If you miss a great mentor, read this post, and you won’t be waiting any longer.

In the early years of my career, I dreamed of having a mentor – an experienced professional to guide my career. Unfortunately, I didn’t have such a guide, and I was envious of people who enjoyed such relationships.

A few years later, I found a piece of advice that ultimately changed my perspective on mentoring. It said that instead of looking for a single “The Mentor,” you can learn from anyone you meet.

Suddenly, I’ve shifted from the desert of mentoring to a sea of learning opportunities. When I meet anyone, I ask myself, “Is there anything I want to learn from this person?” It could be a presentation technique, engaging meeting participants, dealing with failure, or leading people.

If you pick just one thing from any person you meet, how many improvement opportunities or career guidance can you get?

The funny thing is that your mentor may not even be aware they are one. I remember my brief interaction with the famous, now-retired CEO of one of Poland’s largest banks. I had just started working for that bank, and my boss took me for a meeting with the CEO to present the project concept I had prepared. The friendly and open way the bank’s big boss treated a freshman made such an impression on me that I’ve decided that when I lead people, I want them to feel as comfortable and safe when dealing with me as I felt talking to the CEO.

But this story also means that maybe right now, you are the unconscious mentor for someone inspired by the way you solve technical issues or lead your team.

So, if you are missing an opportunity to be a mentor or be mentored, look around. There is a wealth of possibilities waiting. Just move and grab them.

Wojciech Pozarzycki, April 2025