A Successful Career is Not a Solitary Endeavor
UH Link Launches Structured Mentoring Program to Empower Alumni.
In honor of January being National Mentoring Month, UH Link launched an innovative program designed to match alumni seeking mentorship with experienced alumni mentors in their respective fields. While UH Link already facilitates professional mentorship between alumni, this new structured mentoring initiative takes it a step further by directly pairing mentors with mentees, monitoring their progress, and providing valuable resources to enhance their mentoring relationship.
David Ibarra (’10), secretary of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Alumni Association and mentor, underscores the importance of mentorship.
“The idea of a ‘self-made person’ is a myth,” says Ibarra.
“Behind every successful person is significant contributions by friends, family members, coworkers, peers, mentors and, yes, even luck. Not everyone gets the same opportunities, and it’s important for those who find success not to pull up the ladder but instead to help people up.”
Chloe Ng (’16), participant and board member of the UH Young Alumni Network, has a rich history of mentorship. As an undergraduate, she served as an official mentor for her peers, trained other student mentors and organized impactful retreats benefiting hundreds of freshmen and faculty/staff. She ultimately presented the mentoring program’s accomplishments at two annual National Collegiate Honors Conferences (NCHC). She shares what she has learned about the impact of mentoring.
“Crafting a successful career is not a solitary endeavor. A great career is built on working smart and seeking guidance from trusted mentors and advisers,” reflects Ng.
Ng continues, “As someone who has benefited from the guidance of countless mentors and advisers, I believe it is essential to pay it forward, and participating in the UH Link Structured Mentoring Program has been an enriching experience.”
Ibarra stresses the need for mentors to tailor their guidance to the specific circumstances of each mentee.
“It’s very important to understand the mentee’s position first and offer them advice within the bounds of their career, interests, skills and progression.”
Victor Ejiasi (’20), program mentee paired with Ibarra, explains what he believes elevates a mentorship.
“A successful mentoring relationship thrives on being open, valuing each other’s knowledge and having a mutual willingness to learn and share. In conversation, both parties listen actively, learning from each other and caring about each other’s growth.”
Ejiasi shares the beneficial advice he’s received so far. “My mentor highlighted the importance of understanding not just the technical side but also the business aspect of climbing up to senior roles. Acquiring business knowledge that covers the landscape of an industry or industries better prepares an engineer to implement solutions that benefit the organization.”
Ibarra concludes by emphasizing that successful mentor-mentee relationships are grounded in a shared goal: the positive development of the mentee.
“While every mentee has unique challenges and problems, everyone has the same end goal, which is to become the best version of themselves possible.”
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