Having a mentor is like having a guide in your career journey. For executives and CEOs in the technology and innovation industry, mentors can offer valuable advice, support, and wisdom. But, just like any relationship, the one with your mentor needs care and attention to grow strong over time.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how to maintain and nurture relationships with your mentors. Whether you’re just starting or looking to reconnect with a long-time mentor, these tips will help you keep that important bond strong. Let’s dive in and learn how to make the most of your mentor relationships!

As an Executive, in your experience, how do you maintain and nurture relationships with your mentors over time? Any specific advice you’d like to share?

1. Choose Mentors Wisely, Build Connections

Build human connection. Set rhythms. To maintain and nurture mentor relationships, you need to have mentors, and for that you should “be selective”. Having a mentor is super awesome when you get it right, but it needs to be a great fit for both sides. Know what you are looking for, both professionally and personally, run a process, find your person(s). Once you have mentors, it’s important to build a human relationship first. You are both people, and for good, healthy, productive mentorship to take place, you need to like and trust each other. Invest in that. Once you have mentors, and you’re feeling connected, set a rhythm upon which to engage with them (at a minimum). A monthly 30min meeting, a bi-weekly 15min “walk and talk”, etc. Rhythms help us keep a routine, cut down on scheduling, and ensure things don’t get “lost in the noise”. You can always engage with your mentors over and above your base rhythm, but if you don’t set one they can often fall by the wayside. 

Steven Plappert, Co-Founder & CEO, Forecastr

2. Create Systems to Strengthen Relationships

I remember James Clear’s quote: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” To maintain any human relationship, you must give it the time and attention it deserves, and you can create a system for this. Maintain routine contact with these people. Meet with them regularly, ask about their lives, and share your challenges. If a relationship is essential to you, make it a priority and ensure that you at least give it the minimum level of attention. 

Logan Burchett, Co-Founder, Forecastr

3. Prepare Well for Meaningful Mentor Meetings

Always come prepared to your mentor meetings. This means having specific questions or updates ready, not just casual conversation. Show that you value their time by having clear goals for each interaction, whether it’s seeking feedback on a specific issue or sharing your latest achievements. This not only shows respect but also encourages your mentor to invest more deeply in your success.

Matt Hunckler, CEO, Powderkeg

4. Build Strong Bonds with Your Mentor

Make a personal connection.  Come prepared for meetings.  Create meaningful reasons to keep in touch.  And articulate how you are applying what your mentor is teaching you.

Karen Mangia, President & Chief Strategy Officer, The Engineered Innovation Group

5. Collaborate on Intellectual Projects

Co-authoring articles or papers on topics of mutual interest helps deepen my mentor relationships. This collaborative effort allows us to share our expertise and insights with a broader audience. 

Working closely on writing projects helps strengthen our professional connection and provides valuable learning opportunities. The process of researching, writing, and editing together keeps us engaged and intellectually stimulated. 

By producing meaningful work together, we reinforce our bond and contribute to our respective fields. Additionally, this collaboration showcases our shared commitment to knowledge and growth, enhancing the value of our mentorship.

Shawn Plummer, CEO, The Annuity Expert

6. Cultivate Long-Term Connections

As an executive, I’ve found that maintaining and nurturing relationships with mentors over time requires intentional effort and care. The mentors who have made the biggest impact in my career are those with whom I’ve cultivated long-term connections, not just transactional advice-giving. 

To keep these mentorships strong, I make it a priority to stay in regular contact in a way that works for both of us. This could be quarterly check-in calls, or even just an annual dinner together. I also look for opportunities to give back, whether it’s making introductions that could benefit my mentor, sending interesting articles I think they’d appreciate, or simply expressing how grateful I am for their guidance. 

The most rewarding mentorships are two-way streets, so I aim to not just receive wisdom but also offer my own insights and experiences that my mentor may find valuable. This mutual exchange keeps the relationship energized over the years. At its core, maintaining mentorships is about showing my mentors the positive impact they’ve made in my life and career. These meaningful connections have shaped me as a leader, and I nurture them with care and consistency.

Peter Wuensch, V.P. Industrial, Knape Associates

7. Schedule Meaningful Check-Ins

As the founder of Leverage, keeping in touch with my mentors has been super important for my growth. Here’s how I do it:

First, I make sure to stay in regular contact. It’s not about constant chatting but having meaningful check-ins. For example, I schedule quarterly catch-ups with my mentors. During these meetings, I update them on what’s happening, ask for advice, and talk about any challenges. This shows I value their input and keeps the relationship strong.

Second, I believe in giving back. It’s important to offer value to my mentors, too. Recently, I helped one of my mentors with a market analysis for their new project. By being helpful, I keep the relationship reciprocal.

I always show gratitude. Whether it’s a thank-you email or a handwritten note, showing appreciation really matters. After one mentor helped me with a tough business decision, I sent a thank-you note, and it really strengthened our relationship.

Lastly, I involve them in significant milestones at Leverage. Inviting them to key events or sharing major achievements keeps them connected and invested in my journey. I believe that this has been key to keeping our relationships strong and supportive.

Rhett Stubbendeck, CEO & Co-Founder, Leverage Planning

8. Communicate Regularly With Updates

Maintaining relationships with mentors over time is crucial, and I’ve found that regular, meaningful communication is key. Whether it’s a quick update on a project they helped with or a sincere thank-you note for their guidance, these gestures keep the connection alive. I once had a mentor who loved golf, so occasionally, I’d send a funny golf meme or joke—it was a small thing, but it kept our conversations light and enjoyable. 

Remembering their advice and applying it in your work also shows respect for their time and wisdom. Lastly, offering to help them in return, even if it’s just sharing insights or contacts, can deepen the bond. These little efforts go a long way in nurturing mentor relationships and keeping them strong over time.

