Women in Leadership | Mentorship & Growth

Being a woman in leadership often means navigating uncharted paths, finding confidence in your own voice, and sometimes leaning on sheer determination when the road ahead feels uncertain. It’s a journey that requires both strength and grace, and I’ve learned that the most powerful leaders aren’t leading alone. Behind them is an army of mentors: a boss that brings up your name in rooms you’re not yet invited to, the co-worker who champions your work, friends (who may not know exactly what you do) but are cheering you on with each presentation and promotion, and family listening and giving you advice in the tough moments - they all play a significant role as a mentor guiding leaders along their path to success. 

Throughout my career, I’ve met incredible women who’ve redefined what leadership looks like. They lead with empathy, clarity, and conviction, showing that growth doesn’t mean fitting into a mold — it means making it your own. I’ve watched them turn challenges into opportunities for learning, and in doing so, they’ve taught me that leadership is about how you show up, how you listen, and how you bring others along with you.

For me, that growth has been shaped in large part by mentorship. Early in my career, I had mentors who saw my potential long before I did. They asked tough questions, challenged my assumptions, and most importantly, they gave me the space to learn from my mistakes. One mentor taught me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about cultivating curiosity and humility. Another showed me the value of integrity. That consistency between your values and actions is what builds long-term trust and partnerships that last. Those lessons didn’t just help me succeed professionally – they shaped who I am as a person and as a leader.

As I grew in my own career, I found myself naturally drawn to mentoring others. At first, it felt strange to be on the other side of the conversation. But I quickly learned that mentoring isn’t about passing along knowledge, it’s about creating a space for others to discover their own. The most rewarding moments are seeing a mentee have that “a-ha” realization or take a courageous step they once thought was impossible.

Being both a mentee and a mentor has deepened my understanding of growth. It’s not linear, it’s reciprocal. Every time I mentor someone, I learn something new about myself, whether that’s patience, empathy, perspective, or even a new way to use technology. And every time I reflect on what my mentors taught me, I’m reminded that leadership is a continuous loop of giving and receiving, teaching and learning.

Leadership to me is about empowering others, helping them to find their voice, and inspiring them to take a brave next step as they carve their own path forward toward the next milestone in life. As a leader, the legacy I hope to leave behind isn’t a title, a company, or an award; it’s inspiring growth in others.

As the Director of Mentorship for the Digital Women of Kansas City, I’m honored to be part of an organization that passes on that legacy of developing the careers, hearts, and minds of our future leaders.