Editor's Desk A classic case of mentorship
In the late 1980s, I was a shaggy-haired college student whose only summer job had been underage bass player in a bar band. At least I worked hard at school. Convinced that my future lay in the past— dead languages, to be precise—i transferred to Mcgill University, where a professor named Anne Carson taught me ancient Greek poetry. Drawn and black-clad, Carson could be exacting to the point of meanness, but spending time in her classroom revealed a delightful sense of humour. Thanks to her patience and encouragement, I developed a love of close reading that has only helped my career as an editor.
Back then I had no idea how lucky I was. Carson, who received a Macarthur Fellowship (also known as a “genius” grant) in 2000, has since won several major awards for her writing. Although we haven't talked in years, and my Greek and Latin have fallen into disuse, I still think of her as a mentor.
Working on our third annual Women of Influence feature (p.31), whose theme this year is mentorship, reminded me how big an impact one person can have on the lives of others. From the business world, academia, the non-profit sector and elsewhere, the 29 extraordinary B.C. women we celebrate go out of their way to support peers and younger colleagues. In some cases the relationships are formal, through workplace and other programs, but often they just happen.
By chatting with many of these role models—and their mentees—i discovered that mentorship is a rich experience for both parties, professionally and personally. It creates lasting bonds, too. “A mentor is not only someone who helps you right now but is there for you for the rest of your life,” technology veteran Gerri Sinclair told me. “I can call up my mentors; I just spoke to one of them yesterday.”
As in years past, we sought advice to assemble our list of influential women. Thank you to the esteemed panel of experts who gave us their nominations, to the mentors and mentees for sharing their stories, and to associate editor Marcie Good for steering the effort and doing most of the writing.
An MBA can also exert a powerful influence on your career, as writer Dee Hon eloquently explains starting on page 22. For “MBA vs. DIY,” Hon canvassed entrepreneurs and educators to build a case for and against this degree. I never went to business school (see above), but I'd be the last person to knock earning an MBA. For starters, my wife has one. Over the years, I've learned to speak her language.
Nick Rockel, Editor-in-chief bcb@canadawide.com / @Bcbusiness