As always - a delightful personal story capped by a valuable lesson for anyone seeking their path and shaping their leadership style and impact.
My best mentor was the first and only female Chief Information Officer and a secret rebel in a conservative and very slow moving white male dominated financial services institution. She knew how to keep her head down to avoid it being chopped off but hired and provided air cover for mavericks and change agents. Instead of begging for investment to drive visionary innovation from the central investment bucket ( which seldom took risk), she ensured that she delivered robust financial results in her own division from which she funded these projects and providing support and air cover for fledgling initiatives until they were successfully proven. I was one of the mavericks she hired and benefited tremendously from this strategy to create a legacy initiative that became career defining and built my confidence as a risk-taker and innovator.
I love “air cover for maverick’s and change agents.”
Great mentors know they must have innovation from people who have that visionary talent.
The description of your mentor also brings to mind Angela Duckworth’s book GRIT. She determined that GRIT is a fundamental element in determining success. Great intellect and talent need an ignition and an accelerator to achieve success and get things done.
Successful people find a way to manifest great happenings without a lot of bluster and carrying -on.
Really enjoyed reading about your early career, having been one of the lucky ones who worked with you post Presidential status! It made me feel like I've missed out on not having met Ida but also happy that perhaps you were one of my Ida's. So happy that we are still connected and I have you in my life. Mx
Such a wise mentor you had! And you recognized it. I love hearing about your journey. It makes me reflect on the mentors I’ve had, and whether they found me or I found them. Hmmm, still pondering.:)
Inspirational piece Lynne. Though I never worked with Ida at ELC, I certainly heard of her and can appreciate what a strong leader she was from your writing. I loved the comment “I want every Estée Lauder beauty advisor to be educated, not trained. Dogs and monkeys are trained. People are educated,” she declared. “I think we need a change.”
Personally, I’m not sure if I ever had a formal mentor. I definitely had a few people that recognized my strong work ethic and willingness to learn. They made sound recommendations on my approach, would help me get back on track and occasionally offer important career advice. I had the good fortune to work for a couple of great leaders often “finding them” (from a mentor standpoint) by studying their approach, style and decision making skills, especially during challenging times. Great leaders have insights and see things ahead of time, that others do not.
Thank you for reading and thoughtfully commenting.
I believe many mentors are the ones we find ourselves; the unofficial ones that we do not label till later in life. We reflect back and remember their impact on us. They are the ones who set a good example by 'walking the walk' they talked.
As always - a delightful personal story capped by a valuable lesson for anyone seeking their path and shaping their leadership style and impact.
My best mentor was the first and only female Chief Information Officer and a secret rebel in a conservative and very slow moving white male dominated financial services institution. She knew how to keep her head down to avoid it being chopped off but hired and provided air cover for mavericks and change agents. Instead of begging for investment to drive visionary innovation from the central investment bucket ( which seldom took risk), she ensured that she delivered robust financial results in her own division from which she funded these projects and providing support and air cover for fledgling initiatives until they were successfully proven. I was one of the mavericks she hired and benefited tremendously from this strategy to create a legacy initiative that became career defining and built my confidence as a risk-taker and innovator.
I love “air cover for maverick’s and change agents.”
Great mentors know they must have innovation from people who have that visionary talent.
The description of your mentor also brings to mind Angela Duckworth’s book GRIT. She determined that GRIT is a fundamental element in determining success. Great intellect and talent need an ignition and an accelerator to achieve success and get things done.
Successful people find a way to manifest great happenings without a lot of bluster and carrying -on.
More often than not, those people are women!
Really enjoyed reading about your early career, having been one of the lucky ones who worked with you post Presidential status! It made me feel like I've missed out on not having met Ida but also happy that perhaps you were one of my Ida's. So happy that we are still connected and I have you in my life. Mx
Lovely to say.
You were me and I was Ida to you.
Such a lovely thought.
Such a wise mentor you had! And you recognized it. I love hearing about your journey. It makes me reflect on the mentors I’ve had, and whether they found me or I found them. Hmmm, still pondering.:)
Hmmmm...I had a mentor very much like Ida, Lynne. I just ust didn’t know it until now. Thank you for all of your guidance over the years.
Such a lovely thing to say.
Thank you.
Inspirational piece Lynne. Though I never worked with Ida at ELC, I certainly heard of her and can appreciate what a strong leader she was from your writing. I loved the comment “I want every Estée Lauder beauty advisor to be educated, not trained. Dogs and monkeys are trained. People are educated,” she declared. “I think we need a change.”
Personally, I’m not sure if I ever had a formal mentor. I definitely had a few people that recognized my strong work ethic and willingness to learn. They made sound recommendations on my approach, would help me get back on track and occasionally offer important career advice. I had the good fortune to work for a couple of great leaders often “finding them” (from a mentor standpoint) by studying their approach, style and decision making skills, especially during challenging times. Great leaders have insights and see things ahead of time, that others do not.
Wonderful read Lynne.
Thank you for reading and thoughtfully commenting.
I believe many mentors are the ones we find ourselves; the unofficial ones that we do not label till later in life. We reflect back and remember their impact on us. They are the ones who set a good example by 'walking the walk' they talked.
This was such a compelling read. Thank you for sharing this unique relationship with us.
Dominique,
Thank YOU for the kind comment.