Magda Westerhout, vice president and principal in Moseley Architects’ multifamily housing sector, recently joined the Mentorship Intended to Navigate and Design for Success (MINDS) program as a mentor. Her decades of professional experience have been shaped by several mentorship connections, in which she has acted as both a mentor and mentee. These relationships give her firsthand insight on their value and the positive impact they make on a career’s trajectory.

As a MINDS mentor, she has the unique opportunity to encourage professional and interpersonal development, while fostering overall growth within the firm. Here, we will learn what this role entails, how mentorship impacts her career, and why all can benefit from taking part.

Q: How long have you been a mentor in the MINDS program? What motivated you to participate?

A: I have been a MINDS mentor for about a year. I decided I wanted to join after observing how much others were getting out of the program. Seeing leaders in the firm serve as mentors and witnessing the positive growth that resulted for everyone involved motivated me to participate. I was also inspired by the past experiences I’ve had in my career, both as a mentor and a mentee.

Q: What were those past mentorship experiences like? How did they benefit your career’s trajectory?

A: My first mentorship connection was a very positive, memorable one that formed when I first moved to Baltimore as a young architect. One of my employers, Dick Donkervoet, really took me under his wing. He introduced me to people and facilitated engagement with local organizations, such as the Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee, which proved to be a great experience. He was also an accomplished architect and principal in the firm I was working for and taught me important professional lessons. I did not report directly to him, which made the mentorship relationship even more valuable.

I’ve also served as a mentor through the years, particularly within Moseley Architects’ Baltimore office. I enjoy fostering connections with our staff, both new and established, and offering what I can to help them succeed. I formally serve as a mentor to Ashley Dennis through the MINDS program, which has been really fun.

Q: In three words, how would you describe your mentee, Ashley?

A: Dynamic, interactive, and talented.

Q: Likewise, what three words would you use to describe your experience mentoring her thus far?

A: Fun, open, and enlightening.

Q: How do you foster your mentor-mentee connection with Ashley? How does that play out on a regular basis?

A: Ashley and I figured out an approach that works best for both of our schedules, which is to keep a monthly call on our calendars. This is flexible, so we can change it as needed, but we typically talk for about 30-45 minutes. Our conversation topics range from professional challenges to best practices. Even if I don’t have answers, I think it is beneficial to share ideas. It’s especially advantageous for a mentee to do this with someone in a different office to whom they don’t report. It doesn’t take a lot of time and can be really helpful.

Q: Through mentoring others, do you feel that you have grown as well (either personally or professionally)? If so, how?

A: Definitely. Over the course of my 40+ years as an architect, it has been great seeing people get excited about architecture and learning how to excel within the field. I consider myself more of a leadership mentor than a technical mentor, so sharing my experiences and helping others learn how to build relationships with clients has been a lot of fun. Mentorship reinforces the importance of leading by showing, not just by telling. On a personal level, mentorship helped me learn early on the importance of being involved in the surrounding community through various organizations and activities.

Q: As a mentor, what is your hope for mentees in this program?

A: My hope is that it will help them steer their careers in a positive direction, figure out their strengths and interests, and build their skillset. Talking to a mentor about what you’re good at and working together to figure out how to best utilize those strengths is very valuable.  I also hope the program bolsters mentees’ confidence. Learning how to be more comfortable in meetings, realizing the value one has to offer, gaining confidence in professional settings—these are all things a good mentor can help their mentee navigate.

Q: What qualities make an effective mentor?

A: Being non-judgmental, listening well, staying interested, and maintaining self-awareness are all key things. It is also important to know that anyone can be a mentor, whether you’re in the late stages of your career or new to the field. Everyone has value to offer in this area. For example, we have a lot of high school and college-aged students who come in to shadow an employee for a day or work as summer interns. I always like to connect them with someone who has recently graduated, as they offer a unique perspective and experience level to the interns, and they can gain confidence by realizing how far they’ve come since being a student.

Similarly, anyone can be a mentee. Ashley, for example, is well-established in her career and serves on our Board of Directors. When the Baltimore office merged with Moseley, Stewart Roberson served as an unofficial mentor to me, and I have benefitted tremendously. Everyone, at all stages, can learn from these types of connections. There’s always something you can offer, and always something you can learn.

Q: What would you say to those considering taking part in the MINDS program, either as a mentor or mentee? Why should they join?

A: Mentorship adds immeasurably to your career opportunities. Whether mentoring or being mentored—and I would encourage everyone to do both of those things in some capacity—it helps define where you want to go and what you want to do. When I entered the field in the early 80s, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do in architecture, but having a mentor helped clarify my goals and figure out how to reach them. And being a mentor allows you to support, listen to, and learn from those you’re helping. I would encourage everyone to sign up for the program. If someone asks you to participate, say yes!