n’ s History Month at Mentoring Event
mentor and to even have the conversation, is going to create a ripple effect that shapes communities, that drives innovation, and that opens doors and windows for the next generation.”
Then she encouraged the audience to reflect on their own mentoring journey.
“ Now, I want you to imagine for a moment the impact that you can have offering the same support to someone who’ s just starting out on their path,” she said. Hemmings left the audience with a challenge:“ Embrace the power of mentorship and ask yourself,‘ who can I lift up?’” skin, Partner, Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP; Brielle Freda Seminerio, President, Brewster Washers; and panel moderator Michele Zolezi, General Manager, Pure Soil, A Division of Earle.
Mentorship Panel
The positivity in the audience was palpable throughout the networking breakfast and continued as Michele Zolezi, General Manager, Pure Soil, A Division of Earle, took the stage to moderate a panel on mentoring experiences.
“ We really are a mosaic of everyone who has poured into us,” Helen Archontou, CEO, YWCA Northern New Jersey, noted during the panel.“ You’ re never too old for a mentor and you’ re never too young to be one.”
Zolezi asked the panelists how one can find a mentor, to which Heidi Minuskin, Partner, Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, advised“ it’ s important to seek out people who speak your language. It’ s not helpful to have someone willing to spend time with you if they’ re teaching you in a way that’ s not understandable and absorbable to you. Does that mentor have a style that fits your personality?”
Brielle Freda Seminerio, President, Brewster Washers, noted to“ reflect and write down goals and what you really want to achieve. Whether it’ s personal development, life skills – a mentor can be for anything.”
“ I would just encourage everyone to think of that person – one or two people – how can you start to build your own personal board of directors,” advised Aiysha Johnson, CEO and Executive Director, NJCPA. She also noted to“ keep moving forward, because if one door closes there are always a ton of people out there who are willing to give back.”
Debbie Barnett, Principal / Creative Director, Barnett Design, reminded the crowd that you may never stop needing mentors, especially if you own your own business.“ Building a business is fun, it’ s exciting, and it’ s hard. Growth tends to be upward but there are bumps along the way. We’ ve had a few of them and mentors absolutely helped us so very much.”
Natalie Maniscalco and Irene Zervoudis of Wonder Girls, a non-profit empowerment program for middle, high school, and college girls.
“ I get as much as I give,” said Helen Archontou, CEO, YWCA Northern New Jersey, of her mentoring experiences.
Note: The next Women in Commerce event will be the“ Enterprising Women in Commerce 2025 Awards” on August 13th. Nominate a deserving female executive here: https:// bit. ly / 4hv18qi
April 2025 COMMERCE 15