I’ll Be There For You: A Look Into Sendero’s Career Advisory Program

What was one time when your CA helped you overcome a specific challenge?

ANNIKA: I had just been staffed on a new project, leading a team in a challenging environment. The day we had our touch base, I was walking aimlessly down my driveway and back. While I probably made his head spin from motion sickness being on video, he was able to get my mind off work and just talk about other things such as sports, family, etc. It was the simple approach of talking through what I needed to but also conversing about non-work related topics that allowed me to be refreshed and approach my project with a newfound mindset.

JEREMY: My CA helped me overcome feelings of imposter syndrome after being promoted to manager. I think we all have moments in our career where we feel like we are in over our head and believe we are unqualified to handle the responsibilities and expectations of our job. My CA helped me overcome these feelings by encouraging me and reminding me that I have the skills and support needed to be successful in my role. My CA also helped me by being transparent about their own feelings of imposter syndrome. My CA encouraged me to challenge my self-talk and reminded me that those moments of feeling stretched are just us growing and becoming stronger.

KATIE: On one of my first projects, my CA call fell on a morning I was struggling with how to get everything done. My CA had me walk through everything I needed to do, helped me prioritize the items, and gave me some pointers on how to communicate bandwidth constraints to my manager. In addition to overall career development advice, your CA is also there to provide practical advice and support when that’s what is most important in the moment.

How has your CA impacted your growth and development?

ANNIKA: My CA is someone who has always been in my corner, whether that is cheering me on, challenging me and in the end, wanting me to be the best I can be. My CA provides a foundation that instills confidence in myself, which in turn allows me to lead and impact others, including clients and team members.

JEREMY: My CAs over the years have helped provide me with the guidance and support I needed at every stage of my career. I’ve always been an advocate for learning through others’ experiences and my CAs have allowed me to learn through their success and failures. I believe that this has helped me avoid pitfalls and accelerated my growth as a consultant.

KATIE: My CA has been there throughout my career to encourage and support me during tough times, cheer me on when things are going well, and help me find opportunities to work towards my goals. CAs are a great sounding board and have likely been through almost any situation you are in. It has been influential to my career to learn from a senior leader up close.

What is the best piece of advice your CA has given you?

ANNIKA: “You can only control what you can control.” This is such a simple piece of advice but was just the reminder I needed. We can often forget this when stressed, busy or feeling overwhelmed. This piece of advice has not only helped me remain grounded professionally but also personally.

JEREMY: While as simple as it might be, the best advice my CA has given me is to remain present. Too often we get distracted by what’s ahead of us or what’s happened behind us that we fail to acknowledge the present moment. Being present has allowed me to be grateful for where I am and be fully engaged in my work.

KATIE: When I was feeling stuck on a project, my CA asked “what opportunities could you create for yourself?” With this simple question, they reframed the way I saw my career. Instead of only seeing the work right in front of me, I began to look beyond and see other needs and challenges I could solve in addition to my work. Now in every role and project, I have the confidence to look for opportunities beyond my responsibilities, which has led to me finding meaningful ways to improve my projects and teams.

What is a song that describes your CA’s impact?

ANNIKA: “Learning to Fly” – Tom Petty

As Tom Petty sang “I’m learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings.” Your CA supports you to find and grow your wings. Through both successes and challenges, you discover those wings.

JEREMY: “Lean on Me” – Bill Withers

The song goes, “You just call on me brother when you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on. I just might have a problem that you’ll understand. We all need somebody to lean on.” When things start to feel overwhelming and out of control, a trusted mentor is always there to lean on. Your CA is someone who has been tried and tested. They’ll come to you with understanding and empathy to help you navigate challenges in your career.

KATIE: “I’ll Be There for You” – The Rembrandts

The theme song of one of my favorite shows, Friends, says “when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, I’ll be there for you.” Whether supporting you, challenging you, or cheering you on, your CA is there for you when navigating your career.

What advice do you have for employees on making the most of mentorship opportunities?

ANNIKA:

• Prepare thoughtfully. Think about the goals you would like to accomplish and how your mentor can help support those goals. I keep a running tab in my notes that I add to whenever a topic or question comes to mind that I know they can help with.
• Be honest. Not everything is going to be smooth sailing. When you do have challenges, your mentor is there to listen and then provide perspective and guidance to help you navigate those challenges.

JEREMY:

• Be vulnerable. Know that your relationship with your mentor is a safe space to be transparent about your challenges.
• Receive feedback. Understand that a trusted mentor is coming from a place of genuine care for your growth. Don’t take things personal and be open to change.
• Take ownership. Understand a mentor can’t be or do everything; ultimately your career is your own. Your mentor can share advice and experiences but, it’s up to you to take control of your career. Your mentor should be empowering you to walk in confidence.

KATIE:

• Stay focused. Your mentor is likely someone you enjoy talking to, so it can be easy to spend all of your time chatting and not get to discuss your professional growth. Go into each meeting with a focus or goal so after catching up, you can dive into the topics critical to your growth and development.
• Be open. Your mentor’s guidance is only going to be as good as the amount of information they have. Be honest and don’t shy away from sharing the challenges you are facing.
• Remain invested. Like in most things, you get out what you put into mentoring relationships. If you come prepared, ask thoughtful questions, and are honest about your struggles, I think you’ll find mentorship to be one of the most valuable and meaningful parts of your career.

As you continue to navigate constructive conversations with your mentor and solicit career guidance, consider ways to act on the feedback you’ve received and put their advice into practice. Ultimately, the most meaningful mentoring relationships are driven by the advisee. At Sendero, we empower our employees to take charge of their career growth and development, while providing them with the necessary guidance and support to succeed on their journey.

We invite you to check out “Who We Are” on our website to get an inside look at the guiding principles and core values that unite Sendero.

By Annika Neldeberg, Jeremy Fonteneaux, and Katie Musselman

“My CA provides a foundation that instills confidence in myself, which in turn allows me to lead and impact others, including clients and team members.” – Annika Neldeberg