The best mentoring relationships are not one-way. They create value, learning, and opportunity for both people.
In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins is joined by Cybele Negris, CEO and co-founder of Webnames.ca, Canada’s original .CA registrar. An accomplished technology entrepreneur and corporate director, Cybele has spent decades experiencing mentorship from both sides, learning from leaders who helped shape her career while mentoring and sponsoring others along the way.
Mike and Cybele explore what makes a mentoring relationship work, including why the mentee should take ownership of the relationship, come prepared, and be clear about what they hope to gain. They also discuss why being asked to mentor someone can be an honour rather than a burden, and how much mentors can learn from the people they support.
The conversation expands beyond traditional one-to-one mentorship into peer mentorship and sponsorship. Mike and Cybele share how trusted peer groups can create space for conversations that may be difficult to have elsewhere, and why you do not need to join a formal organization to start building your own advisory group.
They also explore the important difference between mentoring and sponsoring. A mentor can offer guidance, perspective, and support. A sponsor goes further by making introductions, creating access, and talking about someone when they are not in the room.
Finally, Cybele shares how this mindset shapes her leadership at Webnames.ca, where supporting someone’s career does not necessarily mean expecting their entire career to happen within the company. That approach has helped create remarkable loyalty, with 20% of Webnames.ca employees who have left eventually choosing to return.
This conversation is a reminder that leadership is not only about helping people succeed in the role they have today. It is also about investing in who they are becoming and, when you can, opening a door that helps them get there.
Episode Resources:
Connect with Cybele on LinkedIn
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