What inspired you to participate in the mentoring program?
I’ve been here six years in HR on the same team, with the same people and the same clients. I wanted to learn something new. After hearing that the first round of the mentorship program was successful, I applied and got paired up with Max. The process helped me access my current skill set and what I wanted to learn. I discovered I was interested in learning more about being a meeting “producer,” so that’s the area we focused on. Participants are encouraged to meet four times over six months, which felt easy enough to fit into our busy schedules.
What is a “producer”?
In a play or a show, it’s the people in the back--the backstage operations. In a meeting setting, it’s the role of making sure things go as smoothly as possible so whoever is supposed to shine doesn't have to worry about the details.
What have you learned?
How many minutes participants can stay engaged. People can be more distracted in virtual meetings, and you need to break it up every 5-10 minutes. I learned how to use Zoom annotation, polls and other engagement tricks to make online meetings more interactive. Even after our mentoring was over, we stayed connected. Max asked me if I would be interested in helping her as a Producer for a Zoom class she teaches four times a year. It’s a low commitment and I get more opportunities to learn, so of course I said yes! It’s something I look forward to. The more I do it, the easier it is. I love sharing with others, helping others make their Zoom meetings more engaging.
What advice do you have for others who are interested in learning and growing?
Find out what you like and focus on it. I’m big on personal development. You develop as a person and that feeds into your work and helps you grow.
