Four Lessons and a Question from a Master Mentor: Kelli Parsons, CEO of Avoq

Mentorship in Creative Spaces: Featuring Jayme Host, Dean of the School of the Arts

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2283079/fan_mail/new] Ever heard of Ludwig Beethoven? Probably so. But how about Joseph Haydn? He was Beethoven's mentor. Ever heard of Michelangelo? Yes? Well, how about Domenico Ghirlandaio? You guessed it, he was Michelangelo's earliest mentor when his most famous student was just 13. The world of art is filled with mentors, going back to Socrates, who mentored Plato in ancient Greece. In this episode, we will explore the role of mentorship in the arts world with Dr. Jayme Host, the dean of the School of the Arts at the College of Charleston. She and some of her colleagues and students will describe how mentors have shaped them as performers, painters, musicians, and dancers. Oh, and one final question: Who was Lady Gaga's most famous mentor? None other than the legendary crooner, Tony Bennett. https://charleston.edu/martin-center/ [https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcharleston.edu%2Fmartin-center%2F&data=05%7C02%7CMartinTR%40cofc.edu%7C3e344018625941c3917508dcc1f31db6%7Ce285d438dbba4a4c941c593ba422deac%7C0%7C0%7C638598497122137684%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=l5BTZqUz0Du6DYqBe7bI7z06wSxgzlNB9rLKLUAFLCc%3D&reserved=0]

Lessons from a Presidential Award Recipient: Featuring David Byrd

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2283079/fan_mail/new] What does it take to win a Presidential Award? Can you speak at Commencement and still admit your failures? How do you snag and keep that first job? David Byrd has the answers. At the College of Charleston’s Spring Commencement ceremony, David was a featured speaker as a recipient of the college’s Presidential Award for Scholarship, Leadership, and Service, the highest award given to undergraduates. He is an Honors College graduate who has received numerous other awards and recognitions. In the fall, he will start a position as an analyst at Dimensional Fund Advisors in Charlotte. Listen to hear more from David about the role mentors (including his mom) have played in his unparalleled success. https://charleston.edu/martin-center/ [https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcharleston.edu%2Fmartin-center%2F&data=05%7C02%7CMartinTR%40cofc.edu%7C3e344018625941c3917508dcc1f31db6%7Ce285d438dbba4a4c941c593ba422deac%7C0%7C0%7C638598497122137684%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=l5BTZqUz0Du6DYqBe7bI7z06wSxgzlNB9rLKLUAFLCc%3D&reserved=0]

Charting Your Own Course: With Reganne Nowell, McKinley Pollard, and Sydney Long

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2283079/fan_mail/new] You're about to make the transition from college to career, and you're probably getting more well-meaning advice than you can handle. Parents, grandparents, friends, coaches, and professors are all eager to pass along words of wisdom to you. But wouldn't you rather hear from people who have made that transition themselves? What do they have to share? In this episode, you will hear from three College of Charleston graduates—two from the class of ’22, Reganne Nowell and McKinley Pollard, and one from the class of ’24, Sydney Long. All three were Martin Scholars, and they’ve been highly successful in very different ways.  Hear how they did it and what they recommend as you approach one of the biggest transitions you will ever face. https://charleston.edu/martin-center/ [https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcharleston.edu%2Fmartin-center%2F&data=05%7C02%7CMartinTR%40cofc.edu%7C3e344018625941c3917508dcc1f31db6%7Ce285d438dbba4a4c941c593ba422deac%7C0%7C0%7C638598497122137684%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=l5BTZqUz0Du6DYqBe7bI7z06wSxgzlNB9rLKLUAFLCc%3D&reserved=0]

Getting Ready for Launch: Lancie Affonso's Tips for Soon-to-Be Graduates

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2283079/fan_mail/new] Commencement. It means a beginning, but for some, it's a scary end to their time in college. In just a few days, the College of Charleston Class of 2026 will walk across the stage at the historic Cistern Yard and receive their diplomas. As they're about to launch into this new world, how should they be preparing? Lancie Affonso says they should be focusing on adaptability, soft skills, and storytelling. He has years of experience helping students prepare for the world beyond graduation. A College of Charleston graduate, class of 1996, Lancie has worked at the college as a professor, an advisor, and a shepherd for hundreds of young women and men. Listen to his suggestions on how to get ready for launch. https://charleston.edu/martin-center/ [https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcharleston.edu%2Fmartin-center%2F&data=05%7C02%7CMartinTR%40cofc.edu%7C3e344018625941c3917508dcc1f31db6%7Ce285d438dbba4a4c941c593ba422deac%7C0%7C0%7C638598497122137684%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=l5BTZqUz0Du6DYqBe7bI7z06wSxgzlNB9rLKLUAFLCc%3D&reserved=0]

It's Never too Early to Take Your Shot: Lessons from an Emerging Mentor, Dakota Kate Isaacs

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2283079/fan_mail/new] Do you need 12 internships to succeed after college? How can you make AI your friend? What is an "expander?" Does curiosity matter? How long should you stay at the same job? Dakota Kate Isaacs answers these questions and more on this episode. Isaacs, the head of brand strategy and narrative at Quince—the rapidly growing, affordable luxury clothing brand—recently received the 2026 Emerging Mentor award from the Martin Center for Mentorship. Isaacs graduated from the College of Charleston in 2015, and she is already establishing an impressive track record as a mentor. She was featured last November on Mindful Mentoring, sharing her advice on building your personal brand. Now she is an award-winning mentor. Hear the advice she shared on her award-winning night. https://charleston.edu/martin-center/ [https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcharleston.edu%2Fmartin-center%2F&data=05%7C02%7CMartinTR%40cofc.edu%7C3e344018625941c3917508dcc1f31db6%7Ce285d438dbba4a4c941c593ba422deac%7C0%7C0%7C638598497122137684%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=l5BTZqUz0Du6DYqBe7bI7z06wSxgzlNB9rLKLUAFLCc%3D&reserved=0]