Author: Brian E. Thomas

How a Pandemic is Accelerating Technology Breakthroughs

Published: 27 May 2020
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: Brian's Blog

The Silver Lining

The coronavirus pandemic may still be plowing its way through the country, leading to business closures, shut downs and social distance rules, but it’s also been the harbinger of technology breakthroughs as people shift the way they function. From AI to remote work tools to workforce shifts, this pandemic is breaking through technology barriers at a break-neck speed. That old proverb has never been truer: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Translation: the driving force for most new inventions is need.   In a time when people were forced into a new normal in a matter of days or weeks, the demand for change brought about some pretty cool technology breakthroughs.

As businesses shuttered and sent their employees home, a new way of thinking was needed — FAST. Born from this pandemic came an innovation spurred on by tragedy. The technology race has always been there, but its progress has been somewhat slow, until now. Indeed, this accelerated change has restructured workplaces, redefined roles, and instituted rapid learning, all while organizations were being challenged — and still are — to embrace a new way of thinking. The rush to virtualize business operations continues as social distance directives have taken the top spot on the best practice list.

Coronavirus as an Accelerant

Who would have predicted that COVID-19 would be the catalyst for such business transformation just a few months ago? As companies are forced to adapt to the future of work at an accelerated pace, they’re increasingly embracing culture and purpose as they pivot team operations to enable remote working on a grand scale, says Forbes. Fueled by coronavirus, technologies are making breakthroughs at a rapid pace, in a variety of ways — not just in the virtual conference room.

• Online Meetings: As employees vacated their corporate campuses and set up shop at home, they turned to online meeting platforms such as Zoom, Slack, Skype and Google Hangouts to meet up, collaborate, and get work done. After all, the show must go on. This was one of the biggest technology breakthroughs.

• Virtual events: It’s not just business meetings that are taking place virtually, it’s events, too — coordinators of which have never faced such a big challenge before. But they’re bringing it all together and it’s working. For instance, Mobile World Congress held a one-day digital event, Google Cloud Next became Google Cloud Next ’20: Digital Connect, Facebook F8 is all-online, Starbucks is even holding its shareholder meeting completely online for the first time ever, and colleges the country over are holding virtual orientation sessions for incoming freshmen.

• Technology breakthroughs in Schools: Google Classroom and Zoom have been a godsend for education nationwide. With schools being forced to close their doors in March, that’s four months of learning that would have been wasted had these online platforms not been available. Teachers had to learn in a pinch how to adjust their curricula and hold virtual classrooms, while students had to adjust to a new way of learning and communicating.

• Healthcare: Networks of epidemiologists are tracking COVID-19 using low-cost gene-sequencing technologies, which are coincidentally driving promising vaccine candidates. Researchers are using machine learning to search through repositories of published scholarly articles about coronavirus. Informal networks of manufacturing firms and hobbyists are utilizing 3D printers to make thousands of face shields to protect front-line healthcare workers. Apple and Google — in an unprecedented move — partnered together to develop a contact tracing application that is embedded in the operating systems for smartphones, according to Newswise. On a related note, Apple’s latest iPhone update, iOS 13.5, will make it easier to wear a face mask and use Face ID to open your phone. 

• Network and mobile communications have enabled online medical consultations to prevent the need for in-office visits, giving first responders high-speed telecommunications to provide support where it’s needed most, and disseminating vital information around the world to enable local governments so they can make more informed decisions related to the health of constituents. Perhaps most pervasively has been the way these communications advancements have transformed social connectivity with family and friends in lieu of gathering together physically, through online videos, social media and FaceTime. Technology breakthroughs are showing much promise in this area.

• Artificial intelligence, automation, virtual reality and data management technologies have all played an important role in anything from tracking the outbreak and planning out scenarios to rapidly building medical devices and supporting research in coming up with viable treatments. In fact, artificial intelligence and genetic applied science are making it faster, easier and more affordable to understand how the virus spreads, how it should be managed and how its effects can be contained. AI can even warn us of upcoming epidemics so we have enough time to prepare. As one example, BlueDot — a global artificial intelligence database company, — uses A.I.-powered algorithms, natural-language processing and machine learning to analyze information from a variety of sources and track more than 100 infectious diseases.

Final thoughts

Perhaps the silver lining from the pandemic is the emerging technology breakthroughs that allows us all to stay in touch, make advancements, and ensure the world spins on. Organizations from all sectors are crafting new technical capabilities, harnessing digital technologies and evolving their business models at a pace that would have been unheard of just a few months ago.

