Five Qualities of an Epic Mentor (and Developer Searchlight Nominee)

Five Qualities of an Epic Mentor (and Developer Searchlight Nominee)

Behind every motivated professional is a group of mentors providing support, guidance, and partnership. But these advisors often go unrecognized because much of their coaching and impact happens one-on-one. I believe mentors deserve to be recognized for the uplifting work they do.

When done right, mentorship has a positive impact beyond the immediate relationship. In a domino effect, one mentor passes down wisdom to a mentee, that person goes on to mentor another person, and so on – and the impact is felt tenfold. Mentorship has played an important role in shaping so many strong careers, and that should be celebrated.

Developers tackle complex problems by learning from the creativity and experience of fellow collaborators – these relationships can help you connect the dots and see beyond what’s plainly there. In my role managing Twilio’s Hatch apprenticeship program, I’ve been fortunate to see first hand how mentor relationships help build and serve an inclusive community while fostering creativity. In any role, working with a mentor is often a catalyst for discovery.

That’s why we created Twilio’s Developer Searchlight – an initiative to celebrate the leaders, coaches, and community builders that dedicate their time and energy to shaping the future of the developer profession. If you know someone who has influenced your work at any stage, or is a great role model in your community, this is your sign to nominate them!

The search is on

Developer Searchlight honorees will be announced as part of Twilio’s SIGNAL conference in November, and will be invited to join an exclusive virtual roundtable with CEO Jeff Lawson to discuss mentorship in the developer community. Honorees will first be selected by a committee within Twilio’s Developer Network, and then by a panel of industry experts, including:

• Abadesi Osunsade, Chief Executive Officer at Hustle Crew
• Eyal Manor, Chief Product Officer at Twilio
• Jody Bailey, Chief Technology Officer at Stack Overflow
• Lybra Clemons, Chief Diversity Officer at Twilio

Mentorship can come in many forms, but here are five qualities that in my opinion would make for a standout Developer Searchlight nominee who is making a long term impact:

They guide your career growth

Developers are problem solvers and lifelong learners, which is why mentorship is so important for our community in particular. Having someone point you in the right direction or simply say, “I’ve solved this problem before, and here’s how I did it,” can make all the difference not only for that project, but throughout your entire career.

They lead with intention

Whether it's training, one-on-one meetings, or problem-solving, great relationships happen when both people are prepared and dedicated to working together. Intentionality creates a two-way street for sharing experiences, learning, and growing together. The best mentees eventually become the best mentors (the domino effect!), and future role models for the industry.

They’re open about their own challenges

There’s no script for mentorship – it's all about creating an open, transparent relationship between both parties. The moments of real struggle are the moments that provide clarity in a career, and good mentors will be honest about their own times of uncertainty. The lowlights can be just as impactful as the highlights.

They build an equitable community

Trusted advisors are such an important element of an inclusive, equitable community across an organization. They are great connectors between similar and different groups of people and often create a healthy space for everyone to connect and learn from one another.

They’re a great listener

You might think of a mentor as someone who offers the best advice, but in my own experience, they should be the best listener. Being open and vulnerable in your professional life can be difficult, but when you have a trusted advisor who is there to work through your challenges alongside you, it makes all the difference.

Who is a bright spot in your network or organization?

These are just a few examples of why mentors deserve recognition. I hope you’re inspired to nominate someone who has impacted your career and helped get you to where you are today.

To nominate someone, or to check out our FAQ on Twilio’s Developer Searchlight, click here. We can’t wait to see what you build!

Asia Lum leads the Hatch Apprenticeship program at Twilio, a 6-month software engineering apprenticeship program that gives individuals from non-traditional technical backgrounds (self taught, bootcamps) a pathway to becoming impactful Software Engineers.