Why I Give My Time to Innovators Who Put It All On the Line
A few of you have reached out to ask about the work I’m doing as a mentor at Snap Inc’s startup accelerator, Yellow, and with Quake Capital Partners.
In my role at Viacom, I have one foot planted in strategy and cultural insights, and the other in managing the process of bringing innovative products and partnerships which they inform to life. To do my job well requires that I build and maintain the muscle memory and nimbleness to pivot between big picture thinking and real world doing. One of the best, and most rewarding ways I've found to do this is by connecting with bright, energetic and passionate entrepreneurs through mentoring who, to quote Predicting the Turn author and innovation expert, Dave Knox, “are putting it all on the line because of a vision for a product they believe the world needs”.
How It Works
Startup accelerators and incubators invite people with backgrounds in entrepreneurship, innovation, venture investment and most importantly, a track record of getting s*** done on the s*** they say they’re going to do, to informally advise founders. Mentors share their experiences, offer guidance and open their networks pro bono all with the goal of helping startups realize their business models and to set them up for success.
It’s not for the faint of heart because the stakes can be high. The job of a mentor is to provide actionable support to companies that often lack resources and to make effective use of the founders very limited time and attention. At its best, a mentor’s work can have a direct and positive impact on creating jobs, rewarding investors and meeting customers needs.
What I Invest Into Mentoring
A give-first mindset
Honesty and empathy
Thoughtful, specific and actionable advice
Connecting dots between great products and potential customers
Time and follow-through to ensure all of the above is delivering results
What I Get Out of Mentoring
Opportunity to learn firsthand about fast-growing areas
Immersion into the world of venture investing and startup development: building connections, learning the language, understanding the needs
Stepping outside the comfort zone of a big company to get out in the world and see where things are heading in real time
Expanding my network of collaborators across fields
Developing a mindset for innovating at the speed and with the resilience of a startup
Continue developing my personal playbook for management, strategy and operations
Whether it's by mentoring a company, a high-potential employee or someone in your life, the dividends you can gain from doing so are well-worth the investment of time and effort.
