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April 18, 2024

Riding the Wave of Women Elevating their Careers through Mentors

By Mary Gorges, Talent Brand Content Manager, Marvell

In this post, discover how Marvell's innovative program is tapping into the buzz of mentoring in executive circles to help build a pipeline of future women leaders.

When a successful person takes an interest in your career, it can be exciting. In fact, receiving guidance or mentoring is a huge factor in job satisfaction. 

Marvell's ELEVATE program pairs women leaders with mentors who can help them ascend to another level in their careers – both on the job and in their own professional lives. It also contributes to filling the pipeline of future leaders at Marvell. Here are the stories from four of our leaders.


Sonya Gary: AVP in Cloud Sales, mentee

"I thought mentoring would make a difference because as you grow in your career, each step requires a different set of skills and a different perspective on the company’s success and your contribution to it."

Sonya learned how to craft an elevator pitch to build her personal brand – defining who she is and what she wants to achieve. She learned to stay authentic to herself and remind herself why she’s doing what she’s doing. It’s that excitement that helps bring value to a role.

“Most of the time people think that mentorships are only for those who are junior and just starting their careers, and that’s definitely not the case. I’ve had experiences both with mentors and mentees higher up in the org than me and also with peers. It’s a topic often discussed in the executive community now.”
 


Allyson Stewart: Mechanical Engineer, mentee

"I joined Marvell a little over a year ago. ELEVATE was a great opportunity to expand my network beyond my small world in Burlington, VT.”

Allyson was paired with mentor Ben Studer from Sales, who also emphasized the importance of personal branding. Ben guided her to network through projects and day-to-day work, pushing her outside her comfort zone. Notably, he encouraged her to post on LinkedIn about a conference she was presenting at and create a list of people at Marvell at higher and lower levels to meet with. Ben coached her as to what to ask in those meetings.

"Ben’s extroverted and outgoing and focused on networking and relationships. I’m an introvert by nature. The old Allyson would never have posted on LinkedIn. He pushed me to post."


Ben Studer: VP of Americas Sales, Allyson’s mentor

"I signed on to be a mentor to Allyson because I get to help people – especially women in their careers – in a safe place to move through Marvell."

Ben, known for his leadership in sales, joined ELEVATE to make a difference. Mentoring Allyson provided him with a unique opportunity to share insights and help her navigate the corporate landscape.

"I told Allyson, ‘I would never be able to tell you how to do your job better. But I can help you amplify what you’re doing, expand your connections, and expand your footprint at Marvell and beyond.'"
 


Karen Liu: Director, Inside Sales & Support for China and Taiwan

"My mentor is Marvell's Chief Accounting Officer. She doesn’t really know much about sales but talks a lot to executives and has helped build my confidence."

Karen operates in a fast-paced, high-stress environment bridging sales and customers. With daily challenges, her focus is on resolving issues quickly. Her mentor guided her to communicate more tactfully with management, emphasizing nuanced speaking over being too direct.

"I learned how to work smart. Instead of being so straightforward with executives, and telling them, ‘Do this, do that,' I learned to have the whole strategy and think before taking action."


Rob Laurence: Head of Business Operations, Analog Products Group, mentor

"I’m a big believer in mentoring. I have three young daughters and I want to walk the talk with them."

Rob was paired with a Marvell female software engineer and project manager. He focused on building her confidence and navigating challenges in what can be a male-dominated environment. He emphasized the importance of confidence in taking risks for better performance. Having already known her manager, Rob later received feedback that his mentee made remarkable progress in their six months of mentoring.

"Often men will step over women when they start talking. Let them do that. But at the end, say ‘I was speaking, and I’d like to finish.’ Don’t interrupt mid-speak as that causes anxiety.”

Marvell’s ELEVATE program is exclusively for high-potential directors or senior directors and technical track equivalent employees who are interested in expanding their leadership skills. Leaders then get matched to a mentor who fits their personality and goals. 
 

Tags: What Makes Marvell

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