Finding time for mentorship shouldn't require syncing two full calendars, so I tried something new and stopped trying to schedule Zoom meetings at desks: Walk & Talk!
I take these chats during my morning walks with Happy, my dog. No slides, no formal setups—just a phone call while I'm outside, and a chance for early-career folks to get the guidance that's often hard to find.
Early-entry professionals in data and tech frequently struggle to get direct, honest feedback. Since I'm already walking Happy, it takes zero extra time out of my day.
We can chat about anything:
- Navigating data careers and job hunting
- Practical ways to leverage AI in your daily work
- Transition to leadership
- Challenges and moving to Germany
- Anything about parenting, career, even the meaning of life
I'm opening up recurring slots for these walking phone chats about 20–30 minutes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 7:45 and 8:15 AM. It can vary a bit.
To keep us both focused and avoid zero accountability, here is how this works: I give my time for free, but I ask for two things in return.
- Come to the call prepared with one specific question or problem you've already tried to solve.
- If the conversation genuinely helps you, I ask that you leave a short, honest recommendation on LinkedIn about the value of the chat.
If you want to grab one of these windows, send me a private message with what you want to discuss and we'll get it on the calendar.
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This is part of my "100 Days of Year One" series. Follow along as I share what I've learned in my first year as Head of Data and Cloud.