Fostering Inclusion: The Importance of Networks and Mentorship

Effective mentorship is the cornerstone of an inclusive corporate culture. Those who serve as mentors ensure open, authentic relationship building skills are passed down to the next generation of industry professionals while mentees benefit from experienced perspectives and insights.  Research across the board has shown that strong professional networks and mentors have a particular impact on the careers of minorities and women.

At Clark, we value inclusion as a core strength to achieving our mission of building what matters, together. It is imperative to learn from shared experiences for broader awareness, problem solving, and understanding.

As the company celebrates Black History Month, four members of Clark’s Black Leadership + Development Resource (BLDR), an employee-led resource group for Black employees, offer their perspective on the importance of mentorship in their careers.

How have the professional connections you’ve made impacted your career?

"Working in project development since the beginning of my career has allowed me to shake hands and build relationships with some of the top leaders in the organization. Exposure to these executive roles has not only inspired me but has challenged me to think beyond my current position and be open to opportunities that can propel me forward in my career.

Developing professional connections with my peer group has also been beneficial from a management perspective. People are more willing to follow you when you take time to build relationships. I love the saying, 'People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."'

- Whitney Byrd, Preconstruction Manager

"The connections in my professional career have been absolutely invaluable to my success at Clark. I’ve been able to draw on network to solve challenging problems and have a direct impact on keeping our people safer. For example, five years or so ago, the industry had a rise of crane incidents. I sourced my professional network – both inside and outside of Clark - to quickly brainstorm, strategize solutions, and implement third party crane inspections. This was above and beyond what is required by OSHA and became required on all Clark projects."

- Jamie Kaiser, Corporate Safety Training Director

How do you mentor the next generation?

"My goal when mentoring the next generation is to empower them to become decisive and compassionate leaders. I’ve made it to a point as a mentor to expose mentees to my professional network, be a listening ear when they have concerns or questions, and create opportunities for them to discover their leadership style while still embracing a team mindset. I've had opportunities to mentor two summer associates and work with a few entry-level engineers. Some of my proudest moments have been watching them grow into their potential - forming relationships, problem solving, and taking ownership of their work."

- Savannah Jones, Project Engineer

"First, I always focus on what I was doing at that point in my career so that we are talking on the same terms. Then, I seek out what they are most interested in and where they have hurdles that I can help move out of the way. Ultimately, I mentor from a position of a sounding board and cheering section. I want their voices to be heard and to encourage them as they forge their own career path in the 'jungle gym' of opportunities in construction."

- Monique Holley, Senior Superintendent

How did you get connected with your mentor?

"I have two people that I consider mentors in my professional career, Megan Calhoun and Kwaku Gyabaah, who both work for Clark. We worked together on several project development efforts out in California. Megan is a genuine, hard working woman with a brilliant mind that I admire. Kwaku is a great example of Black excellence and an amazing communicator who is, without question, going far within the organization. We formed a bond by having amazing conversations on work trips and thinking through complex problems together in a safe space for voicing good – and not so good – ideas."

- Whitney Byrd, Preconstruction Manager

"I met my mentor on my orientation day at Clark! April Wedderburn spoke to us about her experience at the company and she later sat with me during a lunch break. I didn't have industry internship experience. Most of my industry knowledge came from college courses, research, and word-of-mouth experiences. She was willing to answer the millions of questions I had about her work experience. She eventually introduced me to others in her network which made me feel more connected to the Clark family and provided me with additional resources whenever I need them.

I've learned a lot from the people I've met at this company but having someone with a similar background and life experiences embrace me from the start was integral in the success I've had at Clark. Watching April succeed has given me the push I need to constantly strive for greatness."

- Savannah Jones, Project Engineer

What do you look for in a mentor?

"I seek out those who can be truly honest with me. A mentor needs to be genuine and willing to engage. The ultimate goal of mentorship is to have an active dialogue with someone who has authentic knowledge of your career goals which they can use to help carve your path forward in an informed and strategic way." 

- Jamie Kaiser, Corporate Safety Training Director

"In a mentor, I look for someone who has achieved or is close to achieving some of the goals I have set for myself whether those are professional, relationship, financial, or spiritual. It's also important that the mentor is someone I feel comfortable opening up to and that has my best interest at heart."

- Whitney Byrd, Preconstruction Manager

What do you get out of being a mentor to others?

"For me, it's similar to having a center of gravity point. I say this because in the hustle and bustle of operations, committees and day-to-day tasks, mentoring brings me back to the foundation of pushing our industry forward. That push forward is created by great people. I've learned that mentoring gives me a different perspective and outlook on topics."

- Monique Holley, Senior Superintendent

"One of my biggest lessons learned from mentoring others is that you need to be adaptable. Not everyone learns the same way and sometimes you need to adjust the way you teach. In this industry, we work with people from so many different backgrounds and experiences. Carrying those lessons forward helps me be a more effective part of the team and leader to our trade partners."

- Savannah Jones, Project Engineer