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Mentor: Kevin Beverly, Executive Vice President, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.

Another feature of this blog is bringing you advice and perspectives from people who mentor, by answering 3 questions:

 

What are mentees looking for?

What 1 piece of advice do you give every mentee you work with?

Why are you interested in mentoring?

 

I’m inaugurating this feature with a friend and colleague, Kevin Beverly who is Executive Vice President at Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. (where I also work).

 

Years ago, Kevin founded the Mildred Beverly Memorial Family Fund, in honor of his mother, to support the education needs of underprivileged youth in Dorchester County, Maryland. But he doesn’t just fund scholarships. He also gives his time to innovative after-school programs that help Montgomery County teenagers gain the skills they need to succeed.

 

So here are Kevin’s answers…..(and any errors in transcribing them are mine and mine alone!)

 

What are mentees looking for?

 

Affirmation.

 

Many of the kids I mentor are bright and have good ideas but their cohorts may be a stumbling block. These kids want to check in with someone to get an answer to: Is what I’m thinking about realistic and is it appropriate?

 

What 1 piece of advice do you give every mentee you work with?

 

Kevin couldn’t limit himself to just 1 piece. Here’s what he says:

-Do your homework. Know what you’re talking about.

-Don’t let others waste your time.

-There are 2 ways to approach a problem to get a result – the easy way and the right way. You get to decide which you will choose.

 

Why are you interested in mentoring?

 

In 7th grade, I tried every day to get my cousin to go to school – and he usually wouldn’t. Eventually, he dropped out. But I saw talent in him – and a need – and I tried to address it. That is still what drives me – helping to see that someone’s talent can be used.

Posted via email from suegriffey's posterous

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