Why the Power of Mentoring can Change the World | Shirley LIU | TEDxEDHECBusinessSchool

Summary

This powerful video script highlights the transformative impact of mentoring, sharing personal stories of two women from vastly different backgrounds. One, a highly educated young woman at Harvard and MIT, and the other, a woman overcoming abuse and building a new life through entrepreneurship. The mentor reflects on the invaluable lessons learned through these relationships, emphasizing the universality of human emotions and the importance of education and kindness. The script calls for a global shift in mentoring practices, encouraging individuals to engage in mentorship to create a positive, transformative impact on society.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mentoring is not just about transmitting knowledge, but an act of kindness that benefits both the mentor and the mentee.
• 😀 Effective mentoring can help people from different backgrounds and life circumstances reach their full potential.
• 😀 A mentor's role is to guide, not to lead, and through this relationship, both individuals experience personal growth.
• 😀 Two very different mentees, Ann and Sarah, demonstrated how life circumstances do not diminish a person's worth, intelligence, or courage.
• 😀 Education and training can significantly impact one's career and life choices, as seen with Ann’s ability to make strategic decisions.
• 😀 Mentoring provides profound insights into human potential, as demonstrated by Sarah’s journey from hardship to self-reliance.
• 😀 Even highly educated individuals, like Ann, experience doubts and insecurities, showing that these feelings are universal.
• 😀 Mentoring can be a transformative experience for both the mentor and mentee, fostering a two-way learning process.
• 😀 Real-life struggles, like Sarah’s financial difficulties, can be overcome step by step, with practical action plans and support.
• 😀 There is a global need to scale mentoring, as it can drastically impact education, employment, and personal growth across societies.
• 😀 Mentoring is about making a tangible, positive difference in the lives of others, ultimately leading to a more compassionate, interconnected world.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's story?

The main theme of the speaker's story is the transformative power of mentoring, highlighting how it can change both the mentor and the mentee's lives. It emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge, compassion, and support to help others reach their potential.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between mentoring and personal growth?

The speaker describes mentoring as a mutual and evolving process that leads to personal growth for both the mentor and the mentee. Through mentoring, the mentor learns valuable lessons about compassion, humility, and judgment, while the mentee gains skills and confidence.

What were the backgrounds of the two mentees, Ann and Sarah, and how did their situations differ?

Ann was an academically successful mentee, pursuing two master's degrees at prestigious universities (Harvard and MIT), and she worked as an advisor in Rwanda. Sarah, on the other hand, came from a difficult background, having escaped a violent marriage and without higher education or family support. Despite these differences, both women shared similar qualities such as courage and intelligence.

How did the speaker's experience mentoring Sarah differ from mentoring Ann?

Mentoring Sarah presented unique challenges due to her difficult life circumstances. Sarah struggled with basic survival needs, such as paying rent, and had a harder time engaging consistently in mentoring sessions. In contrast, Ann was more self-disciplined and driven in her academic and professional pursuits.

What personal challenge did the speaker face while mentoring Sarah, and how did it affect their approach?

The speaker faced frustration when Sarah repeatedly missed mentoring sessions, which led to a phone call during Christmas where Sarah revealed she couldn't pay her rent. This moment shifted the speaker’s perspective, leading them to adopt a more practical approach by focusing on small, achievable goals for Sarah, such as earning 25 euros a day.

What was the speaker's strategy to help Sarah improve her situation?

The speaker broke down Sarah's financial challenges into smaller, daily goals—specifically earning 25 euros per day. This approach helped Sarah regain stability and confidence, allowing her to work on rebuilding her life step by step.

What did the speaker learn from their experience with mentoring, particularly in terms of human emotions?

The speaker learned that despite their mentees' different life circumstances, both Ann and Sarah shared similar fears, anxieties, and hopes. The experience reinforced the idea that, at the core, all human beings have the same emotions, regardless of their social or economic status.

How does the speaker contrast the life trajectories of Ann and Sarah?

The speaker contrasts Ann's life trajectory, which is characterized by academic success and long-term career planning, with Sarah's immediate concerns for survival, such as food, shelter, and transportation. While Ann focuses on building a self-sufficient future, Sarah's goals are centered around stability and rebuilding her life.

What are the broader societal implications of mentoring according to the speaker?

The speaker believes that mentoring should be a widespread, mainstream practice because it can significantly impact individuals and society. They argue that mentoring can help address issues like low-income communities, unemployment, and education gaps, ultimately creating positive, long-term change in the world.

What is the speaker's call to action regarding mentoring?

The speaker calls for mentoring to become a global, mainstream activity, akin to recycling, where more people actively participate. They envision a world where every person receives mentorship, creating collective change and improving lives across generations.