Ment-working: Deepen Your Network through the Power of Mentoring

Presented by: Angie Pastorek, Ph.D. – Workplace Communication Graduate Programs – KU-Edwards, Overland Park

Networking is a strategic communication skill that helps us develop meaningful professional relationships throughout our careers. For experienced professionals, networking is also an opportunity to share our valuable, hard-won career knowledge with the next generation of professionals in our industries.

In fact, research shows that young professionals love “learning from the ropes” from those willing to mentor them – and experienced professionals enjoy the new connections and personal rewards that emerge from the mentoring relationship. However, the demands of daily life can make it challenging for both parties to first find each other, and then to craft a productive, meaningful mentoring relationship.

In this session, we’ll talk about the value and rewards of mentoring, the types of career management information that can be most valuable for today’s young professionals, and how to connect with young professionals seeking a mentor.

Learning Objectives:
·    Understand the personal and career value of mentoring for both you and your mentee
·    Articulate your own mentoring strengths and objectives
·    Learn how to identify local mentoring opportunities

Angie Pastorek (Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin) manages the four-course Professional Workplace Communication Graduate Certificate program at the KU-Edwards campus in Overland Park. Her teaching and research interests center around organizational culture and communication practices, membership negotiation, and organizational change. She teaches graduate courses in organizational communication, covering topics such as change management, decision making, conflict management, professional writing and speaking skills, organizational culture, team development, and engaging workplace diversity. Prior to joining the KU faculty in 2015, Angie worked for more than 10 years developing and delivering training programs and communication resources for global companies including Siemens Healthcare and Deloitte.