Last week was the official start of summer, and my nine-year-old son was headed to camp. Like many kids, he felt a mix of excitement and nerves, new faces, new routines, big emotions. The night before, as I tucked him in, he looked up at me with worried eyes and asked, “Mom, what if I don’t know anyone?”
I snuggled in beside him and said, “All you need is one. One person to sit with at lunch, to kick a soccer ball around, to stand beside. If you can find just one person, you’ll be okay.” I asked, “Think you can do that, buddy?” and he gave a timid yes.
When I picked him up from camp the next day, I asked, “Did you find your one?” and he lifted the brim of his baseball cap, gave me a small smile, and nodded.
That moment reminded me how powerful a single connection can be to change a day, a year, or even a life. In our careers, that one is often a mentor. Someone who sees your spark, champions you, and reminds you what’s possible even when you can’t see it yourself. That is the power of one. That is the gift of mentorship.
And research backs this up: studies have shown employees with mentors are promoted five times more often, and women with mentors are 40% more likely to advance into leadership roles. One supportive person can truly change your entire trajectory.
So what exactly is mentorship?
I like to define it this way: Mentorship is a learning partnership between someone with experience and someone who wants to grow. It is not therapy, not consulting and not a checklist. It is about sharing perspective, lived experience, and wisdom and guiding someone forward with honesty and heart.
But let’s be honest, great mentorship rarely happens by accident. It takes intention, vulnerability, and clarity on both sides. Over the years, I’ve watched mentorship thrive, and I’ve seen it fall flat. That’s why I’ve gathered the lessons into something memorable, something I call the MAGIC framework, a simple way to help you build mentorship that truly works, whether you’re a mentor, a mentee, or both.
M — Match Meaningfully
Some mentors come through formal programs. Others appear spontaneously, sometimes through a bold question or even a bit of courage.
There’s a story I love about Emily Kenison, the founder of RobeCurls, a silk hairband you wrap your hair around for heatless curls. Years ago, she was in the audience at a talk given by Sara Blakely, the CEO of Spanx. Emily stood up holding a giant sign that read, “Will you marry me?” then crossed off marry and wrote mentor.
It was bold, but it worked. A reminder that mentorship can happen if you take ten seconds of courage to ask for what you want.
When you match, be intentional:
- Look broadly beyond your immediate workplace or industry
- Choose someone whose values and way of being resonate with your dreams
- Be transparent about what you hope to learn and why
Mentors are not mind-readers, and mentees should not have to guess. A meaningful match sets the tone for everything that follows.
A — Build an Advisory Board
One mentor is incredible, but no one person can give you everything you need. Think of mentorship like building a personal dream team, a constellation of voices to help you grow.
I remember a time when I felt completely stuck, wrestling with the next move in my career. It was a mentor from outside my field who helped me see a new path. They weren’t tied to my history, and that distance gave them clarity I couldn’t see.
- Think multiple mentors, not just one
- Seek diversity in backgrounds, experiences, perspectives
- Stay open because wisdom often shows up in surprising places
One mentor can change your path. A board can change your entire horizon.
G — Growth Goals
Mentorship without a clear goal can end up a lovely coffee chat, but that is not the same as growth. I once had a mentoring relationship where we talked about vacations, recipes, even the latest binge-worthy TV shows, but never pushed my development forward.
Why? Because I never defined what I wanted to grow toward.
- Name your aim, boldly and out loud
- Let your goals evolve because growth is rarely a straight line
- Revisit progress regularly
A mentorship without a growth goal is like sailing without a compass. You might drift somewhere pleasant, but you won’t chart your true course.
I — Invest Your Time
Consistency and devotion matter. One of my most meaningful mentors challenged me, opened doors, and saw what I could be before I saw it myself. When I stumbled, they were still there. Because we both kept showing up, that relationship lasted for years and continues to this day.
- Prioritize time, mentorship does not happen in scraps
- Show up fully present with curiosity
- Remember that devotion beats motivation every single time
If you want a mentorship to change your trajectory, treat it as sacred time.
C — Choose What’s True for You
The hardest lesson, but maybe the most important: trust yourself. There was a moment in my career when I was weighing a massive decision. I asked for advice from everyone in my network and got every opinion imaginable, from stay to jump to negotiate.
In the end, I had to quiet the noise and listen to my own voice.
- Mentors can offer wisdom, but they cannot live your life
- Advice is input, not a prescription
- Only you know what feels true
That is the final magic of mentorship. It should strengthen your confidence in your own path, not overwrite it.
Whether you are the camper on the first day, the colleague cheering someone on, or the mentor helping a spark grow, remember this:
One mentor can change your path.
One mentee can change your purpose.
One moment of courage can change your life.
But your own voice is the greatest power of one.
The real MAGIC is you.
If you are curious about how to build a more human-centered approach to mentorship and leadership in your life or workplace, let’s connect. I would love to hear your story.
