Grace Taylor (now a managing editor at HMP Global) first learned about CSE when her employer at the time, a small publishing house, passed along information about the organization. She applied for and received a scholarship to attend the 2021 CSE annual meeting, earning herself free membership and an invitation to participate in the mentorship program as a mentee. “I have always been really interested in learning from folks who have a lot of experience,” Taylor said. “I’m a lifelong learner, so that was a great opportunity for me that I just had to take.” 

On the other hand, Anna Jester (now a Senior Manager, Partner Success at Wiley) used to work for a software company where one of her responsibilities was exhibiting at annual publishing industry meetings. In 2011, during a CSE annual meeting at which she was exhibiting, she quickly discovered her enthusiasm for the organization and jumped at the chance to join. Jester wanted to attend meetings, meet people, and learn new things. That passion eventually led her to participate in numerous committees, including the mentorship committee. It also led to her running for leadership positions and serving as CSE president in 2018–2019.

However, when Jester was asked by the committee to be a mentor in 2021, she was uncertain whether the role would suit her. “I very much said to the mentorship committee cochairs, ‘I’m not sure quite what you want me to share with other people,'” she recalled. Going into her first meeting with Taylor, Jester feared the experience would not prove worthwhile for either mentor or mentee. 

Anna Jester—Mentor

To her surprise, Jester—who had worked in publishing for many years—quickly realized that she had a wealth of scholarly publishing knowledge to share. It slowly dawned on her just how much valuable information she had accumulated over the years. Her insights may have been second nature to her, but they were new for Taylor. 

Jester, in turn, gained wisdom from her mentee. Jester admired Taylor’s fearlessness in confronting challenges and openly discussing her ambitions. “As people get further and further along in their careers, we are not as willing to question, ‘Is that something I want?'” she remarked. Seeing Taylor’s boldness in questioning everything served as a good reminder for Jester to embrace change.

Jester’s advice to new mentors is “don’t be afraid.” Mentors, she noted, have the opportunity to help those with less experience by sharing knowledge and guiding them to resources. Mentorship is also an opportunity, she said, for mentees to ask difficult, sometimes uncomfortable questions. It provides a space to get honest feedback without fear of judgment, as mentors have often faced similar challenges.  

Jester encourages others to take part in the mentorship program. Her message to prospective mentors: “You absolutely are worthy of doing this.” And to prospective mentees: “Do what you need to do to help yourself and do not feel bad about it.”

Grace Taylor—Mentee  

Taylor, who began her editorial career in 2017, approached the mentor–mentee relationship with Jester as a way to soak up knowledge and learn from Jester’s experiences. “I guess I was just trying to be a sponge,” Taylor said. Early in your career, she said, it’s important to have someone to bounce ideas off and get career advice from. Because Taylor was constantly trying to figure out ways to improve herself professionally and find new opportunities to grow, she often picked Jester’s brain. Topics ranged from what information sources to use, to how to approach new assignments, to how to talk to her manager about issues she had. 

For Taylor, reassurance was a huge component of her relationship with Jester. After going through many transitions, such as getting laid off, having her job restructured, and moving to a new team with a new supervisor, she found it comforting to have someone like Jester to talk with. Over her years in the industry, Jester had already faced many of the challenges Taylor was facing. Learning of Jester’s experience comforted Taylor, helping her realize that she could survive her struggles and that recovery is always possible. 

Through her mentorship, Jester helped calm Taylor’s doubts and build her confidence, encouraging her to stay hopeful both personally and professionally. Whenever Taylor felt uncertain, she would reach out to Jester, who would always express her belief in her, reinforcing the idea that she shouldn’t doubt herself. Additionally, Taylor enjoyed telling Jester of her promotions, bonuses, and positive feedback from supervisors. Celebrating each other’s successes not only strengthened their professional bond but also deepened their friendship. 

Taylor advises anyone considering a mentorship program to give it a chance. You may think it will not benefit you, she says, but you will never know until you try; you might find a mentor with whom you really connect. She notes that a mentorship is also a great opportunity to build your network and step outside of your comfort zone. Of course, “sometimes it doesn’t work out,” she says. “You might not click with the person, but if you do, there are a lot of rewards.”

Both Taylor and Jester say they are grateful for the impact they have had on each other’s lives. Jester has since mentored other mentees, and Taylor is now looking into becoming a mentor herself. And although their official mentorship has ended, the bond they forged has evolved into a lasting friendship. The two frequently get together virtually, whether to discuss work or simply to catch up. Their journey together shows the powerful effect mentor–mentee relationships can have, leading to lasting growth, connection, and support. 

Katherine Hollen (https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2822-2769) is a Master’s student in Science & Technology Journalism and a graduate student intern for the Nuclear Security Office at Texas A&M University.