Friday, 26 January 2007
Mentoring Our Future Leaders
I recently returned from the Region 4 & 5 leadership conference in Nashville where 250 members gathered to network with other professionals in their regions. These leadership conferences always offer opportunities to learn a bit more about what ASCE offers its members. I can safely say we all learned something new!
I rather enjoyed my time in Nashville and found the opportunities I had to interact with our members most rewarding. While I was there I gave a talk to ASCE's younger member group. I focused on the importance of building relationships through both mentoring and networking early in your career and how these relationships can ultimately shape your future as a civil engineer. While I received good feedback on my presentation onsite at the conference (and am happy to report no one fell asleep during it), it was an e-mail I received after the conference that has really stuck with me. One of the session attendees wrote that he wanted to further discuss my thoughts on mentoring. A fellow graduate of the Citadel, this member hailed from Greenville. He had explored the mentoring model at his company but had encountered some road blocks along the way. After my talk at the leadership conference, he was inspired to try again to make this a part of his company's practice and hoped I could help. I was able to give him the names of two of my former classmates in his area who may be able to assist. The network of professionals that I have developed over the years came in handy in this situation, and I cannot stress enough how mentoring and networking within the civil engineering profession can truly drive your professional growth. I was happy to hear that my thoughts on preparing for your professional career resonated with this group and I look forward to more interactions during the next three leadership conferences. Next stop-New Jersey!
Is there someone who has mentored you in your professional career? How has that relationship helped you grow to be the civil engineer you are today?