the ranks and later become clients . ( One of her mentees from RSE is now an executive at a bank and pays her for public relations work .) “ It helps build connections and collaborations ” for both the mentors and mentees , says Hogan , “ because we all know people don ’ t get jobs because of your resume ; you get it because of who you know .” Mentoring can also be a way to sharpen leadership skills , something that even the most successful freelancers rarely get a chance to do . “ In graphic design , there ’ s not a lot of opportunity for leadership roles ,” says Wacker . “ This was a real opportunity for these mentors to grow their own skills , which might have been a little dormant .”
Mentorship can even help the region . It ’ s a way to cultivate and retain talent . Years ago , “ Sacramento was never a hotbed of advertising and public relations ,” says Einhorn , but thanks in part to a culture of mentorship , “ People don ’ t have to go to San Francisco to get a job at an agency . The creative community has become quite sophisticated .” This is one of the reasons Wacker helped launch Ascenders Academy . “ We really need to foster and grow and develop this amazing talent pool that we have in Sacramento ,” says Wacker . “ I see that as part of our mission .”
While mentoring is no silver bullet , it could be a way to improve issues of equity . “ Coming from a place of generational white privilege , I ’ m always amazed at what I learn from people who aren ’ t like me ,” says Hogan . “ And I ’ m always trying to find ways to meet more people who aren ’ t like me .” She knows that first-generation college students or young professionals migrating from other countries ( like Tinn Salinas ) can have a hard time navigating the corporate landscape , and that “ it ’ s really important to bring more people in .”
This is especially true in finance , says Ramirez , as banking “ has always been a ridiculously conservative industry .” When young professionals are starting out , says Ramirez , “ they don ’ t see a lot of high-ranking C-suite individuals who are either Latina or Latino . They don ’ t see them . And for me , representation matters .” If Ramirez can be an inspiration , then she considers it “ my duty to make sure I do what I can to bring them up with me .”
Ultimately , says Ramirez , she ’ s trying to break down barriers . And mentorship is a way to do this , because “ sometimes it takes just one person to make it possible .”
Jeff Wilser is the author of seven books , most recently “ Becoming a Firefighter ,” from Simon & Schuster ’ s Masters at Work series . On Twitter @ JeffWilser .
Thank You !
for your leadership and commitment to supporting heart and brain health .
RON AMODEO
2022 Heart of Sacramento Chair Chief Strategy Officer , UC Davis Health
KEVIN NAGLE 2023 Heart of Sacramento Chair Chairman and Owner , The Nagle Companies including Sacramento Republic FC
Thank you to our 2022 Heart of Sacramento Executive Leadership Team !
Jon Blackstad , Five Star Bank | Wendy Cohen , Kitchell | Mark Friedman , Fulcrum Property Kevin Lund , Lund Construction | Jason Nietupski , UC Davis Health Dan Ramos , RAMCO Enterprises | Dr . Thomas Smith , UC Davis Health
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