Beyond Skin Deep
Success is rarely a journey we make entirely on our own. Behind many accomplished professionals are people who opened doors, answered questions, offered encouragement, and helped them see possibilities they may not have recognized for themselves.
That is why mentorship can be such a powerful form of leadership.
For Dr. Hope Mitchell, founder and CEO of Mitchell Dermatology, mentorship begins with exposure. On Episode #36 of the PinLeaderTM Podcast, Dr. Mitchell explained that throughout her career, she has made it a priority to introduce young people to opportunities in medicine, particularly those who may not have had someone in their lives show them that a medical career was possible.
“I want them to be better than me as I serve and I teach,” Mitchell says of her mentees.
Sometimes the biggest obstacle to pursuing an opportunity isn’t a lack of ability. It is simply not knowing the opportunity exists. Mitchell has seen this firsthand with students who spend time shadowing her practice and leave with a different understanding of what their futures could look like. As she explains, their reaction is often simple: “I just didn’t know.”
Effective mentorship, however, is about more than opening a door. It also means being willing to share the difficult parts of our own journeys. Leaders can appear as though their paths to success were straightforward, which can make setbacks feel like evidence that someone doesn’t belong. Mitchell challenges that perception by talking openly with mentees about her own disappointments, including exams she had to retake, grades that fell short of expectations, and times she was told no.
By sharing those experiences, mentors can help others understand that setbacks are not necessarily the end of the journey. They can become part of the learning process.
Mentorship is also not a one-way relationship. “Mentorship is a two way street,” Mitchell says, emphasizing that she continues to learn from the younger people she mentors. That willingness to remain teachable is an important reminder for leaders at every stage of their careers.
Perhaps the most practical approach is to stop looking for one person who can provide every answer. Mitchell encourages people to develop what she describes as their own “board of directors” - a diverse network of mentors who bring different experiences, backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives.
Whether we are developing future physicians, emerging professionals, employees, or the next generation of organizational leaders, meaningful mentorship requires more than occasional advice. It requires connection, honesty, listening, encouragement, and a willingness to help someone recognize what may be possible.
Who is on your personal board of directors - and whose board might you have the opportunity to join?
Presented by ROAR Productions, The PinLeader™ Podcast is an interview format show hosted by Mays and Associates, Ltd. President & CEO Dr. Shanda Gore, that provides effective tips to those who are currently leaders or have a desire to become leaders. A new episode is released every Wednesday.
