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Praise for THE MENTORSHIP EDGE "There are angels amongst us, and in this day and age of huge challenges, massive evils and injustices left and right, our angels need much more than wings. They must be entrepreneurs who never give up, mentors who pull up generations after them, resilient leaders by example who fix our brokenness and give opportunity to young adults where there was none. None such more impactful, important and impressive than Dr. Heiser. In the end, we can best measure our lives by those we helped. Debbie has saved thousands of lives, enabling them and encouraging them to thrive. I tip my hat. She is my hero!"
-PETER SAMUELSON, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Executive, Author, Film Producer "I had the good fortune to be introduced to an amazing lady four years ago who reintroduced me to the importance of mentorship, what mentorship really is, and the many layers involved. I have been truly blessed to have had some of the greatest research hierarchical mentors while learning the craft at NASA, what I did not realize was that my Friends-of-Charlie (FoC) network was a lateral mentor community that would later save my life on orbit during my Space Shuttle Mission STS-114. Dr. Deborah Heiser understands mentorship in all its aspects and realizes its importance in helping us live happy, full, and rewarding lives. Her gift at storytelling and her easy writing style make this knowledge transfer such a joyful experience. Debbie is now a trusted forever FoC."
-CHARLIE CAMARDA, Astronaut "
The Mentorship Edge, written by Deborah Heiser discusses the impact that mentorship has on an individual's personal and professional growth. The book includes real-world experiences from mentors with diverse backgrounds to help readers understand the multifaceted benefits of mentorship. Deborah Heiser is an educator and researcher who describes various forms of mentorship with remarkable clarity and insight.
The Mentorship Edge is not just a book; it's a blueprint for anyone seeking to harness the power of mentorship to unlock their fullest potential. This book is a must-read for mentors, mentees, educators, and leaders alike."
-LATONYA KILPATRICK, SVP, Clinical Research, Innovation & Scientific Communications at Colgate-Palmolive "Psychologist Deborah Heiser will wind up persuading you that you were born to mentor-on your terms, your way-and that you'll get more out of it than you ever dreamed of. It will bring you the kind of deep satisfaction everyone yearns for. I promise."
-HARA ESTROFF MARANO, Editor at
Psychology Today
List of contents
Introduction ix
1 We Are Built to Mentor 1
2 Five Key Components to Mentoring 17
3 What Mentoring Isn't 27
4 Why We Mentor 45
5 Mentoring Styles 67
6 Mentors in Our Lives 87
7 Mentoring in the Workplace 109
8 Defining Mentoring through Research 141
9 The Future of Mentoring 157
10 Creating Culture through Mentorship 165
11 Call to Action: Finding Mentorship Opportunities 179
References 189
Acknowledgments 193
About the Author 195
Index 197
About the author
DEBORAH HEISER, PhD, is CEO and Founder of The Mentor Project, a nonprofit that enlists the help of numerous thought leaders and accomplished professionals to offer mentoring services to students. She is The International Association of Top Professionals 2025 Top CEO and Mentor of the Year, and also an applied developmental psychologist, a TEDx speaker, Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, and a
Psychology Today contributor.
