Mentoring IRL

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Summary Angela noticed the same problem surfacing across four unrelated teams in a single week: corrosive gossip. In this unscripted conversation, she and Bill dig into the critical difference between venting—getting emotion off your chest as a first step toward resolution—and gossip, which is talking about someone with the intent to damage their reputation rathe...

Contact us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Disagreeing with Your Boss: How to Push Back Without Damaging Trust What do you do when you disagree with your boss or customer? Speaking up can feel intimidating, particularly when the other person has significantly more authority or when the disagreement occurs in front of others. In this episode, Angela Falcini and Bill Bonwit explore how mentors can help peop...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Summary Bill and Angela dig into one of the core values their former organization built its culture around: "Do the right thing." While avoiding illegal, unethical, or immoral choices seems obvious, most real-world decisions are far more nuanced, involving no clear "right answer," just competing priorities around a project, a customer, or a company. They explore...

Contact us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Forming: Building the Foundation Why new teams need clarity before speed Creating a team charter that establishes purpose, roles, and expectations Conducting trust-building exercises and one-on-one conversations Establishing communication norms before problems arise Storming: Turning Conflict into Progress Why conflict is inevitable—and healthy The difference bet...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Summary Angela and Bill explore how personality and behavioral assessments (like DISC, Myers-Briggs, Hogan, the Big Five, and CliftonStrengths) can help mentors guide their mentees toward becoming more self-aware and effective leaders. They share personal stories of how these tools revealed their own blind spots, Bill's tendency to be perceived as "mad" when he's...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com What happens when you're identified as a future leader just a few years into your career? It can be exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. In this episode, Bill Bonwit and Angela Falcini discuss the mindset shifts, experiences, and leadership skills that help high-potential professionals grow into leadership roles successfully. The biggest takeaway? You don...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com Contact Mo Civers-Davis: mo@civers-davisdevelopment.com Website: https://www.mociversdavis.com/ Episode Summary In this episode of Mentoring in Real Life , Angela Falcini and Bill Bonwit welcome Maurice "Mo" Civers Davis, keynote speaker, executive leadership coach, founder of Civers Davis Development LLC, and founder of Independence Foundry. A former federal le...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com Episode Summary In this episode of Mentoring in Real Life , Angela Falcini and Bill Bonwit sit down with keynote speaker and communication expert DeeDee Fisher, creator of the CPL Framework — Compassion, Process, and Learning. Drawing from her upbringing in rural Idaho and decades as an entrepreneur and consultant, DeeDee shares how she developed a unique abilit...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn The conversation delves into Andrew's career trajectory, education, transition to financial management, and his experience with formal and informal mentoring. It explores the evolution of formal mentoring programs, the importance of finding mentors, and the broader scope of mentoring beyond career development. Mentoring is seen as...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Contact Kate Crane: https://www.directionoverperfection.com/ Summary In this insightful interview, Kate Crane shares her journey from art history to tech leadership, emphasizing the importance of mentorship at all career stages. Discover practical advice on building meaningful mentoring relationships, the evolving nature of mentorship, and the impact of face-to-f...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Summary This episode explores effective mentoring through the art of giving constructive feedback. Learn practical strategies to foster trust, reduce defensiveness, and help mentees grow by mastering feedback techniques that are specific, intentional, and recurring. Keywords mentoring, feedback, leadership, professional development, coaching, communication, growt...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com Summary This episode explores the importance of flexibility and adaptability in the workplace and life. Angela Falcini and Bill Bonwit discuss how to develop these skills, overcome resistance to change, and leverage them for career growth and resilience. Keywords adaptability, flexibility, change management, resilience, career growth, leadership, problem-solving...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Summary Explore the key values that make a great team and how to embody them to become someone everyone wants on their team. Based on Coach K's seven principles, this episode offers practical insights for fostering trust, respect, loyalty, and selfless service in any organization. Keywords team building, leadership, coaching, trust, respect, loyalty, selfless ser...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com summary In this insightful interview, Keith Dorsey shares his extensive experience on leadership, mentorship, sponsorship, and navigating career transitions. Discover practical strategies for finding mentors, understanding the roles of mentors, sponsors, and allies, and how to leverage these relationships for board service and career growth. keywords mentorship,...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com Summary This episode explores how professionals can effectively transition into leadership roles by developing succession plans, delegating responsibilities, and building trust with stakeholders. Learn practical strategies to prepare for career growth and ensure smooth transitions that benefit both individuals and organizations. keywords leadership development,...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Keywords mentorship, female pilots, self-doubt, leadership, career development, feedback, advocacy, imposter syndrome, personal growth, military Summary In this episode, Colonel Nicole Malachowski shares her inspiring journey as a trailblazer in the U.S. Air Force, discussing the challenges she faced as a female fighter pilot in a male-dominated field. She emphas...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Keywords mentorship, supervisors, career growth, workplace dynamics, professional development Summary In this conversation, Angela Falcini and Bill Bonwit discuss the complexities of having a supervisor as a mentor. They explore the benefits and limitations of this relationship, emphasizing the importance of having multiple mentors to navigate career growth effec...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com Keywords communication, cultural differences, emotional intelligence, coaching, retention, hiring practices, professional development Takeaways Mentoring is crucial for developing young engineers. Cultural differences impact mentoring effectiveness. Effective communication is key in engineering roles. Mentoring should not only focus on top performers. Mentors ne...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Keywords mentors, advocates, career growth, workplace relationships, professional development, leadership, visibility, networking, advocacy strategies, career advancement Summary In this episode, Angela and Bill explore the critical roles of mentors and advocates in career development. They discuss the differences between the two, how to find advocates in the wor...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com Keywords values, alignment, personal growth, professional development, self-reflection, decision making, integrity, fulfillment, leadership, emotional intelligence Summary In this episode, Angela and Bill discuss the importance of aligning personal and professional values. They explore indicators of misalignment, strategies for identifying core values, and metho...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Referenced in Episode: YouScience. Com , https://www.youscience.com/ Keywords mentorship, military, leadership, Native Hawaiian, career development, personal growth, community, business, values, relationships Summary In this episode, Angela and Bill engage with Mel Yokoyama, a retired Navy captain and mentor, discussing the profound impact of mentorship on person...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com Summary In this episode of "Mentoring in Real Life," hosts Bill Bonwit and Angela Falcini delve into the critical topic of health and wellness in the workplace, emphasizing its importance for both mentors and mentees. They discuss how maintaining health goals is essential not only for personal well-being but also for professional effectiveness. The conversation...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com Keywords reverse mentoring, leadership, organizational culture, feedback, generational insights, customer behavior, psychological safety, mentoring programs, technology adaptation, employee engagement Summary This conversation explores the concept of reverse mentoring, where junior employees mentor senior leaders, fostering a two-way learning relationship. The di...

Contact us:  mentoringirl@gmail.com Keywords mentoring, youth development, Friends of the Children, nonprofit, community support, education, Chicago, mentorship, social impact, long-term commitment Summary In this episode of Mentoring Real Life, hosts Angela and Bill engage with Jeannie Affelder, board chair of Friends of the Children in Chicago. They discuss the innovative mentoring model of the...

Contact Us: mentoringirl@gmail.com The conversation delves into the challenges of people-pleasing behavior in mentoring, the impact of feedback delivery, and the importance of creating a comfortable environment for feedback. It emphasizes the need for actionable and structured feedback to help mentees grow and the role of trust in effective mentoring relationships. Takeaways People-pleasing as a m...