Did you know that National Mentoring Month is one of the many things communities celebrate in January?! (And if you’re asking, yes, I did find that out from PPR’s 2025 Content Inspiration Calendar. 🙂)
Thinking about this initiative, I was reminded how important it is to recognize mentors, mentees, and the bonds they create. The relationships between mentors and mentees not only empower the individuals, but they strengthen entire communities. When I started my career, I didn’t seek mentorship. It found me.
Fresh out of college, the thought of asking someone to be my mentor—let alone imagining myself as one—felt as far-fetched as completing my taxes early (okay, maybe even more so). But as the years have passed and I’ve had time to reflect, I realize how many incredible people have positively impacted my life and career. Back then, I didn’t fully understand or appreciate the guidance and support I was receiving; it was like being handed a treasure map and thinking it was just a doodle.
Some people are fortunate enough to have formal mentor-mentee relationships. Even now, I still feel a bit surprised (and awkward) when someone asks for my guidance in that kind of capacity. Me? A mentor? Are you sure? Maybe it’s because I feel like I’m still learning and growing every single day—often from the very people I meet through my work, including many of you reading this blog.
While it’s easy for me to become sentimental about the valuable connections I’ve made, my goal isn’t about wandering into sappyville. Instead, as our team started brainstorming around National Mentoring Month, I realized it’s about pausing and appreciating the mentors, formal or informal, who’ve helped us along the way—and encouraging others to pay it forward.
One concept we’ve been talking about at PPR Strategies lately is reverse mentorship. I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside an amazing team of professionals who consistently inspire and teach me new things daily. Yes, they’re younger than me, but they bring fresh perspectives, creative ideas, and much more. It’s a reminder that mentorship isn’t just a top-down, one-way street. It’s a two-way exchange full of learning, laughing, and the occasional lesson on TikTok trends.
So, here’s your sign: take a moment to reach out to someone. Whether it’s to offer guidance, ask for advice, or simply say thank you, let the influential people in your life know the impact they’ve had. You might just be surprised at the ripple effect of that simple act. And who knows? You may learn something truly unexpected and wonderful along the way.
If I’ve inspired you to go beyond an outreach message, there are many ways to get involved with formal mentorship opportunities in the region. Here are just a few that the PPR team has been involved with in one way or another:
- Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Mentorship Program: Two of our PPR Team members are mentors in MEDA’s program. They use this program to connect with new generations of economic developers in Maryland and support their journey to making thriving, vibrant communities.
- Virginia Economic Development Association (VEDA) Mentor Exchange: I don’t have any first-hand experience with this program, but they kicked off a pilot program this past year and are using it to support economic development professionals in Virginia.
- Women-to-Women Mentoring (located in Frederick County, MD): A few of our PPR team members have participated in this program as mentees or mentors.
- The International Economic Development Council’s Mentorship Program: This unique mentorship program helps aspiring CEcDs prepare for certification exams and grow in the economic development industry.
From initiatives focused on workforce development to those supporting entrepreneurs and young professionals, mentorship is a cornerstone of building vibrant, thriving economies.
Who are the mentors who’ve shaped your journey? Or mentees who inspire you?
Let me know—I’d love to hear your story!
