“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” — Oprah Winfrey
There is no denying the importance of mentorship. Developing positive and affirming relationships allows individuals to flourish in both professional and personal development. These types of relationships are especially helpful for those in the beginning stages of their career, but at Kite Hill PR we have seen firsthand that mentorship provides growth both to mentor and mentee no matter the career stage. The support and guidance garnered in a mentor/mentee relationship can help identify strengths outside of one’s career scope and highlight passions that can become powerful tools for professional growth.
Because we feel so strongly about fostering strong relationships among our team, Kite Hill PR’s mentorship model was built into the structure of our recent company retreat in New Orleans. Everyone on the team was paired up into “Retreat Buddies” for the duration of the trip to learn about and from one another on a more personal level than might be available in a virtual environment. This exercise was a great learning experience as many were paired up with people they haven’t yet had the chance to work with, including our Senior Leadership Team. As a result, we found that as we got to know each other’s passions, hobbies, dreams and more, the stronger our working relationships became. Check out what our SLT team learned about their retreat buddy and how their motivations, passions and joys are incorporated into their work at Kite Hill PR.
What did you all learn about your retreat buddy in terms of their motivations, passions and joys that could be incorporated into their work at Kite Hill?
I have always embraced the mindset of being a lifelong learner. When you are a mentor, you can learn so much from your mentee. One of the things that impressed me the most about my retreat buddy was that she was curious. She asked deeper questions about each experience. She had an open mind and was an active listener. That is something she applies to client work on a regular basis as she learns about new clients and industries. We should all embrace that mindset and be curious!
– Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO
There is so much you can learn about someone simply by being in their presence and having an open dialogue. I loved getting to know my retreat buddy and having this unstructured time together. In our conversations, I learned about her love of travel and independent nature. While some people would shy away from taking big trips solo, my retreat buddy is planning a European trip to a country she has never visited. I love this motivation and adventurous spirit, which translates to driving motivators at work. A sense of self and accomplishment are key.
– Gina Preoteasa, SVP
I was so excited to be paired with my buddy for the retreat because she and I had shared a few Uber rides while we were in NYC for the Christmas party, and I learned how witty and engaging she is. During the retreat, I learned a bit more about her including her first job working as a hostess and table “busser” at an Italian restaurant. That made perfect sense to me because I have often seen her use those strong communication skills effectively with clients and behind the scenes with her teammates. I learned that her love language is spending time with her loved ones, which resonates with me as well. Her face lit up when she talked about celebrating her grandmother’s 90 birthday soon after the retreat. Her passion for helping people translates into her willingness to share her knowledge and information to anyone who needs it. She is a self-starter who is as determined as she is kind. I never doubt that she will get the job done and get it done well. I am so glad to work with her and know her.
– Charlyne McWilliams, SVP
My retreat buddy and I don’t work together on a daily basis so I was thrilled when we were partnered up! We talked about our favorite music, travel plans for the year and the places we dreamed of going in the future, and what we would be doing if we weren’t in PR. I learned that when she’s excited about something, her passion for it really shines through. For example, because of the Ticketmaster debacle, she recently traveled from New York to Tampa to see Taylor Swift – her favorite artist – in concert. Passion is a core value at Kite Hill and I can see how this drive and tenacity carries over to the work she does for the company and our clients.
– Emma Wolfe, VP
I cherish our in-person times because it’s a chance to really learn more about our team members individually and understand what makes them tick and brings them joy. Understanding our team as human beings can really surface cues on how best to work together. My retreat buddy let me know she is a cinephile and would love to write a screenplay someday. That unlocked so much for me and cued me into how much of a visual thinker she is! I also loved learning that her first job ever was at a local newspaper. A person after my own heart.
– Jeanne Meyer, CCO