Elevating New Voices Through Mentorship

Mentors can greatly impact the career path of mentees, especially by opening doors that otherwise would have remained closed. In this way, Travis played an instrumental role in Samanta’s professional growth. "He provided resources, he provided materials, he provided context to programs that I really loved... [which] I could have never accessed on my own,” she noted.

Samanta described the clarity she gained from her mentor. While discussing her dream of pursuing a career in public policy, Travis helped her plan her next steps. She reflected, “He was like ‘that could mean a thousand different things. Let's break it down. Where do you see yourself first in three months, then in six months, then in a year?’” Travis’ strategy helped Samanta focus her energy and time on specific opportunities that deeply resonated with her. From the mentorship, she learned not to be afraid and to embrace curiosity, which she described as “the driving force behind human connections, research, and innovation.”

Travis noted that mentorship comes in many forms, urging that one shouldn't expect perfection but instead learn from the trials and tribulations of others. “I've made mistakes and tried things that didn’t work out as I’d hoped. But that’s the beauty of drawing from mentors’ experiences; life is messy, and mentors help you realize that very few paths are linear. You can always change course.” Having greatly benefited from mentorship himself, Travis is dedicated to giving back to others.

Mentors can act as trusted career advisors and help advise on concrete decisions. For Helin, Doug provided clarity and has helped her choose the next steps in her career. “I was struggling to navigate my path in international affairs, and he was the person I turned to for guidance on what direction made the most sense,” she reflected.

Jim Shultz, a long-time Salzburg Global Fellow, served as a facilitator, trainer, and guide for the public policy challenge groups at the program. Throughout his life, Jim has trained and mentored thousands of citizen advocates, allowing him to share his perspective on mentoring people who have never had access to opportunities. “As you accumulate over time a set of privileges that can be shared, [many people] either hog them, ignore them, or distribute them to people who look like you and share a common life experience,” Jim noted. He highlighted the importance of mentoring a diverse group, saying, “I'm conscious in my mentoring, to make sure that I am not just passing the baton on to people who look like me.”

In ensuring that access to opportunities is distributed for minoritized groups, Jim emphasized that “diversity is a part of your life. And that's a really powerful and important good change that's happened in the world,” he commented. With the younger generation inheriting new global challenges, Jim believes that fostering diversity in mentorship relationships is essential for addressing complex issues such as climate change, peace, justice, and democracy.

Helin also emphasized the importance of seeking mentors from diverse backgrounds. “Those seeking mentors should also advocate for greater diversity - so that they can find mentors who look like them, share similar experiences, and understand their realities,” she said.

Samanta offered practical advice for those seeking mentorship, which she abbreviated into the “3Ps”: be patient, be polite, and be proactive. “Be patient, because finding the right mentor takes time, reflection, effort, and research. Look not only for someone with your ‘dream job,’ but for someone who shares your values, passions, and purpose, that’s where truly transformative mentorship begins.” Samanta added that politeness and proactiveness can be useful traits, saying, “Be polite, because kindness remains the most powerful form of influence, and be proactive, because mentorship is a two-way journey.”

Deepali similarly believes that “both parties benefit from a positive mentor-mentee relationship, as supporting each other can be mutually enriching.” Throughout her career, she has greatly benefited from the support of mentees in various capacities. “They have offered valuable insights and guidance, assisted me during challenging times, facilitated connections with helpful individuals, and enhanced my professional growth by co-authoring articles or providing platforms to share my work,” she noted.

The mentorship provided through the Public Policy New Voices Europe program continues to offer not just professional guidance, but transformative relationships. By uplifting the diverse perspectives and bold innovative ideas of emerging leaders like Samanta, Helin, and other Fellows, we empower them to reimagine and redesign the future of public policy in ways that are more equitable, inclusive, and effective.