CIO Feature: The Value of Corporate Data

Published: 12 May 2020
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

Brian was recently featured in a crowd-sourced article on CIO.com about “Assessing the Value of Corporate Data“.

That said, “value” can be a vague concept, with meanings and measurements that vary considerably among different organizations. Chief Technology Officer Brian E. Thomas (@DivergentCIO), asks, for example, “Is the data valuable because it needs to be secured (via regulations such as HIPAA and PCI), or is it the highly rich consumer data that companies are striving to make business shifts based on purchasing trends?”

“Before you can determine value,” he adds, “you need to have structured and mature data governance and data analytics programs. That way there is a collaborative process for classifying and using that data based on its criteria.”

The value of corporate data cannot be overstated. In today’s business world, data has become the lifeblood of organizations, driving decision-making, shaping strategies, and informing operational processes. Companies that effectively harness their data are able to gain a competitive advantage and increase their bottom line.

Data is valuable because it provides organizations with a wealth of information about their operations, customers, and market trends. This information can be used to identify areas for improvement, optimize processes, and make informed decisions about where to allocate resources. For example, companies can use customer data to better understand their target audience, develop targeted marketing campaigns, and improve customer satisfaction. Market data can be analyzed to gain insights into industry trends and emerging opportunities, allowing companies to stay ahead of the competition.

Data can also help organizations to improve efficiency and reduce costs. By analyzing operational data, companies can identify inefficiencies in their processes and find ways to streamline their operations. This can lead to significant cost savings, as well as improved productivity and competitiveness.

Moreover, data plays a crucial role in driving innovation. Companies that have access to a wealth of data can use it to identify new business opportunities, develop new products and services, and stay ahead of their competitors. The use of data-driven innovation has been shown to significantly increase revenue and drive growth in many industries.

In conclusion, the value of corporate data cannot be underestimated. It provides organizations with valuable insights into their operations, customers, and market trends, helping to drive decision-making, improve efficiency, and drive innovation. Companies that effectively leverage their data will have a significant competitive advantage and be better positioned for success in the future.

#BigData #DivergentCIO #DataValue #Data #ConsumerData #CTO #CIO

CIO Feature: AI’s Healthcare Promise Will Serve Patients

Published: 27 February 2020
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

CIO.com official logo from IDGBrian was recently featured in a crowd-sourced article on CIO.com about “AI’s Healthcare Promise Will Serve Patients – And More“.

“From early disease detection, improved patient safety, reduced or eliminated repeatable/mundane tasks and human errors, and more accurate medical billing, AI will play an expanding role in healthcare”, says Brian E. Thomas, Healthcare CIO. “Simply put, implementing a set of processes that combines both machines and humans will reap the most benefits.”

AI’s healthcare promise

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry and significantly improve patient outcomes. With its ability to process large amounts of data quickly and accurately, AI can help healthcare providers to make more informed decisions, improve patient care, and streamline operations.

One of the biggest promises of AI in healthcare is its ability to help diagnose and treat diseases more accurately and efficiently. With the vast amounts of patient data being generated every day, AI can analyze this information and identify patterns that may not be noticeable to the human eye. This can help healthcare providers to make more accurate diagnoses, predict potential health issues, and develop individualized treatment plans. AI can also help to identify patients who are at high risk of developing certain conditions and intervene early, reducing the likelihood of serious health problems.

Medical research

Another area where AI has the potential to significantly improve healthcare is in medical research and drug development. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data from clinical trials, medical literature, and patient records, identifying potential treatments and therapeutic targets. This can speed up the development of new drugs and treatments, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

Moreover, AI’s healthcare promise will help to streamline administrative and operational tasks, freeing up time and resources for healthcare providers to focus on patient care. AI-powered chatbots, for example, can provide patients with 24/7 access to healthcare information and assist with scheduling appointments, while automating administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling, claims processing, and record-keeping can reduce errors and increase efficiency.

Conclusion

The potential of AI in healthcare is vast and holds tremendous promise for improving patient outcomes. From improving diagnoses and treatments to streamlining operations, AI has the potential to transform healthcare delivery and provide patients with better, more accessible, and more personalized care. It’s important that healthcare providers embrace this technology and work to harness its potential for the benefit of patients everywhere. And so, AI’s healthcare promise will serve patients.

