I remember the years when our company sponsored the early morning round table discussions at IAHCSMM. When “vendors” and “users” met for coffee and discussed current topics that were relevant to all of us. This year, Case Medical joined with Emory to support a new program at HSPA called Mentoring Meet Up. It was established to introduce new members of HSPA to those of us who have been around a while and have advice, experience, and knowledge to share. There were no lectures, only introductions, and conversations between mentor and mentee, and those of us supporting the program.

Mentorship has been a part of Case Medical’s culture for over thirty years.  Recently, I met a couple of former interns who started with us decades ago, and while I remember their names, they were hard to recognize as years have passed. We are older, me too.  With the guys having beards and gray hair, it took a few moments to recognize who they were. What’s important in all this is what they accomplished working for non-profits, developing consulting businesses, and expanding their mentorship goals to help others. One even developed a winery but reached out to us for a container for his emergency rescue squad.

Mentors provide guidance, encouragement, and constructive feedback and build the confidence in others needed to take risks and lead projects. Since our inception in 1992, Case Medical has opened our doors to students interested in STEM, manufacturing, marketing, and technology. We’ve had interns and co-op students from neighboring high schools, local community colleges, and universities like NJIT and Rutgers. And many stayed with Case Medical, turning their internship into a permanent position with our company and sharing what they learned with others first starting their journey.

Mentoring can motivate people to keep moving forward despite challenges. For us, it enabled us to prepare for ISO certifications, improve our quality system, focus on soft skills and communication, and address pending supply chain issues.  We’ve learned to use data to make informed decisions, address new regulatory requirements with science, update our quality systems, and prepare in advance for perilous times. Mentoring means continuing to learn from others for continuous improvement. Mentoring benefits mentors by providing opportunities for professional development, leadership growth, and a sense of purpose. It also creates a safe space for candid discussions and helps even people like me with years of experience develop new skills, share my career story, and develop a deeper understanding of leadership and professional growth. Mentoring matters as we learn to value each other by sharing our experiences and insights and become the best version of ourselves.