Making Mentors PART 2: That "Aha" Moment

In honor of Women’s History Month, we're celebrating the women who lead with empathy, tenacity, and goodness. We're paying tribute to the mentors, colleagues, teachers, and friends who found time to listen and see something that often escaped us in the mirror. We are better, wiser, and stronger because of you. 

Welcome back to Making Mentors, a compilation of stories, love notes, and personal reflections by individuals who have had the good fortune of experiencing female mentorship. This week we sat down with our friends Gray, Giselle, and Kelsey to reflect on the moments that have permanently impacted their careers.

Gray Rothleon

Project Manager - Toys & Collectibles, Culturefly • They/Them

Throughout my career, I’ve had some diversely gendered mentors. Winnie Chaffee (you know, like the Winnie Chaffee of MTV and Cartoon Network) was a stand-out for me. She was the Head of Studio while I was in TV animation at Titmouse in New York. A badass lady who doesn't take shit. I came into that studio as a PA and was SO nervous all the time. Maybe three months after I started, Winnie started hosting these after-work lectures—our days were busy and she wanted to create a space where the production team could come and learn the things we didn’t have time for during the day. After that first lesson, I stopped in her office to thank her for inviting me. I was just a PA and felt so grateful to have the opportunity to learn from her. She looked at me and responded back so earnestly, “You’re going to be really good at this.” And that piece of encouragement carried through into my career.

During my time at Titmouse, moments like that with Winnie happened time and time again. “You need to be more confident,” she’d tell me. The way that she called these things out so plainly stuck with me. To this day, whenever I contemplate why I’m making a decision, I ask myself—am I choosing this option because it’s right or am I choosing this option because I’m scared? And I remind myself of Winnie’s wisdom.

Diversely gendered leadership and representation are so important. Up until Winnie, the only other examples I had were cis men. They created very specific experiences that weren’t meant for me, particularly as a non-binary person. We’re coming up on this new era, not to call it that, but that’s what it feels like. For 25-30 years, there was this wave of older cis men who had been in leadership, and now we’re seeing these vibrant voices come into the mix—and it’s women, it’s non-binary people, it’s voices with diverse backgrounds.

One time I was sitting in a room during a show and the Creator really wanted this joke. And it was surface level, like objectively speaking, a bad joke. But because the room and the leadership were diverse, the Storybook Lead was able to jump in and be like “...hey no you’re talking about a place where I come from, and you shouldn’t joke about things like that.” And the joke was cut. And my hope, in the creative industry and in all fields, is that those spaces continue to grow.

Giselle Lewis-Archibald

Creative Director, Former Global Creative Director, Under Armour • She/Her

My career could have looked totally different, if not for the pivotal guidance from mentors like Rosemary Conroy. As I sit back and reflect on female mentorship in my journey, her unwavering support and belief in me fueled my journey into the professional world.

When I moved to Baltimore to attend MICA, I thought I had it all figured out. My senior year, though, presented the question of “what’s next?—when I graduate with this degree in Graphic Design, should I focus my career on branding?” At the time, I was laser-focused on brand identity, fueled by a fascination with logos and visual storytelling. Amidst the flurry of assignments and exams, my senior advisor turned mentor, Rosemary, saw something in me that I hadn't fully recognized myself. It was her guidance that led me to my first job and laid the foundation for the career I’ve pursued in advertising. She had a successful practice of her own but had decided to add “teaching Senior Thesis” to her resume. I can remember staying after class and digging into my work and plans for the future. Beyond just guiding me through coursework though, she had taken on the role of mentor, offering invaluable insights and guidance that shaped my future. I grew to trust her critiques and guidance.

It was her foresight and encouragement that led me to accept an internship at a local advertising agency, Siquis. She encouraged me to explore the multifaceted world of marketing and design. That internship grew into a full-time role where I learned the ins and outs of the industry and honed my skills in a career path I hadn’t previously thought much about. Today, years later, I'm firmly entrenched in the advertising world. Looking back, I recognize the invaluable role she played in shaping my journey. Her mentorship wasn't about pushing me towards a specific path, but about equipping me with the information, skills, and confidence to navigate my way.

What sets mentors apart is their ability to see beyond the surface and recognize the untapped potential within their mentees. They leverage their unique experiences and wisdom to shine a light on new ideas—new opportunities—gently guiding their protégés along chosen paths or towards the ones they may never have considered on their own.

All these years later, as I continue to grow in my career, I am committed to paying it forward. If I can help even one person discover their own "aha" moment, just as Rosemary did for me, I hope to empower others to reach their goals and realize their full potential. So, to all the young creatives out there, seek out mentors, listen to their wisdom, and be open to unexpected paths. You never know where they might lead you.

Kelsey Sultan

Senior Graphic Designer, Driven Media Group • She/Her

Funny enough, the person who sticks out in my mind as a mentor in my professional life is Crosby Stone (Coven’s famed Creative Operations Director, Crosby.) She was my first boss when I started an internship at Driven in my second to last semester of college. I was learning the basics in school, but Crosby took the time to practice with me, to hone my technical skills. I worked under her for four years. During that time, I went from being the resident intern to a Junior Designer, and finally to my current position as a Senior Designer. I can’t help but attribute my growth to her guidance, and I try my best every day to pass her knowledge down to my team.

Being a mentor looks different to all people. I’d like to believe that I’ve been a mentor to others during that insane chapter of my life while I was going to school full-time, working an internship, and had a part-time job as a trainee at a local grocery store (ha ha). In my years through school and into the workforce I’ve seen times when men struggle to take women seriously, I’ve seen times when women’s ideas were passed over by male counterparts. The truth is that female leadership is invaluable. It’s not that I don’t appreciate my male bosses—women just have a special way of making other women feel seen and empowered. And as I grow in my career, I hope to be that mentor to others.

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The power of a woman that takes no shit is palpable. Aaaaand as if you need more proof, we'll be back again next week for Part 3 of Making Mentors. See you then.