Celebrating the Power of Relationships

Jan 11, 2024

By Workplace Learning and Professional Development 

January is National Mentoring Month and Georgia Tech employees can join Tech’s mentoring program, MentorTech, to maximize their career development this year.  

If you want to help empower others or are interested in taking ownership of your professional growth in 2024, create a mentor or mentee profile and register by Jan. 31 to potentially be matched in February. 

The MentorTech program is designed to foster the professional development and career growth of Georgia Tech’s employees while building diverse networks across the Institute. 

“My mentor, through his years of experience, not only provided invaluable insights but also took the time to understand my unique strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations” says Walaa Compton, faculty support coordinator with the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute. “Through his guidance I was able to see a specific situation from a different angle without getting into details, and sometimes this is all we need to change direction. I will carry his advice throughout my career.”   

With the new year come new resolutions. Have you thought about what you want to achieve professionally? Or better yet, who can inspire you? 

Maybe you want to learn new technical skills, get more certifications, strengthen your leadership skills, obtain a new job, or even facilitate a career change. Regardless of your career goals, with January being National Mentoring Month, a mentoring professional partner can be a powerful asset to inspire and challenge your professional development. 

Mentors serve as a source of empowerment. Benefits of having a mentor include confidence and coaching enhancement, communication and personal skills development, and job and career reinforcement. These skills and experiences will prepare you for change and challenges in your professional trajectory. Conversely, by serving as a mentor, your mentees can help you grow as a leader and elevate your confidence. Having a mentee also includes job and career reinforcement, and the fulfillment of helping others reach their potential. 

“I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the process — that the mentees are the only ones learning. The partnership between the mentor and mentee creates a mutually beneficial relationship and both are challenged, develop, and can set up a successful relationship for both to achieve,” says Tim Edmonds-King, learning consultant and MentorTech program manager within Workplace Learning and Professional Development. 

Thinking Ahead 

Before you start your journey to a professional partnership, it is imperative to identify your short- and long-term goals. Consider writing out and visualizing the types of positions, certifications, and skill sets you would like to obtain. SMART Goals will help your vision become more realistic and provide a more strategic and proactive approach to your mentor-mentee interactions.

Quality Professional Partnerships 

It is important to understand that a mentor does not necessarily have to be a person in a senior management position. They could be a colleague with ample experience, a faculty member with connections to your field of expertise, or even a seasoned professional in a field you are trying to enter. 

At Georgia Tech Human Resources, the MentorTech program within Workplace Learning and Professional Development is designed to strategically pair you with a professional partner, matching you with a mentor based on your set of relevant competencies and a personality assessment. The program’s number one priority is ensuring the quality of each match. 

Community Involvement 

MentorTech has existed on campus since 2018. During that time, mentoring and professional partnerships have developed that truly benefit Georgia Tech. However, even with that growth, there are additional opportunities for new communities and individuals to plug in and help the program flourish.    

If you would like to be involved in the program, register by Jan. 31 to potentially be matched in February. Questions about the program can be directed to training@gatech.edu.  

Create a profile at https://pe.gatech.edu/wlpd/programs/mentortech.