An ancient marble bust of Seneca.

Docendo discimus ^[1]

While we teach, we learn.

Project managers in the PMO, along with other UTS staff, actively participate in the MentorEmory program at every opportunity. It is a time commitment to help someone else see his or her own gifts and thus, time well spent. Mentors teach, but they also learn. Either by reinforcing and strengthening lessons already learned or by discovering something entirely new, they gain as much as they give.

Mentor Emory is a structured program run by Emory’s Human Resources Division. It pairs up mentors and mentees based on interests or allows already self-selected pairs to join in the program. As part of our work in sustaining Emory’s Project Management Community of Practice (PM-COP), the PMO offers our services and skills as mentors when we can. Although a mentoring relationship can begin any time, we all strongly encourage using MentorEmory as a structure. This program allows the pair to attend a series of group training sessions that reinforce the fact that most of the “work” is in the hands of the mentee to make the relationship useful and successful.

Marisa Benson, Felicia Bianchi, Graydon Kirk, Gary Lammons, Phil Shaw and Trisha Wilson (all of the PMO) have all assumed mentor roles since the PMO formed in late 2008. While each of us found the time commitment was the hardest part, this was far outweighed by the benefits of watching paticipants make new connections and apply their skills and growing confidence in their own careers.

I had the pleasure of working with Coordinator Services manager Mary Kinney (Enterprise Services) in the MentorEmory program a few years ago. While Mary has years of experience as an IT manager, she was new to Emory and looking for connections and opportunities. We paired up and sent in our mentor-mentee applications at the same time. We enjoyed many early morning hours at the Emory Starbucks and I continue to reap the benefit of that time well spent.

Graydon is currently working with Nanette Rushing (Department of Emergency Medicine) on a project from its inception as a business case through to its final closing approval. “We learn from our mentees about our own weaknesses in business and IT processes,” says Graydon, “but expanding my Emory horizons to overcome these weaknesses is a benefit to me personally and to UTS.”

Felicia worked with Nanette as well, but also mentored Bradley Benson in Atlanta’s Year Up program (yearup.org) and Brigitte Collier (Enterprise Services) through MentorEmory. Felicia said she needed to review her own work and remain current “on the latest PM stuff.” She insists she’s a better PM because of it: “I worked with people of all ages and learned more about Emory.” In turn, Emory benefits because she “got to show them how investing in strong project management saved the institution both time and money, [and] I saw evidence of this when working with my mentees.”

Gary worked with Keith Rooks (Enterprise Services) shortly after Keith was promoted to his current job. While their relationship continues because of the handoffs between the Design Group and the PMO, Gary said it has been rewarding to watch Keith’s skills grow. “It’s nice to see that the tools you’ve learned can be replicated and passed along, “said Gary, “and it helps to revisit tools you may have forgotten you had and how you can improve on them for others to follow.”

Phil is a two-timer, having mentored both Zed Brooks (Enterprise Services) and now Dina Schwam (Office of Clinical Research) through MentorEmory. “Strengthening my communication skills and challenging my PM knowledge were my greatest personal benefits,” said Phil. But he also believes that UTS benefits when other areas of Emory appreciate our contribution and can see our knowledge and processes firsthand.

Trisha also participated in the Year Up program by mentoring Bridgett Clements, but her greatest win for the PMO was mentoring Ceray Doss-Williams (PMO) through MentorEmory. Like others, Trisha said the biggest benefit to herself was “ensuring my guidance was up-to-date with PMI standards and researching different options that I can actually apply to my own life and career.”  Although not everyone we meet through MentorEmory will become a PMO project manager, we couldn’t be happier that Ceray joined us several weeks ago. Already exposed to our methodology and work processes through her mentoring relationship, she was able to jump into the fray knowing she has both personal and professional friends at her side.

How much more can we say to convince you that the time commitment is far outweighed by the benefit to both you and to Emory? Ask any of these PMO mentors or mentees about their own experiences. MentorEmory 2014 will begin taking applications for both mentors and mentees in November. Create a calendar reminder now!