Importance of Early Mentorship in Shaping Your Career
Starting a corporate career can feel like stepping into uncharted territory; exciting, yet overwhelming. With so many choices ahead, from selecting the right industry to navigating workplace politics, young professionals often find themselves at crossroads. While family and teachers may offer guidance, their advice is sometimes limited by personal biases or a lack of direct corporate experience. This is where having a mentor early in life can be a game-changer. A mentor provides not just advice but perspective, helping individuals make objective career decisions without vested interests.
The First Big Decisions: Why Mentorship Matters
In the early stages of a career, decisions made can have a lasting impact. Should you take that high-paying job at a large corporation or the challenging role at a fast-growing startup? Should you move to cities for an opportunity or stay close to family? These are complex decisions that require more than just instinct - they demand insight.
A mentor acts as a neutral sounding board. Unlike family or close friends, who may have emotional stakes in your choices, a mentor brings in broader perspectives, ensuring that decisions are made based on long-term career growth rather than immediate comfort or external pressures.
My Own Experience with Mentorship
Early on, in my first few years in the corporate world, I was fortunate to have mentors who helped me look beyond the immediate excitement of my first job. They encouraged me to think not just about salary but about learning opportunities, company culture, and the potential for long-term growth.
One of the most valuable lessons my mentor taught me was that career success isn’t just about excelling at your core job function - it is also about visibility and presence. I was someone who believed that if I worked hard, my efforts would naturally get recognised. My mentor challenged this belief, emphasizing that simply delivering good work wasn’t enough; I needed to speak up, engage with leadership, and be seen as an equal to truly thrive in the workplace.
I remember a specific moment when my mentor said, “You have great ideas, but unless you share them confidently in meetings, they won’t count.” That was a turning point for me. Instead of staying confined to my desk and focusing only on my immediate tasks, I started proactively participating in discussions, building relationships across teams, and making my contributions more visible. That shift not only helped me gain credibility but also accelerated my growth in the organisations.
The Intangibles: Soft Skills and Workplace Navigation
Beyond technical expertise, success in any corporate career depends on soft skills - how you communicate, influence, and adapt to an organisation’s culture. This is another area where mentorship proves invaluable.
A mentor can help navigate the subtitles of workplace dynamics:
How to handle office politics without getting entangled in it.
How to ask for feedback and use it constructively.
How to position yourself for leadership roles early on.
One of my early mentors advised me on managing up, understanding how to align my work with the expectations of senior management. This single piece of advice helped me establish credibility and grow within the organisation far quicker than I would have otherwise.
Beyond Functional Skills: Gaining a Broader Perspective
Young professionals often focus solely on functional skills - becoming the best marketer, analyst, or engineer. While expertise is essential, true career acceleration comes from developing a broader business perspective.
A mentor, particularly someone who has walked the path you aspire to take, can help broaden your thinking. They encourage you to consider the bigger picture - how industries evolve, how business strategies are shaped, and how leaders make decisions beyond their functional silos.
While I was working in finance, one of my mentors encouraged me to understand sales and marketing. “You will be a better CFO if you understand consumer behaviour and other key factors that drive revenue.” That advice pushed me to interact more with cross-functional teams, which ultimately made me a more effective leader.
The Emotional Anchor: Confidence and Resilience
Starting off in the corporate world comes with its fair share of self-doubt. Imposter syndrome is real, and many young professionals question whether they are good enough. A mentor plays the role of an anchor during these moments of uncertainty.
There were times in my career when I doubted myself, whether I was making the right choices or whether I was ready for the next big role. Having mentors to turn to, helped me stay grounded. They reassured me that challenges were a part of the journey and that growth comes from pushing through difficulties rather than avoiding them.
Finding the Right Mentor
The next question many young professionals ask is, “How do I find a mentor?” Unlike popular belief, mentorship doesn’t always come in the form of an official relationship. It can be a senior colleague, a former manager, or even someone outside your organisations, whose career trajectory you admire. Some of the important pointers in this regard are:
Seek out individuals whose careers inspire you.
Be proactive in reaching out and asking for advice.
Engage in meaningful conversations rather than just seeking generic career guidance.
Respect their time and implement their advice to show commitment.
Final Thoughts: A Mentor’s Role in Long-Term Success
Looking back, I realise how much of my career was shaped by the mentors I had early on. They helped me make informed decisions, guided me through challenges, and most importantly, empowered me with the confidence to take charge of my career.
For anyone starting their professional journey, my advice is simple: seek out mentors. The right guidance at the right time can make all the difference in shaping a fulfilling and successful career. A mentor will not decide for you, but they will help you see what is best for you - a clarity that is invaluable in today’s complex career landscape.
The author, Richa Singh is the CFO of Pernod India and has worked in various MNCs such as P&G, Coca Cola and J&J.