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RubyConf 2018 - Secrets of a Stealth Mentee by Katherine Wu Your dream mentor is right around the corner, but they don't need to know that! In this talk, you’ll discover how to find and work with the great mentors you deserve. You’ll learn how to extract insights tailored to you and to keep the great advice coming. The best part? You can use these strategies even if you're not in a formal mentorship program. Maybe you don’t even know what you want right now, and that’s ok! You can still receive mentorship to help you identify and grow into the next stage of your career. We don’t have to wait to be chosen--let’s help others help us.
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In her presentation 'Secrets of a Stealth Mentee' at RubyConf 2018, Katherine Wu, a Senior Software Engineer at Heroku, explores the nuances of mentorship in the tech industry. The talk is structured around recognizing common challenges encountered in traditional mentorship programs and presenting actionable strategies for seeking effective guidance. **Key Points:** - **The Problem with Mentorship:** Katherine reflects on her experiences with formal mentorship programs, noting a lack of impactful outcomes despite good intentions. She highlights a deficit of skilled mentors in the tech field, which can hinder career development. - **Importance of Mentorship:** Wu emphasizes that mentorship can demystify career paths and provide insights into what opportunities exist, helping individuals navigate their professional journeys more effectively. - **Defining Roles:** She distinguishes between mentors, who provide perspective and guidance, and sponsors, who offer opportunities. Both are important for career progression but serve different purposes. - **Always Be Mentoring:** Katherine argues for an ongoing view of mentorship, where relationships can be short-term and focused on specific goals rather than long-lasting commitments. - **Proactive Approach:** Instead of waiting to be noticed, she encourages individuals to seek out mentors casually and suggests that mentorship can come from various sources, including informal interactions, readings, and online resources. - **Networking:** Wu reframes networking as simply making connections without expectations. She advocates for engaging with new attendees at conferences and offering sincere feedback as a way of building relationships. - **Initiating Conversations:** To engage potential mentors, Katherine recommends making it easy for them to connect by scheduling meetings with their availability in mind and suggesting specific topics for discussion. - **Asking for Experiences:** Rather than directly seeking advice, Wu suggests that mentees ask mentors about their experiences, as this can yield more actionable insights. - **Building Trust:** Trust is essential in mentorship. Katherine advises following up with mentors to share progress and show appreciation, reinforcing the relationship over time. - **Resource Recommendations:** At the end of her talk, Katherine provides a list of additional resources, including articles and books that further explore mentorship and personal development. **Conclusion:** Wu’s presentation is an empowering call for individuals to take ownership of their mentorship journeys. By applying her strategies, attendees can cultivate better relationships with mentors and leverage these connections to achieve career growth and fulfillment.
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