Tea With Starrlee Vol 9: Even Mentors Need Mentors 🌱

A year and a half into my career pivot, I’ve learned something that I always knew, but am only now fully living: Mentorship is reciprocal.

I used to think of mentorship as a role you step into — something you offer once you’ve “made it.” But the truth is, it’s never just a one-way street. It’s a cycle. A shared rhythm of giving and receiving. Listening and learning. Teaching and being taught.

It’s a lot like a garden.

When you first plant something new — whether it’s a tomato vine or a new career — you nurture it with care and intention. You water it, protect it, and wait for growth. But no matter how strong or established something becomes, it still needs support.

• A stake to keep it upright.

• A trellis to help it climb.

• A hand to prune and shape it toward its full potential.

That’s what mentorship is. Not just what we give — but what we seek, especially when we’re in the messy, in-between stages of becoming.

That’s why I originally started #TeaWithStarrlee. I wanted to make space for honest conversations, especially for those of us finding our footing in new territory. I believe deeply in the power of visibility — if you can see it, you can be it. And I’ve been lucky to spend time with some incredibly generous minds in this next chapter of my career.

What I’ve taken from those conversations could fill journals, but here are three seeds that stuck:

🌿 Know what you love, what you’re great at, and where you want to grow. If you’re not clear, others can’t be either. Speak it aloud. Own it.

🌿 Lead with what you offer, not with how you can fit into someone else’s need. For a long time, I shaped myself around job descriptions. I’ve now flipped the script — showing up as myself first — and it’s changed everything.

🌿 You don’t outgrow mentorship — you evolve how you use it. Sometimes you’re the one with the watering can. Sometimes you’re the one needing sunlight. Growth happens both ways.

So if you’re in a place where others come to you for guidance — beautiful. Keep pouring into them. But don’t forget to reach up and out, too. There is always more to learn, and there’s no shame in needing support while giving it.

Because even mentors — especially mentors — need mentors.

Who has helped shape your journey recently? Tag them below or share one piece of advice you’ve carried with you.

Let’s keep growing — together. 🌱

#CareerPivot #ReciprocalMentorship #MentorshipMatters #Leadership #AuthenticLeadership #GrowthMindset #AlwaysBeLearning #LinkedInArticles