Building Your Personal Board of Directors: Why Traditional Mentorship Models Fail

  In this insightful solo episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo challenges the traditional one-to-one mentorship model and introduces a powerful alternative: creating your personal board of directors. Drawing from her experience serving on multiple nonprofit boards and navigating her own career as an immigrant woman of color in STEM, Lola shares a strategic approach to assembling mentors who can address different aspects of your professional development and intersectional identity. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why traditional mentorship models often set both mentors and mentees up for disappointment How to identify gaps in your current mentorship circle Strategies for assembling your personal board of directors across various industries and hierarchy levels Practical approaches to maintaining meaningful relationships with multiple mentors Setting appropriate boundaries and knowing when to evolve or end mentoring relationships Ways to create mutual value in mentoring relationships The Limitations of Traditional Mentorship Lola explains how the conventional one-to-one mentorship model places unrealistic expectations on individual mentors, especially those from underrepresented groups who already face significant pressure in leadership positions. For professionals with multiple intersectional identities, finding a single mentor who understands all aspects of their experience is nearly impossible. This creates a gap between expectations and reality that can leave both parties frustrated. The Board of Directors Approach Drawing from her experience serving on nonprofit boards, Lola introduces a more effective alternative: creating a personal board of directors. This approach distributes the mentorship responsibility across several individuals with complementary skills, experiences, and perspectives. Just as organizations intentionally select board members to fill specific needs, professionals should strategically identify mentors who can address different aspects of their development. Key Steps to Building Your Personal Board: 1. Assemble Your Board Strategically Take inventory of your identity and career aspirations (e.g., woman in STEM, parent, aspiring leader) Identify gaps in your current support network Look for mentors across different experience levels, not just executives Be specific about what you need from each potential board member 2. Maintain Relationships Effectively Create value for your board members (mentorship should be mutually beneficial) Structure different formats for interactions (15-minute check-ins, co-attending events) Establish clear boundaries for each relationship Regularly assess if the relationship is still providing value for both parties Document feedback and keep doors open for future reconnection Final Thoughts Lola emphasizes that distributing mentorship across a "board" of individuals allows professionals to receive more targeted guidance while respecting everyone's time and expertise. This approach recognizes that no single person can fulfill all mentorship needs, especially for those with multiple intersectional identities navigating complex professional environments. Get Involved Rate and review this podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to share these weekly episodes with your communities and coworkers. For more resources and upcoming events, visit the website or join the LinkedIn group. Connect with Host Lola Adeyemo: LinkedIn Apply to be on the podcast: Application Link Join the Community: Membership | Facebook | Instagram   Send us Fan MailSupport the showThank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:www.immigrantsincorporate.orgConnect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.