Business

Q&A With Roz

Lesson time 08:57 min

Without mentorship, Roz would not be where she is today. In this lesson, she pays it forward with three bright, young Spelman College students. Then she offers advice on the best ways to mentor your own team.

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Topics include: Q&A With Roz Brewer and Students on Mentorship

Rosalind Brewer

Teaches Business Innovation

Former Fortune 500 CEO Rosalind Brewer has transformed companies like Walmart, Starbucks, and Walgreens— now she’ll teach you how to make an impact at any level.

Preview

[UPBEAT MUSIC] ROZ BREWER: In this next lesson, I would like to talk about the next generation of leaders and how important it is to mentor and how mentorship can lead to building some of the best innovators in your organization. I'll be honest. When I first started off in the corporate environment, I didn't really understand what it was like having someone count on you or sort of look after you. But I quickly learned how important it was, because our new employees-- they feel like they're on an island when they first join a company. And so to be intentional around mentoring is very important. So we're going to do something unique today. You're going to get an example of how I mentor and how I move through a mentoring opportunity. Now, this is going to be a little bit loose. You'll see me in rare and raw form. Normally, the mentoring process takes place over months or years. Today's session is more of what I do in my first mentoring meeting-- an ask-me-anything chat to share personal and professional history and establish a common ground. Here's the importance of mentoring. It helps employees reach their full potential and motivates them. It creates future leaders in your company. And it gives employees from underrepresented backgrounds access to senior leadership, helping to make teams more diverse. Okay, great. I'm glad to be here with you all. And, you know, this gives me an opportunity to do something that I enjoy doing. And that's mentoring. And this is your time. For me to help you, you ask the questions. And let's chat for a minute. - Well, my name is Isis Evans. I am a graduating senior, a political-science major, writing minor from Columbus, Ohio. And as a graduating senior, I'm currently facing life after Spelman. So I'm very interested in understanding how your education here at Spelman has helped you navigate the business world. - Yes. So I like that question, Isis, because I think a lot about the impact of Spelman on myself, as a human, and then myself as a leader. [UPBEAT MUSIC] As you well know with Spelman, we are in an environment of all African-American women, which is very unique opportunity. And I didn't realize it while I was a student, but I likely would never get that opportunity ever, ever again. But for me to take away from this was the importance of making sure that people feel nurtured and comforted and in an environment where they can excel. So while I can't recreate Spelman, you know, in the workplace, I can at least create a welcoming environment, because that's what I had when I was at Spelman. And that's what I've taken away from that experience. - Thank you. - Miriam. - My question was, since you were a STEM major at Spelman-- chemistry major-- how were you able to incorporate STEM into the business world? 'Cause I am a health-science major. And since I possibly want to go into business one day, how would I do that, since my background is str...

About the Instructor

After years of helming the ship at some of the country’s most iconic companies, including Walmart, Starbucks, and Walgreens, Rosalind Brewer has forged ahead in her quest to innovate while maintaining deep integrity. Now she’s sharing CEO-level strategies for team leaders of all types. Learn to promote innovation, gain buy-in on projects you believe in, and stand out as the leader you know yourself to be.

Featured MasterClass Instructor

Rosalind Brewer

Former Fortune 500 CEO Rosalind Brewer has transformed companies like Walmart, Starbucks, and Walgreens— now she’ll teach you how to make an impact at any level.

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