Does anyone have an un/official queer career/professional mentor? I’m starting to think it would be a seriously beneficial relationship to seek out

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I’ve thought about proposing a mentorship program to our employee network group. Not sure how beneficial it would be though.

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Go for it! I bet other people would be interested!!

I lucked up and got "matched" with my current mentor who's super supportive. She shares the same values to me when it comes to queerness.

I don't take it for granted.

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No, I don’t see anyone that fits the bill in my community 🥺 BUT I hope I can be that person for others! 😀

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Likewise

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Yes, recently. They have already become a hugely valuable asset to my career. I have mentored many queer professionals along the way, but this is the first person whom I have benefited from, and the relatability and applicability is enormous.

likeuplifting

P1 that is wonderful to hear. Thank you for sharing, thank you for mentoring others, and congrats on your success!

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Same here but I also feel kinda bad/awkward asking someone out of the blue given how busy most people are and they probably don’t get much out of it aside from being a good person

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I second OP’s reply here. I think if you reach out to people, you may be pleasantly surprised! I know in my professional community, people are very generous with their time and generally agree to meet up for coffee for networking and mentorship.

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I have one. He’s been a phenomenal resource for me. I started as his admin assistant and expressed desire to grow my career. He started as one to, and now leads a national practice and we have regular check-ins. Many folks know how much I hold him in high regard and through him, I’ve been able to progress my career because he does the networking I cannot (he’s white; I’m not). He’s more of an advocate than a mentor.

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I did earlier in my professional career in big law. An equity partner in my department was openly gay when I was a summer associate—later joined as an associate the following fall. (I’ve always been out at work.) Two more senior associates were out as well. I was lucky to have started my career in that kind of environment. But I’ve always been horrible at mentoring, though.

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My issue is I simply never spent the time I should have. And this is more than about mentoring other LGBT people specifically. But generally I was always negligent about putting time aside and mentoring people. I think I was always someone who “hit the ground running” and just never had the time or inclination to mentor those who didn’t.

We all need a variety of mentors (in the truest sense of the word) to guide us both professionally and personally. A good mentor/mentee relationship takes work from both parties and the best relationships form naturally. Some of my mentor relationships are formal, but most are informal and are based on our having known one another for years. And as P&GC1 points out, not everyone is good at being a mentor (or wants to be one)…so it’s important to be clear if you approach someone about becoming your mentor.

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The best mentor relationships are definitely two-way. I have learned a TON from people 15+ years younger than me. More than just how to SnapChat.

I joined a large LGBT focused chamber of commerce. I know hundreds of LGBT folks now, and inadvertently became a leader in the area. It's been a great plus to me in career and personally.

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The poster who suggested the chamber of commerce angle makes a good point. When I was in big law I was a corporate restructuring/bankruptcy lawyer (don’t do that as much anymore) but there is a great group I’m still a part of for LGBT folks in the restructuring/turnaround business. Lawyers, consultants, bankers, etc. a lot of great people there. You don’t always have look only at your own firm.

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interested and following!

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Anyone interested in their career needs to build a network, and mentors, and not just people you’re most comfortable around.

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Reaching Out MBA and Out Women in Business are great connections. They are mostly MBA student focused so they skew young but they are worth checking out.

I have also found connections in my LGBTQ ERG- although they have not been mentor persay, as many people are not in/at the levels I aspire to.

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Does your employer have any DEI resources, or an LGBTQ+ resource group? That would be a good place to start. Find people interested in equity and the queer employment experience and let them guide you to the mentoring you seek.

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I was an out exec at my last company- made it very easy for people seeking a conversation or mentor to reach out. ERG membership helps also. But honestly, I think one needs a series of different types of coaches, mentors and sponsors, regardless of sexuality, to be successful in ones career

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How would I navigate these waters when I have intersectional diversity categories? I have sought out mentors and a lot of them simply do not have the answers to work-life balance questions I have that are exactly because I am not a cishet able-bodied white male.

I’m hoping for at least 1 mentor for at least 3 of my most pressing questions, to allow me to navigate and make sound career/advancement decisions without burning out or leaving my family out to dry.

This makes a lot of sense. There should be better resources for you but like you said, it’s hard when no one around you can relate to your experience. Hopefully you are able to find someone who can relate, has been through what you’re experiencing, and has advanced. If not, hopefully you’re forging a path for others and can be a mentor for people going through it in the future.

My law school provided informal mentors for us, and we had the option to ask for someone in the LGTBQIA+ community, which I did. He has been a fantastic resource over the years, especially when I transitioned from school into practice, and then again when I left the big firm to start my own. He's been a great friend and mentor outside of practice, as well. I highly recommend seeking one out.

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