UI Foundation/UI Advancement Weekly Update 11.19.21

Dear Team:

During November, and particularly as we near the Thanksgiving holiday, I find myself thinking about things for which I am grateful. There are many, but one that has come to mind lately is mentors, maybe because I have recently spent some time with a young professional working at CASE who wants to learn more about the advancement business.

I have always been incredibly thankful for the mentors who generously supported and continue to share their time and thoughts with me, especially in the early days of my career. Now, I realize that I am equally thankful for having the opportunity to be on the other side of the equation. It can be as impactful to be a mentor as it is to have one. When I am asked to spend time with someone new to our profession, typically my thoughts and ideas are being sought; however, 99 percent of the time, I take away something meaningful from the interactions, too. And really, isn't that the definition of collaboration, one of the Foundation's core values? Mentorship and collaboration benefit everyone involved, not just one side or the other.

I mentioned last week that, "We're all in this together," which means you don't have to be an "officially designated" mentor to share your wisdom and talent with those around you. Mentors can be found anywhere.  Whether you are a UIF or university employee, I challenge you to think about what you are doing as an individual to ensure those you lead or those you follow are committed to a culture that values partnership and sharing. Mentoring is just one example.

In conclusion, I hope you all have an enjoyable and relaxing weekend. If you are partnering or sharing in a Thanksgiving meal next week, you may want to think about getting your grocery shopping done soon since, like many other things, there are supply chain issues with some holiday favorites. If you will be using vacation time to take the entire week off and won't be online to read my message next week, thank you for your contributions to the Foundation and the university, and Happy early Thanksgiving.

Best regards,

Jim