Lift Every Voice

Mentorship, Expanding Opportunity Through Networks and Exposure | Featuring Genevieve Clayton

Learners favor positions in which they are active participants in shaping their professional pathways because autonomy can enhance relevance and relatability. In this episode, Genevieve Clayton of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce discusses the Chamber Student Network (CSN). This student-led initiative that connects learners with local businesses through mentorship, community engagement, and experiential learning. We discuss: * Why student-led models can reshape how mentorship functions * How chambers of commerce can engage emerging professionals

Mentorship, Navigating Systems and Finding Your Path | Featuring Jen Garcia

Entering a new industry can be difficult, and without proper guidance, many newcomers struggle to grasp its terminology, specialized areas of expertise, and potential career paths. In this episode, Jen Garcia of HIMSS Washington discusses how association-based mentorship programs can create clearer entry points into careers. We discuss⁠: * How curiosity and mentorship shaped a career pivot * Why newcomers struggle to navigate specialized roles * How professional associations can design mentorship intentionally * What outcomes show mentorship programs are working

Mentorship, Designing Systems that Strengthen Organizations | Featuring Wendi Braun

Mentorship is often treated as a program. But what happens when organizations treat it as infrastructure for workforce development? In this episode, learning and performance expert Wendi Braun explores how mentorship connects adult learning, leadership development, and organizational systems. Wendi shares how mentorship programs can improve employee outcomes, organizational performance, and even financial results when designed intentionally. In this episode, we discuss * How theory from psychology shaped modern workforce learning * Why mentorship is an applied practice of organizational development * Why mentorship must balance structure with human relationships *  What makes a mentorship program sustainable in large organizations

Mentorship, The Building Blocks to Career Confidence | Featuring Brandon Erby

Many professionals start their careers with mentorship from those around them, influencing their development at critical moments. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Erby shares how mentorship guided his journey from his community in Michigan to academic pursuits across the eastern United States, and how these experiences strengthened his resolve to serve as a bridge for others in similar paths.   In this episode, we discuss: * How informal mentorship shapes identity development and boosts decision-making confidence * The broad yet manageable scope of mentorship * Ways individuals can purposefully act as connectors for others

Mentorship, Redefining Support and Learning Through Community | Featuring Nancy Sanchez

Many creative professionals begin their careers without mentors to guide them on the right pathways. In rapidly changing fields like podcasting, this can lead to feelings of isolation, slow progress, and missed opportunities to develop sustainable careers. In this episode, Nancy Sanchez, Community Outreach Coordinator at The Podcast Academy, talks about how they are redefining mentorship by fostering community and peer learning, and by designing intentional spaces.   In this episode, we discuss: * Why peer mentorship is often overlooked in professional development * How can creative communities reduce isolation and support career growth * The design of The Podcast Academy’s mentorship program * How a facilitated mentorship ecosystem model supports creative ingenuity