I’ve been working on a new talk lately and I’m pretty excited about it. It’s called “The Mentor Myth: Half-Truths and Real Talk about Claiming our Seats at the Table”. I’ll be debuting it at Columbus WITCon on October 14.
“Get a mentor.” It’s common advice, especially for women. Unfortunately, it’s rarely enough. Because mentorship alone was never the whole story.
In this session, we’ll unpack the half-truths we’ve been told about mentoring. Then we’ll reveal the unwritten rules that decide who gets a seat at the table … and who sits waiting for an invitation. We’ll discuss the difference between mentorship, advocacy, and sponsorship, and how each impacts our odds of gaining influence. Then we’ll practice applying each of the techniques through real-world scenarios and interactive activities. Whether you’re a mentor or a mentee, you’ll walk away with practical actions we can all take to finally claim our seats at the table.
I hope you’ll consider joining me at this great conference, which always proves to be enriching, supportive, and fun. Every year I learn something new, meet with some super cool people and catch up with the awesome ones I’ve met there in previous years.
Register here: Columbus WITCon 2026