Rachel Beider, CEO, PRESS Modern Massage

9. Provide Progress Updates and Seek Advice

I maintain and nurture relationships with mentors in the UI/UX industry by providing regular updates on our agency’s progress and challenges.

For example, I keep my mentor informed about significant projects, sharing detailed progress and outcomes. When we tackled a complex redesign for a major client, I shared the initial challenges, how we applied their previous advice, and the success we achieved. This demonstrates the impact of their mentorship on our real-world projects.

Additionally, I seek their input on specific UI/UX trends and strategies. I recently asked for insights on incorporating new design trends into our workflow, leading to a valuable discussion and actionable advice. Regular, focused updates and seeking specific advice keep the mentorship relationship active and mutually beneficial.

Juan Carlos Munoz, Co-Founder, CC Creative Design

10. Schedule Periodic Check-Ins

In my experience as a CEO, I’ve learned that maintaining and nurturing connections with mentors over time is essential for professional development. The insight and experience mentors offer are truly invaluable; their guidance can be a beacon during challenging times. They bring fresh perspectives that fuel innovation and achievement. Building these relationships requires meaningful communication. I make it a priority to schedule periodic check-ins. This approach keeps the bond alive, showing my gratitude for their time and wisdom.

Another vital component is showing genuine interest in their lives and careers. Mentors are not just resources but individuals with their own aspirations and experiences. By celebrating their successes and offering support during their challenges, you build a relationship based on mutual respect and trust. Additionally, never underestimate the power of gratitude. A simple “thank you” note or acknowledgment of their role in your achievements can go a long way. By valuing your mentors as both guides and individuals, you create a robust and enduring relationship that benefits both parties over the long term.

Joseph Passalacqua, Owner & CEO, Maid Sailors

11. Respect Your Mentors’ Time

My mentors have been incredibly important to me over the years, as I’ve grown my various businesses and dealt with the unique challenges each one has faced. Something that I’ve learned is that you need to be respectful of your mentors’ time. Remember, they also have busy lives and are likely running their own businesses. This means that any time they dedicate to helping you is out of kindness and could have been spent growing their businesses. 

To nurture the relationships you have with your mentors, you need to remember to try to avoid overstepping that boundary. Of course, as you become closer and your relationship improves, you’ll get more time to speak with them, and they’ll probably even reach out to you more than you realize. However, it’s important to always be respectful of their time and show them that you appreciate the assistance they’ve provided you with.

Kam Talebi, CEO, Gigli

12. Build and Maintain Solid Rapport

The one thing I’ve learned is that you need to build a good connection with your mentors right from the start. You have to let down your defenses and get to know them, let them get to know you, and make sure there’s a solid rapport. That way, you won’t have to work as hard to maintain the relationship later on.

But you can’t just forget about them either. Make sure to check in with your mentors every now and then, even if it’s just a quick email. Give them an update on how your business is going and what you’ve been up to. I try to email my mentors at least once or twice a year, just to keep them in the loop. For the mentors I’m really close with, I’ll email them more often, like once a month or every other month.

Gary Gray, CEO, CouponChief.com

13. Approach With Honesty and Humility

As a leader and business owner, I believe that the best way to maintain and nurture relationships with my own mentors is to come to them with honesty and humbleness.

If I’m avoiding what I really need guidance in just to be polite, I am not only doing myself a disservice but also wasting the mentor’s time. When somebody is willingly sharing their experience to help you, they want your full engagement and commitment to that process.

You also have to approach these mentorships with humility. It can be difficult when you feel you know your own business and career the most, but these mentorships are not to question your skills or abilities; they are, however, essential to continuing your development, growth, and expansion of how to do your role successfully. You don’t have to do one hundred percent of what they suggest, but it can help to develop your own practices in a way that makes sense.

The best thing a mentor can hope for is somebody who listens, so be that person. There is no reason to overcomplicate it. Listen and apply what you think is best for you, understanding that all mentoring is done in good faith and for you to succeed.

Above all, to maintain that good relationship, share your gratitude for the effort they have put in to help you.

Ryan Carrigan, CEO & Founder, moveBuddha

14. Be a Knowledge Boomerang

The key to keeping those relationships strong is to be what I call a “knowledge boomerang.” You see, mentors invest their time and wisdom in you, hoping you’ll learn and grow. But a good mentee doesn’t just take; they give back too.

Here’s what I mean: I have this fantastic mentor, a true industry heavyweight. They took a chance on a young buck like me years ago. We’d meet for coffee, and they’d unload years of experience on everything from negotiation tactics to building a winning team. But the key was, I wasn’t just a passive listener. I’d actively seek out challenges at my company, then come back with specific questions and my own ideas. We’d brainstorm together, and often, my fresh perspective from the ground floor would spark something new for them too. It became a two-way street of learning.

That’s the beauty of the knowledge boomerang. You throw your questions and challenges out there, but you also bring your own experiences to the table. It shows your mentor you’re putting their guidance into action, and it strengthens the bond because you’re both constantly learning and evolving together. It’s way more rewarding than a one-sided mentor-mentee relationship.

Eli Itzhaki, CEO, Keyzoo

Conclusion

Building and maintaining a strong relationship with your mentor is like tending to a valuable partnership. For executives and CEOs in the tech and innovation fields, these relationships can provide ongoing guidance and support throughout your career. By staying in touch, showing appreciation, and continuing to seek advice, you can keep this bond strong and beneficial for both you and your mentor.

Remember, a great mentor relationship is built on mutual respect and continuous effort. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to nurturing a lasting and meaningful connection. Keep investing in these important relationships—they can be one of the greatest assets in your professional journey.