The Color Vision Founder Shares Why Black Women Need To Have And Be Mentors

In terms of our careers, mentorship is both something many of us are missing and something some of us don’t even know we need. Whether you’re super career-driven and just need the right connections so you can reach your goals, need some guidance as to where your career should be headed next, or want to expand your business but don’t know how to start, anyone who is working or interested in working can benefit from having a mentor in their corner who already knows the ropes.

In honor of January being National Mentor Month, MadameNoire spoke with Mia Davis, the founder of The Color Vision, an organization that “aims to engage, educate, and enlighten women from a variety of creative backgrounds to have the career of their dreams through national creative conferences, scholarship opportunities, special events and mentorship programs throughout the country.”

Davis shared all the information we need, including why mentorship is important, how we can snag a mentor for ourselves and the ways in which the “mentorship gap” disproportionally affects Black women in the workplace.

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“Mentor and Mentee” Relationship Is Vital

If your thinking about getting a mentor but don’t know where to find one, Davis knows it can be “quite a challenge.” Her advice is to do some research within your field, and if possible, find someone whose career you’d like to emulate over time. As she pointed out, in a world where Black women are “overlooked in the workplace,” having the support and guidance of a mentor can really help you along in your career and your entrepreneurial journey if you’re looking to start a business.

According to her, even a quick Google search can help you get started in finding a mentoring program that might work best for you.

“… look for a mentor in people that you admire and want to model your career after. Being resourceful is huge. Look for programs that offer mentorships in your field. It can be as simple as a Google search to find a mentoring program that fits you,” Davis says.

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Mentors Give Objective Criticism While Simultaneously Cheering You On

No matter where we are currently in our careers, the fact of the matter is, we’re never going to know it all. With that in mind, it’s always good to get objective feedback about how you can continue climbing up the ladder in the most productive ways.

According to Davis, having a mentor “to guide you as a recent college grad who has already entered the workforce in your chosen field is a great starting point, and certainly within five years of your entry-level career.”

If you’re past that stage, but somewhere in the middle of the possibility of your career advancing and finding yourself in a slump, Davis said find yourself a mentor.

“Overall, if you’re feeling stuck or in need of career guidance, it’s wise to look for a mentor as soon as possible,” she says.

With a mentor, you don’t have to worry about their criticism coming from a shady place. Their objective advice might just be what helps you level up into a new role.

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Mentors Pass on Important Skills

Because your mentor has probably been in the game for quite some time, they’ll definitely have things they’ve learned over the years that they can pass down to you, as their mentee.

If you’re wondering what the important questions you should ask are to see if a potential mentor would be a good fit for you and will pass down the information you need, Davis said you should look for an expert in your field who will carry three important values into your mentorship.

“Make sure that your mentor is someone who values teaching, listening, and helping,” she says. “You should be certain that they are experts in the field that you’d like to rise in.”

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Your Mentor Most Likely Has a Ton of Connections

Some people find networking hard and asking for connections or “hookups” even harder. The great thing about having a mentor, and having a genuine relationship with them, is that if they know you’re serious about your career and getting ahead. They’ll probably be more than happy to help you get there, even if that means makings a few calls, or connecting you to people they know. Davis emphasized this point by mentioning “building an established relationship” with your mentor before asking for a connection from them. It helps take the pressure off of the situation.

“Asking for a connection or a hookup can be incredibly intimidating. You don’t want anyone to feel like you’re just ‘using’ them for a connect,” she says. “That’s why building an established relationship with a mentor is important. When you have a mentor/mentee relationship with someone who wants to help you, asking for a connection becomes increasingly easier. Overall, you should build the relationship first and then ask for connections.”

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Mentors Help Identify Your Blind Spots

In terms of your career, blind spots on the road to achieving your version of success can be caused by many different things. Whether it be a lack of education, a lack of experience, or a lack of confidence, clearly, if you’re seeking a mentor, you already have some blind spots you’ve identified in yourself, or you need a mentor to show you what your blind spots are so you can fix them.

When discussing why it’s important for Black women to have mentors who look like them, Davis emphasized the importance of having a mentor who can better relate to your struggles. Just as with blind spots, someone who has been down the same road before is a great person to tell you what to look out for, and which learning curves might be the hardest. For her, it’s all about lifting as we climb higher up the industry.

“We live in a world that’s constantly telling us that having white allies in the workplace is important. While it is, we should remember that we succeed so much better when we ‘lift as we climb,'” she says. “Having a mentor that looks like you is important because they can relate to the same struggles and doubts that you can.”

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Mentors Are Sounding Boards

Similarly, mentors make great sounding boards. Even though Black women are disproportionately affected by the “mentorship gap,” your mentor should be someone you feel comfortable talking to, no matter what race they end up being. This ensures that when you have work-related ideas you’re afraid to share in the office, or just need someone to vent to, you’ll have someone who knows the ins-and-outs of your industry that you can bounce things off of.

Because Black women have less access to mentorship than their counterparts in the workplace, there’s also a scarcity of Black women in high-level roles. In essence, the cycle that that stops Black women from getting mentors is the same one that prevents them from landing the leadership roles that would make mentors.

Davis broke it down by saying, “because Black women are less likely to rise above ‘manager’ titles in corporate America, we often see white women with the higher titles we want, which makes it feel nearly impossible to get to director level and above.”

“Due to this, there’s less access to mentorship and opportunities for Black women, that’s why the women who are able to help should and do,” she says.

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The Knowledge Is Priceless

The knowledge flow between a mentor and their mentee when the two are serious about having a beneficial dynamic really shouldn’t be underestimated. As of now, Davis mentioned that there are more mentorship opportunities in more traditional or “corporate” settings, such as in finance or law when compared to creative fields.

“We see a lot of mentorship happening for big corporate jobs in finance, law, and so on. It does seem like the ‘creative Black woman’ is often forgotten about, the women that want to write for television or even do celebrity hair on a movie set.”

If you are one of those women hoping are making your way in the creative world but need a mentor, organizations like Davis’ are around to help you gain the information you need from experts within your field.

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They Boost Your Confidence

Having a mentor will inherently boost your confidence. Because they’re there to help you “build your career by teaching you skills, help you obtain meaningful connections, and be a sounding board for your ideas while offering advice,” as long as you’re taking in their practical guidance and putting it into action, seeing the rewarding benefits of all your extra hard work will make you feel good.

In addition, even though it’ll take some confidence to go out and get a mentor at the beginning, once you have one, measuring your worth when it comes to things like believing in what you bring to the workplace, knowing how much you should be paid for the work you do, and trusting that your career’s trajectory is on the right track (regardless of the ups and downs) should feel a bit easier with your mentor’s help.

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A Mentor Can Change Your Life in a Very Positive Way

Overall, getting a mentor can be life-changing, but only if you’re willing to put time and effort into your relationship with them. Even though you might feel like your schedule is already filled to the brim with working, school, family time and more, Davis shared that realistically, even meeting with your mentor occasionally is enough to excel your career and make your mentorship both fruitful and successful.

“Although we’re living in a COVID-19 world and meeting in person is pretty impossible right now, connection is still essential,” she says.  “Meeting with your mentor once or twice a month virtually over the span of a year, while regularly checking in via email can build a long-term connection even if you’re far away.”

Follow Mia Davis and The Color Vision on Instagram and Twitter.