It’s a support system that you can count on when you need to reach out for resources. In this business you are always learning new things and it is extremely helpful to have people to go to that you can trust and you feel empowered by.
There was a mentor early in my career that was very influential in teaching me about how to behave in a business environment. This person taught me how to communicate professionally, time management, and how to go after the next best thing.
I think it is women seeing women as competition instead of colleagues. Women need to count on each other, learn from each other, and band together. I have very many successful female colleagues that could be seen as competition but instead I see them as a friend or mentor.
I’d tell myself to let my actions and results prove my success. Too many times younger colleagues want to tell you about how successful or knowledgeable they are but it is so much more rewarding when you just do your job and show what you are capable of. People recognize that.