Why Mentoring Matters

Brian Lewis is Momentum Worldwide’s SVP, group director of people operations, NA. He has been with Interpublic Group of Companies for almost seven years. In that time, he has led HR teams at ChaseDesign and Momentum Worldwide. Prior to joining the advertising industry, Brian led HR teams across a wide span of industries: Retail, Consulting, Healthcare, Higher Education, and Technology. 

Origins of the Program

Introducing The Mentorship Program at Momentum Worldwide, a global, truly inclusive, and impactful initiative, stemming from valuable employee feedback. Through surveys and annual review conversations, mentorship and internal support emerged as recurring themes, shaping the program to meet the needs and goals of our employees. With a global reach and a focus on human connections, our program empowers individuals across various locations, with an incredible 190+ employees participating in 2023. 

How the Program is Making It Matter at Momentum

The Mentorship Program at Momentum focuses on the personal and professional wellbeing of our employees through social connections, career development, and diverse leadership. It connects junior staff with mentors who help them see themselves in leadership roles. The program has two main goals: retaining junior talent and developing diverse leaders. Mentees in The Mentorship Program reported making progress on their goals and skill development. Existing leaders also benefit from the program by improving their active listening and management skills, which they can apply within their teams.

Lastly, the program provides opportunities for all individuals to learn from our agency’s greatest assets – our people. At the close of the 2023 program, 96% of participants agreed that they have a good relationship with their mentee/mentor, sharing: 

“I enjoy having a person to talk to who is not my Manager. It feels like a needed outlet to discuss career goals and bounce ideas in a safe, judgement-free environment.” -Mentee

“Hearing new/different perspectives and having a trusted advisor to answer questions…. allows me to have honest conversations.” - Mentee 

“It's very rewarding to share and learn from a colleague.” - Mentor

“Love the fact I am based in the UK and they [Mentee] are across the pond, it’s great to have that connection.” – Mentor 

My Experience

I have been lucky enough to have some great mentors throughout my career. It is really because of this that I am so passionate about always being involved in these programs and paying it forward. One specific example of a great mentorship I had was when I took a role that relocated me from New York to LA. This was a big personal change for me and with this promotion, I was the most junior member on the team. One of the senior team members spent dedicated time with me daily to explain everything under the sun about our job. This wasn’t even a formal mentorship program instituted by the company but serves as an example of how a colleague/peer can be so impactful and helpful in someone’s career development and skill building (even without a formal program). Without the help and support of this mentor, I would not have succeeded in the role and know what I do today as a senior HR professional. 

The Importance of Mentorship

The marketing industry can be tough, especially for junior talent or tenured professionals entering it for the first time. There is a unique language and landscape of doing business, which can feel daunting to adapt to and understand. Employees may also run into challenges they have yet to face. How do they navigate it? The answer is a mentor. 

A mentor is a guide and support system offering a way through the murkiness. It opens the door to new perspectives and a sounding board for potential solutions while helping to close the knowledge gap that may exist when facing certain challenges. One of our 2023 mentors said it well –

“I relished the opportunity to connect with similar, yet very different, individuals across Momentum and learn from them and their teams on best practices.” 

The best part is that mentors also benefit. They open themselves up to new perspectives and have someone to lean on to challenge their own ways of thinking, which drives innovation, this ability to embrace different viewpoints is crucial for continued growth and expansion in the industry.