 Speaker 4: very specific and it's experience based it so it's not 504 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 4: based on your expertise. It's not that I am an 505 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 4: HR expert and I can tell you exactly what this 506 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 4: job is going to entail and how to respond to 507 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:19,680 Speaker 4: the questions. But I can tell you how I've prepared. 508 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 4: I can give you some guidance based on my experiences 509 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 4: versus expertise. 510 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 2: So that's what it is. 511 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 4: And if we can get more people to think about 512 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 4: mentoring in that way, then everyone will have a mentor 513 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 4: when they need a mentor. You know, my big dream 514 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 4: for step up, I will resign and Step Up can 515 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 4: close its doors if we need to. When every young 516 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 4: woman everywhere has a mentor when she needs one. 517 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 1: It's time for another short break. 518 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 3: But we'll be right back to our conversation about mentorship 519 00:26:53,920 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 3: with Dolores Morton, and we're back with Step Up CEO 520 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 3: Dolores Morton. 521 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 2: Okay, Bessie's this is a pretty staggering statistic about the 522 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 2: impact of mentoring. According to the American Society for Training 523 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 2: and Development, seventy five percent of executives say mentoring played 524 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 2: a critical role in their development. How do you see 525 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,639 Speaker 2: this in action, Dolores? Through Step Up success stories? Is 526 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 2: there one that just kind of sticks with you? One 527 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 2: of my mentees through Step Up young women I've never 528 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,880 Speaker 2: met in person. I'll say that her name is Jaden. 529 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 2: She lives in North Carolina, a small town outside of Charlotte, 530 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 2: and she reached out because she graduated college during the pandemic, 531 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 2: which meant that she had been isolated working from home. 532 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 2: She was working, but she was just getting these short 533 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 2: term contracts right, and she shared her frustration. I want 534 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 2: a job now that has benefits and all of these things, 535 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,440 Speaker 2: and no one wants to hire me because my resume 536 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 2: looks like a job hopped every three or four months, 537 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 2: except that it was contracts that she knew were going 538 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:05,719 Speaker 2: to be four month contracts or whatever. 539 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:10,439 Speaker 4: And I helped her to redo her resume. Resume writing 540 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 4: isn't my expertise, right, but I know how I review 541 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 4: resumes as an employer, and so helped her to reframe 542 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 4: her resume as a skills based resume, like these are 543 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 4: the things I've done and here's who I've done it with, 544 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 4: rather than a chronological resume. Within two weeks of that, 545 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 4: she had interviews lined up. Then she had two different 546 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 4: job offers, and she contacted me again, and she ended 547 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 4: up choosing the job that allowed her to go back 548 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 4: in person to work, right because she had felt isolated, 549 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 4: you know, pandemic being at home and she had only 550 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:47,959 Speaker 4: worked remote, she'd never had an in person job. So 551 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 4: she chose that job, and so yay, she got the job. 552 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 4: So she went from you know, struggling to find full 553 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 4: time job to having the job. And then three months 554 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 4: later she out to me again, I'm struggling at work 555 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 4: because I've lost my social muscle. 556 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 2: While I would like the. 557 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 4: Very reason I wanted to take this job was so 558 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 4: that I could work in person and be around my colleagues, 559 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 4: but like it's hard being around people, right, and so 560 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,239 Speaker 4: she wanted some coaching for me. I was like, well, 561 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 4: the first thing you're gonna have to do is take 562 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 4: your headphones off at your desk, like stop sitting at 563 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 4: your desk with your headphones and so, and you don't 564 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 4: have to say yes ten z. 565 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: That's a PSA right there. 566 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 3: Like stop. 567 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 4: But and you don't have to say yes to every 568 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 4: social thing, like but say yes to one. It's so 569 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 4: one a week, say yes if someone says do you 570 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 4: want to go to lunch? 571 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 2: Once a week? 572 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 4: And then she got she just sent me a note 573 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 4: like that was so helpful. I just came from happy 574 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 4: hour with my colleagues again. So and that sounds little, 575 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 4: but that is that was transformational. I think Jayden's gonna 576 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 4: kill it one day. But it's not just about getting 577 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 4: to the C suite, but knowing that mentorship is is 578 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 4: a to her as one of the things that's going 579 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:03,239 Speaker 4: to get her get her where she wants to go. 580 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 2: Well, she knows how to ask for help, which is 581 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 2: going to help her tremendously in her career. 582 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 5: Yes, and we do that. We teach them that. That's 583 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 5: one of the things we teach the girls, like how 584 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,480 Speaker 5: to ask for help. I think we need to go 585 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 5: learn how to ask. Come on, come on, Dolores, will 586 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 5: you mentor? 587 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: And I'm good, Well, I listen. 588 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 3: I'm sure so many people listening are going to feel 589 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 3: inspired to get involved. 590 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 2: I know I do. 591 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 3: So I want to reignite the step Up flame. What 592 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 3: is the best way to do that? 593 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 4: I would say, just visit our website. We have in 594 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 4: person mentoring opportunities and we have a mentoring app. So 595 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 4: our website su double n Step Up Women's Network SUWN 596 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 4: dot org. Visit us there you can find the best 597 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 4: path for you to mentor, whether it's in your hometown 598 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 4: or you know, from your desk, for an hour once 599 00:30:57,360 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 4: a week, once a month, once a year, whatever you 600 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 4: have available to contribute to a young woman's journey. 601 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: Fantastic. 602 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 2: Thank you so. 603 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 4: Much for this conversation, Dolores, Thank you, Thanks so all, 604 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:08,719 Speaker 4: and thanks Dadielle. 605 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 2: Have so much fun. Delores. Julie Morton is the CEO 606 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 2: of the mentorship nonprofit Step Up. 607 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 3: That's it for Today's show Tomorrow, economist, best selling author 608 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 3: and the founder and CEO of parent Data, Emily Oster 609 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 3: is back. 610 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 2: Join the conversation using hashtag the bright Side and connect 611 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 2: with us on social media at Hello Sunshine on Instagram 612 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 2: and at the bright Side Pod on TikTok oh, and 613 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 2: feel free to tag us at simone Voice and at 614 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 2: Danielle Robe. 615 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 3: Listen and follow the bright Side on the iHeartRadio app, 616 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 3: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 617 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 2: See you tomorrow, folks. Keep looking on the bright side.