“Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).

Chances are you’ve received advice to find a mentor. However, you are a woman of multiple dimensions; therefore, finding just one mentor who feeds your whole person is difficult. Mentorship should also be a multi-dimensional experience, enabling you to open yourself to the wisdom and expertise of people you admire, who champion your growth and challenge you to reach your full potential.

I invite you to view the concept of mentorship as an opportunity to create a “personal board of directors,” a group of three to five trusted advisers with different areas of expertise who will guide you through your development from the lens of your whole person.

To spark inspiration, I’ll share five types of mentors who serve on my board.

1. The Business/Career Mentor

Business can be a path to holiness.

Whether you work for a large corporation or a small business or are an entrepreneur, investing time in mentorship dedicated to your professional growth will be one of your greatest assets.

Experience is the best teacher, and an experienced mentor is your fountain of wisdom as you navigate the exciting and sometimes unknown field of business. Your mentor acts as your sounding board, cheerleader, and unfiltered voice of reason, providing counsel that propels you forward and steers you away from pitfalls he or she has experienced or witnessed. 

Much like the other dimensions of our lives, our professional journey will have its ups and downs. A good business mentor will help you stay the course of living your vocation in good faith and challenge you to find growth in the face of adversity.

2. The Reverse Mentor

Talent has no age. We all have valuable learnings and experiences to share from our professional and personal endeavors.

When we think of mentorship, we often think of a seasoned professional serving as an adviser to a younger counterpart. Reverse mentorship flips the script by reimagining this traditional learning experience, inviting millennials or “Gen Zers” to become mentors to their senior colleagues. For example, I was introduced to reverse mentorship through a friend who sits on a millennial advisory board for a cosmetic company.

Reverse mentorship spotlights modern viewpoints and unlocks strategic consumer insights and trends in an industry. It also helps young mentors refine their leadership skills, stretch their confidence, and expand their network, as they are the ones in the driver's seat of the learning experience.

This type of mentorship is a win-win for both the mentor and mentee. My reverse mentee recently commented that through our time together, she’s become more open to change, consequently impacting organizational culture, introducing potential incentives, and driving innovation.

If you're a young professional, do not be intimidated to seek the opportunity to mentor a leader in your industry. If you’re a seasoned professional, embrace the opportunity to learn from a younger voice.

3. The Peer Mentor

Embrace collaboration over competition. Be receptive to the accompaniment of a peer with whom you find yourself on an even playing field—someone with a similar business model, managing a similar-sized business or team, and with relatable experience.

So much of our adventure as Catholic women in business lies in the journey rather than the destination. Our experience is only elevated when we receive the fruits of accompaniment from our sisters in Christ. Do not be afraid to reach out to a peer you can relate to and invite her into an intentional relationship of growth.

My peer mentor and I began by meeting only once a month, and now we speak almost daily! Your peer mentor is your “business bestie,” the woman you can count on to navigate changing landscapes, voice concerns without fear of judgment, seek advice, and find common connections.

4. The Spiritual Mentor

As a Catholic woman in business, you understand the profound mission at the heart of your professional endeavor. We each have a responsibility to nurture and grow our relationship with Christ. Spiritual mentorship offers the opportunity to encounter Christ through the accompaniment of a trusted adviser who prays for you; advises you based on our Catholic faith; supports you as you move through different life stages; and helps you uncover the truth, goodness, and beauty you are called to proclaim through your vocations.

While we often view mentorship in the arena of our professional life, we must not forget that our spirituality works in tandem with all the roles we undertake.

5. The Life Mentor

One of my favorite college professor’s last words to me were, “Find your Mr. Miyagi.”

This phrase recently made its way into my LinkedIn feed, garnering over a thousand reactions, including comments including from individuals who tagged their “Mr. Miyagi,” the person who has inspired them in numerous dimensions.

Is there someone whose approach to living out her life and mission you admire? Someone you look to for inspiration? Who has God placed in your life to serve as an example and bear witness to the beauty of womanhood?

I am so glad that my professor left me with those words, because it prompted me to be more intentional about training my eye to catch the beauty of the women I encounter in my life. I hope that with these ideas, you, too, can foster an intentional relationship with the role models in your life.

Natasha Lovely is the CEO and Founder of Aspen & Oliva, a premier personal branding agency. Driven by an entrepreneurial and creative spirit, she purposefully integrates her expertise as a clinical therapist and storytelling marketer to guide women to architect, refine, and master an iconic personal brand that effortlessly transcends into all areas of their lives - professional and personal. Her work with individuals and Fortune 50 companies to develop talent has led to her positioning as an authority on personal branding, an expert in leadership development, and a champion of the multi-hyphenate woman. Through her passion for business, Natasha has propelled her mission to inspire women to design a life of beauty, champion all things good and true, and guide them to become thought-leaders in their fields. You can connect with Natasha through Instagram, LinkedIn, or natashalucia.com.