In partnership with American Corporate Partners for International Mentoring Day
By Leslie A. Caleb
As a military spouse I have experienced several transitioning stages. From leaving Europe to follow my service member, to reassessing my educational and professional goals to best fit the military lifestyle. One of my favorite quotes by Albert Einstein best describes my approach to life in the past years: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity,” like the opportunity to be part of the year-long American Corporate Partners (ACP) mentorship program for military spouses.
I started the program in April 2018, and I was partnered up with my mentor, a Senior Business Manager at AT&T. During that time, I was completing my studies in Industrial Organizational Psychology -- thanks to a ThanksUSA scholarship in partnership with Purdue University Global -- but struggling to find full time employment that matched my skills and experience. As a mentee, I was able to be supported in several areas, such as career planning, interview skills, development, and understanding corporate America, just to mention a few. Today almost nine months into the program, I can confidently say that thanks to ACP I have been able to grow professionally and personally; I have gained clarity on my career goals and how to achieve them effectively, with a defined strategy and direct tactics. The ACP mentorship program has been the catalyst to successfully ignite my true potential and elevate my career goals to the next level.
For me, seeking the support of a mentor has been crucial to successfully walk the path toward my career goals and discover my true potential. Actively listening to stories that describe successes, challenges and aspirations have taught me to view things from a different perspective, to set and adjust goals according to my needs, and to increase my motivation by becoming introspective and analyzing external influences.
A mentor is an accountability partner, however, mentorship is a two-way relationship that requires participation and communication from both parties. You only get out what you put in. If you are thinking about seeking a mentor, a great way to start this process is by assessing your current level of skills and knowledge and think about what you want to achieve and set goals for yourself. Once you have a clear picture of your vision, begin designing your personalized roadmap to support your path and keep the focus on the finish line. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of ACP and ThanksUSA!
By Leslie A. Caleb
As a military spouse I have experienced several transitioning stages. From leaving Europe to follow my service member, to reassessing my educational and professional goals to best fit the military lifestyle. One of my favorite quotes by Albert Einstein best describes my approach to life in the past years: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity,” like the opportunity to be part of the year-long American Corporate Partners (ACP) mentorship program for military spouses.
I started the program in April 2018, and I was partnered up with my mentor, a Senior Business Manager at AT&T. During that time, I was completing my studies in Industrial Organizational Psychology -- thanks to a ThanksUSA scholarship in partnership with Purdue University Global -- but struggling to find full time employment that matched my skills and experience. As a mentee, I was able to be supported in several areas, such as career planning, interview skills, development, and understanding corporate America, just to mention a few. Today almost nine months into the program, I can confidently say that thanks to ACP I have been able to grow professionally and personally; I have gained clarity on my career goals and how to achieve them effectively, with a defined strategy and direct tactics. The ACP mentorship program has been the catalyst to successfully ignite my true potential and elevate my career goals to the next level.
For me, seeking the support of a mentor has been crucial to successfully walk the path toward my career goals and discover my true potential. Actively listening to stories that describe successes, challenges and aspirations have taught me to view things from a different perspective, to set and adjust goals according to my needs, and to increase my motivation by becoming introspective and analyzing external influences.
A mentor is an accountability partner, however, mentorship is a two-way relationship that requires participation and communication from both parties. You only get out what you put in. If you are thinking about seeking a mentor, a great way to start this process is by assessing your current level of skills and knowledge and think about what you want to achieve and set goals for yourself. Once you have a clear picture of your vision, begin designing your personalized roadmap to support your path and keep the focus on the finish line. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of ACP and ThanksUSA!
