‘Your voice is valuable, speak up’: The power of mentorship”

Women engaged in mentorship programs experience greater confidence, make more networking connections and receive increased guidance when navigating their careers.

When Kim Waller walks into a room, people notice. She exudes charisma, and once she starts starts speaking, especially about issues she cares about, it’s easy to see why she recently received a Gracie award for her radio show Power on the Block. But appearances don’t always match how we feel, especially during our teenage and young adult years.

“When I was a young woman, most people would have said I was outgoing and confident,” says Waller, founder of the Women’s Power League of Alaska, or WPLAK. “But the truth is, I had low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Fortunately, there were people around me — my mentors — who saw I needed direction, and they stepped up and helped me. Looking back, my life could have taken a very different path if I hadn’t had them helping me.”

Years later, Waller is returning the favor. She moved back to Anchorage in 2018 after a career in media for MTV Networks and iHeartMedia in New York City to launch WPLAK, which includes a mentorship program specifically designed for women in their 20s. Demand to participate quickly outstripped the number of available mentors, and Waller is looking forward to growing the program when applications for the next cohort open.

“In my 20s, I needed guidance — both personally and professionally. It’s a crucial time in a woman’s life: we’re thinking about our careers, relationships, family planning. It’s a lot, and the choices we make impact our future,” Waller said. “At that time, I needed people to believe in me more than I believed in myself, and they did. That’s when I really learned the power of mentorship.”

Read the full article here: https://www.alaskajournal.com/2019-10-21/%E2%80%98your-voice-valuable-speak-%E2%80%99-power-mentorship