Announcing the Mentor Playlist
As summer comes to a close, I'm launching a special mini-series called #MentorPlaylist, featuring my favorite previous podcast guests and meaningful conversations designed for those guiding the next generation.
Whether you're mentoring a young professional, guiding your own children, or supporting someone making a career transition, these conversations are filled with the kind of wisdom to help you navigate that role.
The episodes I’ll be featuring include:
Brand Harmony: Aligning Your Social Media Identity with Your Workplace - with Lindrea Reynolds on building an authentic professional presence
Agewise Pillars of a Long Life Part 1 and Part 2 - conversations on wellness, discipline, and intentional living for long-term success
Spark a Community - with Ashely Marsh on building meaningful connections and community impact
Sparking Civility and Storytelling- a conversation on the importance of civility in the modern world.
What would you tell your younger self about the power of authentic leadership and the courage it takes to build something meaningful?
I'm excited to revisit a conversation from March 2023 with Jamila Trimuel, founder of Ladies of Virtue, where we explored her incredible 20-year journey of mentoring young women on Chicago's South Side. Her story got me thinking about what I wish I had known when I was just starting my career. Those early days when everything felt uncertain and I was still figuring out who I wanted to become as a leader.
Jamila founded Ladies of Virtue after recognizing a gap she witnessed firsthand during her own high school years.
While she was preparing for college and her career, Jamila realized many of her friends weren't having the same concerns about their futures. That observation sparked a calling that has now impacted more than 2,000 girls. Today, her program operates in 17 sites across Chicago, focusing on what she calls "moral excellence", the idea that strong leadership starts with character first.
Character Comes Before Credentials
One insight that struck me most from our conversation was Jamila's definition of virtue: "moral excellence." As she explained, "To be a strong leader, it starts with your character first." This is something I wish I had understood earlier in my career when I was so focused on building the right resume and gaining the right experiences.
I wish I had known then that people follow leaders they trust, not just leaders they admire from a distance. The foundation of real influence isn't what you know. It's who you are when no one is watching.
Start Where You Are, With What You Have
Jamila's story reminds me that you don't need to wait for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. She started Ladies of Virtue on October 1, 2011, with just six girls, four she was already mentoring and two friends they brought along.
If I could go back to my younger self, I'd say: Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting until you feel completely ready. You just need to trust your voice, even if it's a bit shaky. The impact you can have starts with the person right in front of you in the mirror.
The Power of Vulnerable Leadership
One of the most powerful pieces of advice Jamila shared was about the importance of transparency in mentoring relationships. She encourages her mentors to share their hardships and mistakes, not just their successes. "In order to build that connection, the hardships and those mistakes really is what will draw you two together," she explained.
This resonates deeply with me because I used to think leadership meant having all the answers. I wish I had learned earlier that authentic connection comes from shared vulnerability, not from projecting perfection.
Consistency Over Perfection
What I find most inspiring about Jamila's approach is her emphasis on showing up consistently, even when motivation fluctuates. She acknowledges that teenage engagement naturally has "ebbs and flows"—some days they're all in, other days they're not sure they want to be there. But that's exactly when consistent, passionate mentorship matters most.
If this conversation has prompted you to consider becoming a mentor to a youth, remember to be patient, vulnerable, and maintain transparent, open communication about what's happening in your life that might affect your availability. When you take action to inspire one person, you never know how that person might go on to influence others.
What would you tell your younger self about leadership and mentoring? I'd love to hear your reflections in the comments below.