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This is Story #3 in the Mentoring Moments series -- a collection of "you need to know" stories about business and life from successful women of multiple generations (each told in under two minutes). Stories for you to collect and share.
Joanne Wilson is an angel investor with a portfolio of over 85 companies, where 75% of the entrepreneurs are females. Because entrepreneurs need more than money, five years ago Joanne launched WeFestival, an annual event that brings women entrepreneurs together to connect, be heard and move their business forward (next one is April 2016 in NYC). And she maintains one of my favorite blogs called Gothamgal.com that's filled with posts about everything in life that’s important -- what’s happening around the globe and in NYC, fascinating people, and new finds like bakeries and art galleries topped off with photos that give me her insider's view. But what’s her most successful venture?
My husband is my best friend. At the end of the day, my most important job is being a Mom. We have three kids who are terrific people. Someone called me the “woman around town” which I thought was quite appropriate. All and all, I’m a very lucky Gotham Gal.
This is Joanne’s Mentoring Moment, in her words:
Mentors are important. But so are role models. Role models are not talked about as much as mentors, but the reality is that role models can make a bigger impact.
I had a few women role models early in my career. The first woman I looked up to ran the store where I was a sales manager in Kings Plaza, Brooklyn. She was sharp, tough and commanded respect. I liked how she conducted herself as a straight shooter. She wasn’t so much a mentor, but someone I aspired to be like.
The next woman I worked for was very similar, yet she took me under her wing. She gave me advice on how to look at the businesses I was running, how to manage the people who worked for me, and how to navigate the company (which was heavily dominated by men at the top). She wanted to pave the way for me, and that was empowering. Being able to learn from a woman at the top who really cared about my success was a gift.
Mentorship is a word that is tossed around a lot these days. There is this belief that one of the things that you must do when you begin your career is find a mentor. I don’t agree. If people want true one-on-one guidance to help them navigate the world, they should find a good shrink , just like most entrepreneurs see a coach as their business starts to take off. I am a huge fan of that. It can help people get rid of personal baggage and become better leaders. Mentorship is different. It is something that should happen organically, with someone who finds an interest in you as much as you find an interest in them.
I have always been open to helping others think about their careers. As an angel investor in over 85 companies and counting — where 75 percent of the entrepreneurs are women — I have become a mentor to every person I invest in. I am closer to some than others, yet I make myself available to every one of them.
There is one woman whom I consider myself a mentor to, and I consider her just as much a mentor to me. She reads my blog. That is how we met. She emailed me asking for some advice about her career. I emailed her back. She took the advice and it paid off. She emailed me letting me know. I was thrilled for her. Over the years, not only have I have met with her, given her advice on how to negotiate a raise over two days of an email exchange, helped her to think about her future, and applauded her successes, but we have become friends. She has taught me a thing or two about the business and dual mentorship.
Mentoring Moments Series:
#1: What I Did When My Boss Threw A Stapler At My Head is here.
#2: How To Break The Rules, Spread A Little Mischief And Make A Mint is here.
#4: Best Way To Deal With A Mean Girl Boss? One Woman's Powerful Answer is here.
#5: Why Women Need To Stop Worrying About Being Liked is here.
#6: What's Better Than A 50% Pay Increase? One Woman's Expensive Lesson is here.
#7: The No. 1 Way To Tackle What's Really Holding You Back is here.
#8: Millennial, Mother Of 50: She's Breaking The Rules And Saving Lives is here.
#9: Nice Women Finish First When They Ask The Right Questions is here.
#10: Millennials Beware: 'You Can't Let One Bad Guy Push You Out' is here.
#11: Women Sleep Better When You Listen To The Silence In Your Head is here.
#12: Five Words That Turned This Self-Made Woman Into A Multi-Millionaire is here.
#13: Two Things Great Leaders Do Every Day is here.
#14: How An Entrepreneur Made A Choice She'll Never Forget is here.
#15: How This Entrepreneur Turned Her Ignorance Into A Huge Success is here.
#16: Two Words That Made This Millennial's Network Explode is here.
#17: When This Woman Changed Her Name, Her Career Took Off is here.
#18: How A Taxi Ride Drove This Self-Made Woman's Career is here.
#19: 6 You-Need-To-Know Lessons That Will Make Your Career Explode is here.
#20: 3 Gritty Tips That Will Make You Way More Exciting And Successful is here.
#21: 5 Words That Made This Millennial A CEO is here.
#22: Can Success Be Dangerous? This Woman Found The Answer On A Starbucks Cup is here.
#23: 7 Simple Words That Will Make Your Career Soar is here.
#24: Why Women Need To Stop Being Afraid To Ask For Help is here.
#25: 7 Powerful Lessons That Will Ignite Your Inner Fire And Your Career is here.
#26: How a Homeless Woman Released From Prison Became 'My Greatest Mentor' is here.
#27: To Find A Mentor Stop Asking 'Can I Pick Your Brain?' Do This Instead is here.
#28: Her Boss Verbally Slapped Her - Now She Runs Her Own Show is here.
#29: Top Poker Player Wins $11.6 Million And Goes To Work Thinking She's A Loser is here.
#30: How A Sex Ed Class Prepared This Woman For The Biggest Pitch Of Her Career is here.
