Mary Morrow '89B, owner of the business consulting firm ProBusiness Source, has mentored as many as 20 U of L students over the last 10 years. She assumes the role of professional mentor when former proteges contact her, usually when they are debating a job or career change. We talk about what they enjoy most about their job, what a perfect day would look like and what they would like their lifestyle to be in five years. Mentors in the professional arena are able to offer an objective viewpoint that the protege might not get from an employer or parent. The perks a protege gains from having a professional mentor are often apparent and plentiful.
Mentors say that they, too, profit.
And as the relationship with a protege grows, so do the benefits. As one small example of what a mentor can gain from a protege, Arnold streamlined business functions for Wilson simply by giving him a Palm Pilot organizer and showing him how to use it to keep track of client contacts. Both Morrow and Gardner value the fresh perspective that young proteges bring to discussions. In some cases, mentors and proteges get the extra benefit of becoming friends. Nick is someone I can count on and trust, not just in business but in personal matters also.