BMC Feature: CIOs Advocating for Automation Platforms

Published: 10 February 2020
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

Official BMC Helix logo as part of CIO.comBrian was recently featured in a crowd-sourced article on BMC Felix about “A Single Point of Control: How IT Leaders are Advocating for Automation Platforms“.

“Accelerated detection and remediation are the results of incorporating emerging technologies into the automated platform”, says Brian Thomas (@DivergentCIO), CTO of Coruzant Technologies.

“Cybersecurity products have been and are increasingly incorporating more AI technology into their platforms and appliances, due to the sheer number of daily attacks on company networks,” he says. “Utilizing AI technology, these tools not only can learn over time, but they have the ability to immediately detect, alert, and disable threats on the spot — even if it is something that it is not familiar with or has ever seen.”

Automation platforms

Automation platforms are rapidly gaining popularity among CIOs, who are advocating for their implementation in the workplace. These platforms offer a range of benefits, including improved efficiency, increased productivity, and reduced costs. As such, it is no surprise that CIOs are increasingly pushing for their adoption.

One of the key advantages of automation platforms is their ability to streamline processes and eliminate repetitive manual tasks. By automating routine and time-consuming tasks, companies can free up valuable time and resources for more strategic initiatives. Additionally, automation platforms are designed to minimize the risk of human error, leading to increased accuracy and reliability in operations.

Another major benefit of automation platforms is their ability to increase productivity and efficiency. Automated processes are typically faster and more accurate than manual ones, reducing the amount of time spent on routine tasks and freeing up staff to focus on more valuable activities. In addition, automation systems can integrate with existing systems and applications, providing a seamless and efficient work environment.

Additionally, CIOs are advocating for these platforms due to the cost savings they can deliver. Automation eliminates the need for manual labor, reducing labor costs and freeing up resources for other initiatives. Furthermore, automation platforms can reduce the risk of errors and improve overall efficiency, reducing the need for rework and additional expenses.

Conclusion

CIOs are increasingly advocating for the implementation of automation platforms in the workplace. These platforms offer a range of benefits, including improved efficiency, increased productivity, and reduced costs, making them an attractive option for organizations looking to improve their operations. As automation continues to gain popularity, CIOs will play a critical role in promoting its adoption and helping organizations to realize its full potential.

CIO Feature: Navigating a Data-Driven Culture

Published: 27 November 2019
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

CIO.com official logo from IDGBrian was recently featured in a crowd-sourced article on CIO.com about “Navigating a Data-Driven Culture“.

“CIOs that have demonstrated strong leadership and who can draw from robust interpersonal skills to build and nurture relationships will be instrumental in influencing and orchestrating such cultural change”, says Brian E. Thomas (@DivergentCIO), CIO. “To drive the culture shift, CIOs need to play a significant role in bridging the gaps in technology fluency with business objectives.”

In today’s digital world, data is king. Companies are increasingly relying on data to inform their decisions, shape their strategies, and drive growth. As a result, a data-driven culture has become essential for organizations looking to stay ahead of the competition. But how can companies effectively navigate this data-driven culture and harness its potential?

Data-driven culture

First and foremost, companies need to prioritize data quality. Data is only valuable if it is accurate, relevant, and up-to-date. Companies must therefore invest in the tools and processes necessary to ensure the accuracy of their data, and regularly assess and improve the quality of their data sources.

Second, companies must embrace a data-driven mindset and make data-driven decision-making a core part of their culture. This requires a change in mindset and a willingness to embrace data-driven insights, even when they challenge established beliefs or practices. Encouraging data literacy and training employees on how to use data to inform their decisions will also be crucial in promoting a this type of culture.

Third, companies must ensure that they have the right technology and infrastructure in place to effectively harness and analyze their data. This includes investing in data storage and management systems, data visualization tools, and machine learning algorithms. It’s also important to ensure that the right data is being captured and analyzed, so that insights can be generated and used to inform decision-making.

Finally, companies must promote a culture of collaboration and data sharing. Data silos can limit the potential of information-driven insights, so it’s important to encourage open communication and cross-functional collaboration to ensure that data is shared and used effectively.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, a data-driven culture is critical for organizations looking to stay ahead of the competition and achieve their goals. By prioritizing data quality, embracing a data-driven mindset, investing in the right technology and infrastructure, and promoting a culture of collaboration and data sharing, companies can effectively navigate this data-driven culture and unlock its full potential.

Harvard Business Review: The Power of Predictive IT

Published: 25 June 2019
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

Brian was featured in a crowd-sourced whitepaper on Harvard Business Review about “The Power of Predictive IT“.

