Mentorship takes many forms and doesn’t always follow a traditional path. For professionals navigating growth and leadership, the right connections often emerge through formal programs and everyday experiences.  Through Women on the Rise, one of the Greater Houston Partnership’s leadership programs, emerging female leaders like Allison Marshall, Managing Principal at Huitt-Zollars, Inc., are finding a space to build meaningful connections, gain perspective, and strengthen their leadership journey.  In this thoughtful reflection, Allison shares how she reframed her expectations, built her own “personal board of directors,” and found strength in a mix of formal and informal relationships that helped her grow personally and professionally.  The value of mentorship is well documented across industries and career stages. Research shows that the right mentorship can have a profound impact:  75% of executives credit their success to mentors and recent research shows that 90% of employees with a career mentor are happy at work. (Harvard Business Review).   Employees who participate in mentoring programs are five times more likely to be promoted than those who don’t (Association for Talent Development).  For women, mentorship is linked to higher career satisfaction, increased leadership readiness, and stronger networks, especially in male-dominated industries (Harvard Business Review; McKinsey & LeanIn.org).  Allison’s insights show that with a little courage and intention, mentorship can be one of the most impactful tools for professional development and personal fulfillment.  “When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time alone and rarely saw mentorship modeled—especially among women. As I started thinking about my career path in my teens and early twenties, I realized mentorship was something I deeply longed for, even if I wasn’t sure what it looked like.  My career has been non-linear, full of unexpected turns and what I like to call “side quests,” which has made it hard to find that perfect mentor. For a long time, I thought I needed some magical combination of a C-suite mom and a power-suit bestie—someone who would sit across from me with a calm presence, listen deeply, and then drop life-changing advice over coffee. Needless to say, I never found Gayle King moonlighting as Miranda Priestly.  What I have found is that, when you pay attention, mentors are everywhere—in both formal programs and unexpected, organic relationships.  Sometimes I’ve stumbled into mentorships by accident; other times, I’ve had to take a deep breath and ask someone I admire directly. More than once, I’ve realized mentorship was happening only after the relationship ended—which made me even more intentional about strengthening the more formal mentorships I’ve built since.  These days, I like to think of my mentors as my own personal board of directors. I don’t rely on one person to walk with me through every chapter of my career or meet every need. Instead, I’ve built a circle of trusted voices: some are in my industry, some outside of it. Some are working moms, others have navigated challenges I’m facing now. Some have succeeded in areas where I still struggle. All of them are people I admire—for their wisdom, integrity, perspective, and the lives they’ve built.  Like any relationship, mentorship takes time. It takes time to build trust, to create space for vulnerability, and to prioritize the relationship in the midst of everything else. It also takes courage. The first time I said to someone, “Hey, I’m building a personal board of directors, and I’d love for you to be on it,” I felt ridiculous. But to my surprise, I was met with laughter—and then, wholehearted enthusiasm. People want to share what they’ve learned. And more often than not, they want to share in your success, too.  Participating in the WOTR mentorship program is another way to connect with incredible women that can provide friendship, guidance and perspective. Whether through WOTR or your own circle, purposeful mentorship is one of the most powerful tools for growth.” Ready to build your own board of directors?  Women on the Rise, part of the Partnership’s Greater Houston Leadership Institute, is a community of rising leaders committed to growth, connection, and mentorship. Whether you're seeking guidance, offering support, or both, this exclusive network offers opportunities to learn, lead, and lift others along the way.  Learn more and get involved at houston.org/womenrise  ____________________________________________________ Mentorship Statistics with Citations:  “75% of executives credit their success to mentors and recent research shows that 90% of employees with a career mentor are happy at work.” Source: Harvard Business Review, “A Better Approach to Mentorship” by Christopher “CJ” Gross  "Employees who participate in mentoring programs are five times more likely to be promoted than those who don’t." Source: Association for Talent Development (ATD), Mentoring Matters: Developing Talent with Formal Mentoring Programs (2017).  "For women in particular, mentorship is linked to higher career satisfaction, increased leadership readiness, and stronger networks—especially in male-dominated industries." Source: Harvard Business Review, “Why Men Still Get More Promotions Than Women” by Herminia Ibarra, Nancy M. Carter, and Christine Silva (2010); and McKinsey & LeanIn.org, Women in the Workplace report (2023).   

This November, millions of Texas voters will head to the polls to decide whether to approve or reject 17 proposed constitutional amendments by state lawmakers. It’s an annual process that plays out in the fall during odd-numbered years following a legislative session.  This year, however, the potential benefits for the Houston area are greater based on two key funding proposals: $1 billion annually for water projects and $300 million annually for a newly created Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT). Secretary of State Jane Nelson drew the order for the November 4 ballot last month, following the end of the veto period. As the state’s top election official, the Secretary of State oversees organizing the constitutional election. The propositions are drawn at random to determine the order in which they appear on the ballot. The two key propositions supported by the Partnership are as follows: Prop 4: "The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue." Prop 14: "The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue." The language above is precisely what will be included on the ballot. However, there is much more to these propositions and the legislation passed into law that makes these initiatives possible. Click here to read more about the potential $20 billion investment in water. Click here to learn more about the potential impact $3 billion in total funding for DPRIT could have on Houston’s medical research community. Included in the additional 15 propositions are recommendations related to the creation of a dedicated fund to support skilled trade programs at Texas State Technical College, changing the state’s tax code, and providing a tax exemption to surviving spouses of fallen veterans in specific scenarios.  A complete list of the ballot order and prop language is available on the Secretary of State’s website.