Leadership in 2022: Unlocking the power of mentorship

I was a classical pianist growing up, and while I loved it, piano is a very solitary instrument. After being introduced to orchestra at a young age – hearing the sound of all the instruments come together to create something beautiful – I was inspired. I ended up picking up the cello and joining the ensemble. As it turns out, I loved it even more than playing the piano. It made me feel like I was part of something larger than myself, which was so much more satisfying than being a soloist.

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Alosant is kind of like an orchestra. We set high expectations but we all work together to turn those ideas into reality, creating amazing community-focused products along the way. Mentorship is the fuel that fires our engine, and being able to share our knowledge and skills with one another is the structural foundation of our office culture. 

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Personally, I know I would not be where I am today without my mentors. The biggest one that comes to mind is Ann Fudge. I met Ann in 1986 during grad school while working at General Mills. I was so impressed by the fact that an African American woman was working in a leadership role at a Fortune 100 company during a time when very few women – let alone minority women – held senior positions. 

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Ann didn’t look like everyone else in the boardroom, yet there she was, commanding the crowd and staking her claim. As a woman of Mexican heritage, I deeply identified with and looked up to Ann. 

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Just as Ann served as an aspirational figure in my professional career, at Alosant, we are constantly compelled to find ways to inspire the next generation. We know there is much more value in developing someone who has the right attitude and giving them the tools to succeed, rather than starting from scratch with someone new. 

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As our business continues to scale, we have instilled the importance of mentorship throughout our entire staff. Now, it’s great to see the next wave of Alosant leaders are sharing their knowledge and skills with those working under them. 

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For example, Ashely Marra, our senior customer success manager, started at Alosant two years ago looking to break into the software industry. She initially started as customer support and worked her way up to a senior position at the company, crediting her growth to the guidance she received from the team. Today, she’s paying it forward.

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“I love being given the opportunity to teach people,” says Marra. “I personally manage a team of four people, and it feels so great to show them the ‘Alosant way’ and watch them succeed.” 

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Oftentimes, breakthroughs don’t happen when people work in silos. They come when team members are willing to lift each other up and work together to turn ideas into reality. There’s truly nothing we can’t accomplish when we come together, use each of our strengths, and help lift each other up.