“As soon as you can employ automated tools to do work humans were doing, there’s a huge increase in the time the resources get back to work on strategies to strengthen your operations environment”, says Brian Thomas (@DivergentCIO), CTO of Coruzant Technologies.

Reliability and uptime are critical components of any successful business operation, but all too often, outages and downtime can have a negative impact on productivity, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, the bottom line. In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s essential to have a comprehensive strategy in place to ensure the reliability of your systems and prevent outages. Here are some steps organizations can take to improve reliability and prevent outages across the enterprise, leveraging the power of predictive IT:

  1. Perform Regular Maintenance and Upgrades: Regular maintenance and upgrades to hardware and software systems can help to prevent outages and improve reliability. This includes tasks such as patching, software upgrades, and hardware replacements.
  2. Implement a Disaster Recovery Plan: A disaster recovery plan is a critical component of any reliability strategy. The plan should outline procedures for data backup, system restoration, and communication in the event of an outage. Regular testing of the plan is also important to ensure its effectiveness.
  3. Monitor Systems and Applications: Monitoring systems and applications in real-time can help to identify potential problems before they become outages. This can be done using tools such as log analysis, system performance monitoring, and network monitoring.
  4. Implement Redundancy and High Availability: Redundancy and high availability solutions can help to ensure that critical systems and applications are always available, even in the event of an outage. This includes solutions such as failover clustering, load balancing, and disaster recovery solutions.
  5. Train Employees: Employee training is also an important component of any reliability strategy. Employees should be trained on proper maintenance procedures, as well as on disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
  6. Partner with a Managed Services Provider: A managed services provider can provide expertise, support, and resources to help ensure the reliability of your systems and prevent outages. This can include proactive monitoring, incident response, and remediation services.

Improving reliability and preventing outages requires a comprehensive approach that includes regular maintenance and upgrades, disaster recovery planning, monitoring, redundancy and high availability solutions, employee training, and partnering with a managed services provider. By taking these steps, organizations can improve their overall reliability and minimize the impact of outages on their operations and bottom line. This is the power of predictive IT.

Security Consulting with Petronella Tech

Published: 19 December 2018
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

Petronella TechBrian Thomas partners on security consulting, and advises the nationally renowned security firm, Petronella Tech. Petronella Tech is the “GO-TO” team of certified experts. Petronella Technology Group is more equipped than ever to help with cybersecurity, network cabling and power, Compliance, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). As they have from the start, they strive towards excellence in service and reliability and have served over 2500 customers in 20 years of operation.

Security consulting

Petronella Tech has excelled in this new millennium by treating their clients more like family than customers, and are proud to have helped over 3,000 people since they opened their doors almost two decades ago.

Petronella began as part of a natural progression of Process. Craig Petronella was deconstructing and re-building computers as a child, and his interests guided him in creating “Bulletproof PC.” An un-hackable computer that was essentially a self-protecting system, it doubled as an idea ahead of its time.

Since them, Petronella Tech has kept evolving while keeping sight of the firm foundation which they were built upon. As computers and that which lives in them develop, they have every confidence that their unique history paints a very bright future for them. The original architecture of the Bulletproof PC is now partnered with intuitive Software that empowers the protected hardware to function at full capacity while never sacrificing security.

Petronella’s vision is to always be on the cusp of change and to keep up with the cutting-edge, so that their advising of clients always comes from the perspective of the Bird’s Eye View.

They are experts at aligning People, Processes, & Technology to create cyber ecosystems that are secure and synergistic both.

Partnerships are what makes us all a better, and builds a more secure world. Join us as we tackle some of the latest security scams, hacks, and more with the best security consulting.

First Step to Success: Build the Right Team

Published: 24 September 2018
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: Brian's Blog

Success doesn’t come about overnight or all at once. Like a home, it needs a foundation, brick by brick, to form a stable structure that can support the weight of a business over time. The first building block to success, then, is building the right team. To draw another analogy, just like in sports, recruiting the top people to join your team is of paramount importance. You need a wide range of talents to make up a well-rounded team. You may be looking for attributes like: plays well with others, shares ideas openly in group settings, values transparency and aligns around a shared vision, individuals who bring you opportunities for growth, and down to earth teammates who celebrate victories together in an atmosphere of positivity. So the first step to success: build the right team.

