Mentor or Mentee?

That is the question. ...OK, so it’s not exactly Shakespeare, but it is something to think about. I’ve been a mentor for years, including through the Medical Science Liaison Society mentoring program, where I have had the opportunity to not only mentor MSLs but also new MSL leaders. I find this investment very rewarding. It’s a fun walk down memory lane listening to a new MSL excited to have secured a role in pharma after months (or years) of pursuit, or a new manager who has finally landed the management position they’ve sought after hearing “but you haven’t managed before” for years. I’m energized by their determination to make the world better and their unmatched impact on patients’ lives. While I can’t harness that energy, I can listen closely to their ideas and perspectives.

While mentoring allows me to share my experience with others to help them better navigate tricky terrain I have already bumbled through, the best part is that I get to learn from my mentees and see their roles through their fresh eyes. Sharing their ideas on how they’ve overcome obstacles or how they’ve optimized their work is eye-opening. Listening to them discuss their creative approach and how they navigate company guidance opens the discussions to out-of-the-box thinking. Learning and growth goes in all directions.

I met my current mentee, Angela Valadez, MBA, PharmD, at a recent MSL Society meeting. She was on a panel to discuss her journey since entering pharma just a few years ago as an MSL and her success in her new leadership position. Hearing others rally to support each other’s career success is heartening, which happens repeatedly at the Medical Science Liaison Society meeting. Mentoring offers another way to support the growth of others in our space and sets the bar higher for our profession, providing additional value.

 “In learning, you will teach, and in teaching, you will learn.” - Phil Collins