One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a leader is this: talent doesn’t rise without opportunity.
That belief is at the heart of why mentorship matters so deeply to me. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring incredible women - people with a ton of potential who just needed the right tools, the right coaching, and the right confidence boost to take their next step. And I’ve been equally lucky to have mentors of all kinds in my own corner - coaches who helped me see more in myself than I could at the time, colleagues who challenged and encouraged me, and managers who took the time to teach me more than just the task at hand.
But mentorship isn’t always about formal titles or long-term commitments. Sometimes, it’s just being the person who listens, nudges, cheers, or says, “I see something in you.”
Sales Enablement, in many ways, is a 1-to-many form of mentorship. As Enablers, we’re often not the direct managers of the salespeople we work with - but we’re still deeply invested in their success. The relationship mirrors that of a mentor and mentee: supportive, strategic, and rooted in growth.
This shows up especially in the onboarding process. Enablement professionals are tasked with helping new hires ramp up quickly and effectively - not just by handing them documentation, but by getting to know their strengths, uncovering skill gaps, and guiding them through the culture and expectations of the company. We serve as trusted advisors, providing both structure and encouragement.
Mentorship also appears in the way Enablers approach sales coaching. Our role is to observe, reflect, ask questions, and fine-tune - just like a mentor would. We help sellers sharpen their techniques, set meaningful goals, and ultimately become more confident and effective in their roles. We listen. We reflect back what we see. We help people stretch and grow.
Mentorship, whether one-on-one or one-to-many, matters because no one grows in isolation. The right mentor helps you see beyond your current circumstances and into what’s possible. And for people from underrepresented groups - especially women in sales and revenue roles - mentorship can be the difference between staying stuck and taking that leap.
In a time when many Enablement teams are stretched thin or operating as teams of one, embracing mentorship as a mindset becomes even more important. It’s not just about performance enablement - it’s about people enablement.
You don’t have to be a VP or a 20-year vet to be a mentor. If you’ve learned something the hard way, if you’ve navigated a tricky transition, if you’ve found your footing in a new role - you have something to offer. Sometimes, just being a few steps ahead of someone else is all it takes to make a meaningful impact.
And if you’re seeking a mentor? Don’t wait for someone to assign you one. Reach out. Ask for a conversation. Find someone who’s doing what you want to do, and start there.
Because mentorship isn’t just something we do - it’s something we live. It’s how we help others rise. And it’s how we rise, too.
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