2026 · lightning
3 Mentors
At every stage of our careers, growth doesn’t happen in isolation it happens because someone helps us see and strengthen what we lack. In this lightning talk, I’ll share the concept of the 3 mentors. This isn’t about finding one perfect guide who has all the answers. It’s about building a small, intentional circle of people who each sharpen you in a different way. As I’ve grown from help desk into systems and application work, I’ve realized that no single person could have filled every gap I had. But the right combination of voices made all the difference.
The first mentor is the technical mentor. This is the person who helps you level up your hard skills. They’re the one you go to when something breaks, when you’re trying to understand a new system, or when you need to think through a better way to build or automate something. They don’t just give you answers—they challenge how you think. They might review your scripts, question your configurations, or show you more efficient ways to approach problems. For me, this kind of mentor helped turn confusion into clarity and gave me the confidence to step into more advanced technical spaces.
The second mentor is the career mentor. This person sees the bigger picture. They’re not just focused on what you’re doing today, but where you’re going next. They help you understand how to navigate your field, when to take opportunities, and how to position yourself for growth. They might help you prepare for interviews, advocate for yourself in meetings, or recognize when it’s time to move on to the next challenge. This mentor helps you connect the dots between your current role and your long-term goals, especially when those dots aren’t obvious.
The third mentor is the life mentor. This is the one people often overlook, but they’re just as important. They help you stay grounded. They remind you that your career is part of your life not the whole thing. They might not work in tech at all, but they understand you as a person. They help you manage stress, keep perspective, and make decisions that align with your values. When things get overwhelming or unclear, this mentor helps you reset and refocus.
What makes this concept powerful is that these mentors don’t have to be formal, and they don’t all have to know each other. They can be people you meet at work, in your community, or even through conversations that happen once in a while but leave a lasting impact. The key is being intentional recognizing where you need growth and being open to learning from others in those areas.
As I share this idea, my goal isn’t to tell you exactly who your three mentors should be. It’s to encourage you to think about who’s currently influencing your growth and where you might have gaps. Because the reality is, we all have blind spots. And the right people, at the right time, can help turn those blind spots into strengths.