Even Successful People Need Mentoring

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     She called Vanderhoef to meet for coffee. That’s when she told him she’d like him to mentor her “so I can create a vision and plan for the next 10 years of my life,” she says. 
No Hesitation
     “I’ll do it,” Vanderhoef replied without hesitation. Shannon called his secretary to schedule meetings every six to eight weeks in his office. “It’s very old-fashioned mentoring,” she says.  “We take the time to get to know each other.”             
     Each meeting has a topic to discuss and mentor and mentee ask each other questions. As her mentor, Vanderhoef helps Shannon think about her career by probing with questions, such as, “What do you identify as the high points in your career? Low points? Why are you successful?” 
     Shannon feels supported by the interplay. “Larry understands me,” she says. “That makes me feel good.” Now she’s more optimistic about the future and knows she has several paths open to her.
     In fact, as of December, Shannon has become the associate vice provost of university outreach for UC Davis.  She will remain an active member of the Theatre and Dance faculty as a tenured professor and she will continue in her position as the artistic director of the Sacramento Theatre Company.            
     “I feel like I was destined to change the world in some way,” reflects Shannon. “I want to know how and put a plan in place.”   

James Conforti, CEO, Sutter North Medical Foundation, Yuba City
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