Ep. 130: Dr. Ijeoma Kola on the Importance of Having Mentors Who Look Like You and Where to Find Them
As we celebrate the 30th episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast we take a moment to examine one of the most common threads that come up in nearly every single episode: mentorship. Regardless of whether our guests have shared positive or negative mentorship experiences during their doctoral journey, it can't be denied that mentorship is one of the most important elements of success along this path. Today, we discuss the importance of having a mentor and particularly a Black woman to mentor you along your doctoral journey and beyond. Our host, Dr. Ijeoma Kola, shares some of her own firsthand experiences with different mentors. Dr. Kola breaks down the three categories of Black women mentors that she has encountered: the high-ranking Black woman mentor, the no-nonsense Black woman mentor, and the Auntie/Fairy Godmother Black woman mentor. She examines the pros and cons of each and gives some tips to make the most of any mentor-mentee relationship with one of these women. Lack of mentorship is the number one self-reported barrier to success in doctoral studies for Cohort Sistas members so tune in today to find out about the Cohort Sistas Sista Circle Mentorship Program and how you too can find a mentor that looks like you!
Learn more about the Sista Circle Mentorship Program.
Key Points From This Episode:
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The importance of having a Black woman mentor you along your doctoral journey.
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How Dr. Kola was challenged by a friend when starting this podcast because she didn’t have a Black woman mentor at the time.
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The story of one of the best mentors Dr. Kola had who was a woman but not Black.
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Why having a Black woman mentor is not the only or even the best way to get mentorship.
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Information about the Cohort Sistas Sista Circle Mentorship Program.
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How the lack of mentorship is the number one self-reported barrier to success in doctoral studies for Cohort Sistas members.
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The three categories of Black women mentors that Dr. Kola has encountered.
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Dr. Kola’s experience with a high-ranking Black woman mentor.
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Why another more junior mentor might be necessary in addition to a high-ranking Black woman mentor.
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Dr. Kola’s experience with a no-nonsense Black woman mentor and how she messed this up.
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Dr. Kola’s current mentor for her post-doc: the Auntie/Fairy Godmother mentor.
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The importance of finding a mentor that you can talk to about both your personal and professional life.
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How Dr. Kola found this mentor and you can too.
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The Cohort Sistas Podcast brings to life the stories, struggles, and successes of Black women with doctoral degrees and their lives beyond the degree. If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community, sign up to do so here, and if you are looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our partnerships page. Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow The Cohort Sistas Podcast, rate the show, and leave us a quick review.