Taking a Look at Yourself

Looking for these qualities and more when considering building your dream team is priority #1. However, before you even think about the types of people you want to work for you, the first step should be to look inward and ask yourself “am I the type of boss people want to work for?”. Do you treat people fairly? Do you give your team the tools they need to be empowered and get the job done from within or do you control every aspect of the project? Are you transparent in your expectations? Do you foster a culture that is supportive and positive, or one of competition and rivalry? Do you have your team’s best interests at heart? What do you think people say about you when you’re not around?

The foundation of exceptional leadership lies in putting the needs of others first, says the Jack Welch Management Institute. You have to fight for the resources your team needs to do its job effectively and efficiently, lobbying for the raises and bonuses that your employees deserve. We’re not saying this has to be a culture of “everybody gets a trophy.” Rather, what we mean is, those who truly deliver on stellar performance will get rewarded for their efforts. Transparency in the workplace ensures that each teammate knows where he or she stands.

Upgrade Your Team

True leaders relentless upgrade their team, utilizing every encounter as a unique opportunity to coach, evaluate and build up self-confidence, according to Inc. Just like in sports, the team with the best players wins. Their leaders must put the time and energy into what famed business exec Jack Welch calls “people development” — something that should be honed daily and integrated into all aspects of your interactions. You as the leader have to recognize and acknowledge your team’s hard work if you want to encourage peak performance and instill confidence in the very core of your team.

Live and Breathe the Vision

As the owner or manager, you know what the vision of your company is. You invented it, you grew it, you live for it. That’s not enough. You also have to make sure the people who work for you not only know that vision as well but live and breathe it every day. Not everyone will buy into this. It takes a special breed of person to truly embrace the goals you’ve set for yourself and help you realize them. Effective leaders, then, will cast the vision of the future and fuel that passion in the people who work for them. You should constantly be talking about that vision, reinforcing it with rewards in order to light a fire that will help them accomplish even the most difficult of assignments.

Follow Your Gut — Even if People Hate You for It

People in a position of power — whether that be the president, a coach or a parent — can’t be friends with everyone all of the time. They are in a position of power to make the tough calls that aren’t always popular but that serve the greater good. Leaders will bring the courage to make gut calls, regardless of what team members think. Jack Welch goes on to say in his book Winning that “tough calls spawn complaints and resistance.” Your job as a leader is to listen and explain yourself clearly but then start moving forward rather than dwelling. It’s important to build the right team up front.

Clear, sharp, definitive decision making is what you will be judged on as a leader. Because the choices you make will determine the overall success of your organization, it’s you who will ultimately have to answer for the success or failure of your company. Transparency, trust and clear vision: if you employ these things and build the right team, they will stand behind you every time.

Why Face-to-Face Interaction and Communication are so Important

Published: 26 November 2017
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: Brian's Blog

A colleague of mine recently shared an experience she had at her doctor’s office. When she walked up to the window to check in, the young receptionist motioned with her finger pointing to the iPad on the counter and said, “please check in here,” without taking her eyes off her cell phone. My colleague began asking her a couple of questions about the check-in process and the young gal remained fixated on her cell phone without once making eye contact during the verbal exchange.

Today’s generation is socially challenged with the constant distraction of electronic devices and social media dominating our everyday lives. Does the convenience and pervasiveness of technology excuse poor basic human behavior? Certainly not. So how can we be more thoughtful and courteous to those around us?

Critical Social Skills Component

Face-to-face communication is an integral piece of the social skills puzzle. It’s time to get back to basics with clear and precise communication — something that has been lost little by little as technology such as smart phones, texting and email have permeated today’s society. There’s a lot you can glean from looking someone in the eyes, and a lot that can be missed if you don’t. There’s a personal connection there that you just can’t get over the phone, via text or even FaceTime. It’s so personal, in fact, that many of today’s young people shy away from such an intimate display of human interaction.

Your clothing, hair accessories, posture and gestures can all convey a deep meaning, but it’s your eyes that send messages as well, and failure to maintain solid eye contact with an associate, client or boss can prevent you from building critical business relationships, says Inc. Eye contact cues are subtle, to be sure, but they can make all the difference when trying to read the other party’s emotions, from approval to disdain to any other emotion on the spectrum that can’t be determined from an email.

A business venture or collaboration, such as negotiating a merger or even asking your boss for a raise, can balance precariously on how you handle a face-to-face conversation. You wouldn’t ask for that raise with your face in your phone, and you certainly wouldn’t negotiate a big business deal or merger over email. That’s why the personal connection is crucial for conducting insightful discussions of mutual interest — something that was just par for the course before the telephone was even invented, points out ToughNickel. The art of conversation has largely been lost, dragging down our social skills in the process.

