Celebrating Five Years of TrailBlazing Mentorship

Five years in, Gas South's TrailBlaze Mentorship Program continues to evolve, adapt and grow. On Oct. 14, we celebrated the graduation of the program's fifth cohort after several months of learning, mentorship and self-discovery.

This year, we took a more intentional approach, designing the program as a connected journey rather than a series of stand-alone workshops. Participants learned from subject-matter experts, explored new tools and technologies, reflected on their strengths and goals and created plans for continued growth.

We centered this year's program on self-awareness. Through assessments, mentorship and hands-on learning, participants gained a deeper understanding of how they work, where they want to grow and how they can apply those insights throughout their careers.

For many participants, growth started with a willingness to challenge themselves. That was certainly true for Femi L., a member of the TrailBlaze cohort from the year prior.

"The biggest thing I gained from TrailBlaze was confidence in my ability to lead and contribute outside of my day-to-day responsibilities," she said. "The program encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, take ownership of projects and build relationships throughout the organization."

That confidence continues to influence her career.

"TrailBlaze played a significant role in my professional development by helping me build leadership skills, expand my network and gain exposure to different parts of the business," Femi said. "Since graduating, I have continued to apply those skills by taking on new challenges, leading projects and transitioning into an HR role."

Recent TrailBlaze graduate Tyree A. pushed himself to try something new, too.

"I made a personal commitment to myself this year to be intentional about stepping outside of my comfort zone, letting people see who I am and continuing to grow personally and professionally," he said.

As participants challenged themselves in new ways, many gained perspectives they might not have found otherwise.

"The most valuable part of the experience so far has been the relationships I've built," Tyree said. "I've had various conversations about leadership methods, career growth and challenges that arise in day-to-day work. Those conversations helped me look at situations differently and challenged me to continue growing."

The experience also changed the way he approaches relationship-building at work.

"The program has helped me realize how much value there is in building connections beyond your immediate circle," Tyree said. "This experience has encouraged me to be more open, build more relationships and seek out opportunities."

And it's not just mentees who benefit from those connections. Mentors often find themselves learning and growing through the experience as well.

"I became a mentor because investing in people's growth is one of the most rewarding parts of leadership," said Kevin A.

Throughout his own career, Kevin has benefited from leaders who invested in him, challenged his thinking and helped him recognize opportunities he might have otherwise missed. Mentoring gave him an opportunity to do the same for someone else.

"The most rewarding part has been watching my mentee become more confident in who they are and what they want to do," Kevin said. "Career growth isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking questions, exploring possibilities and becoming more intentional about your development."

Mentors often grow alongside their mentees.

"Mentees aren't the only ones who grow through mentorship," Kevin said. "When someone asks how you handled a challenge, made a career decision or developed as a leader, it makes you reflect on the lessons you've learned and what really matters to you."

Stacy P. believes successful mentoring relationships begin with three qualities: curiosity, vulnerability and ownership.

"Curiosity to learn about a mentor's experiences and unique perspective, even when your field, personalities or skills are very different. Vulnerability to share openly your fears or struggles and to embrace honest perspective from a mentor who challenges you. Ownership to drive the focal topics of your time together and ask probing questions," she said.

She’s seen firsthand how mentorship can make a difference during pivotal moments.

"Mentorship is exponentially valuable when you're facing a significant challenge in your professional or personal life and your mentor is someone you can trust with your vulnerability and count on to show up from a place of genuine care for your success and well-being," Stacy said.

For employees considering becoming a mentor, she encourages them not to wait until they feel completely ready.

"Trust in your ability to offer value to others, expect to learn and grow along the way and lead from a perspective of genuine care and responsibility for your mentee," Stacy said.