Tips for Meaningful Face-to-Face Interaction

There are many benefits that come with face-to-face human interaction, resulting in encounters and relationships that can’t be achieved remotely. From visual feedback and cultural differences to body language and eye contact, it becomes easy to understand the true value of what another is saying when you meet in person. Not only do face-to-face meetings build stronger, more meaningful business relationships, they allow for better social opportunities to bond with clients and coworkers. In addition, these meetings boost the ability to read body language and facial expressions as well as interpret nonverbal communication signals, says the Houston Chronicle. Recent studies have shown that face-to-face communication is optimal when it comes to persuasion, leadership, engagement, inspiration, decision-making, accountability and reaching a consensus.

If you have been finding that your face-to-face interaction skills are starting to erode, here are some ways you can make the most of your in-person meetings:

  • Pay attention to visual feedback.
  • Listen to what’s being said and ask questions if you don’t understand something.
  • If you are the one speaking, pay attention to body language that might indicate disinterest or confusion.
  • If you sense disinterest or confusion, respond to those visual cues by switching gears, or giving the other person the floor.

Just like any muscle, these skills take practice. From sales to customer service to boardroom meetings, face-to-face communication is vital in keeping the pulse of human interaction pumping. Let’s not lose sight of what’s truly important in business and in personal relationships as well: communication and connection. That’s what drives progress and success, something that can’t be achieved when hiding behind a phone.

Invest in The Next Generation of Leaders: The Importance of Mentorship

Published: 24 September 2017
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: Brian's Blog

Importance of Mentorship

Not everyone can — or should — jump into their career headlong without a plan of where they’re going. This is particularly true in today’s competitive workplace climate. Mentorships can bridge that gap between emerging into a new career and becoming a successful leader in that field. In fact, research shows that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects within personal, academic, and professional situations, ultimately connecting them to personal growth and development, as well as social and economic opportunities, according to the National Mentoring Partnership. The importance of mentorship cannot be simply glossed over.

Investing in the next generation of leaders depends exponentially on the guidance of a mentor. All the book smarts straight out of college can’t prepare graduates with the nitty gritty, on-your-feet-all-day, in-the-trenches work that makes up a CIO’s day. As a critical thinking, people-centric, quick learning, impeccably organized and determined professional, you know yourself just how many years it took you to get where you are now. Couldn’t you have used a mentor yourself? Someone to guide you, cut through the clutter, and offer insight that no college lecture hall can really provide?

The workforce is expanding in droves. More than one in three American workers today are Millennials, recently surpassing Generation X to become the largest share of the American workforce, says the Pew Research Center. Many of them are getting jobs in leadership positions, or at least poised to inherit them in the near future, leaving a real need for practical experience that can only be gleaned by forming a bond with a seasoned professional.

Defining a Mentorship

In a nutshell, a mentor is a more experienced, usually older, professional in a given field who offers younger, less experienced employees career guidance, advice and assistance from a real world point of view. Taking part in a mentorship not only enhances your professional capabilities, you get access to a wealth of knowledge and experience, and — if you’re lucky — end up with a lifelong friend and potential future business partner, points out Forbes.

It doesn’t have to be the standard model either. A mentorship could involve a younger person guiding an older person who decided to make a career change late in life. Whatever the mentor-mentee relationship looks like, at its heart, it’s based on one person who’s “been there, done that” showing a fresh-faced up-and-comer what the real deal is.

As human beings, we’re constantly evolving and learning. Even the most experienced leader doesn’t know all there is to know about the business they’re in. A mentor can provide valuable insight to bring about perspective, positive change and awareness.

A Committed Partnership

Just remember: mentorship is nothing to take lightly. Don’t offer your services to someone who isn’t firmly committed, and don’t accept a mentorship from someone else if you’re not willing to put in the work. This is a true team effort requiring strong commitment from both parties, says Forbes. The lessons, connections, and opportunities that mentors provide offer exponential benefits — when both parties are receptive to the opportunity.

Taking this path to success involves the ability to recognize and embrace major accelerators in your career. The benefits to mentees are clear. But what about mentors? What’s in it for them? You can look at it from the perspective of leaving a legacy, passing down wisdom from one generation to the next. Mentors have the power to make a powerful impact not just within a company and the industry but for future leaders as well. You can’t take the shortcut here – the importance of mentorship is key.