Mentors-Challenge 5

For last week’s leadership challenge, I began working with three mentors with whom I will interact on a weekly basis. Based on my goal to become a school principal, I chose, for my first mentor, Debby Gomberg, a principal at a local charter school, which I wrote the business plan for and established about four years ago. I first met Debby during interviews for an administrative position at the school. Debby stood out from the other applicants like a bright star against a dark sky. Impressed with her competence, experience, ability to communicate effectively, and her passion for education, the members of our school board and I quickly came to a consensus and selected her as our school’s principal. I have never regretted that decision. Now that my term as a school board president has ended and I am no longer her boss, I look forward to working with Debby as one of my mentors. She has much to teach me and I am anxious to learn from her experience and advice.

The second mentor that I selected is a man named Oscar Aguayo. He is a fabulous musician that I respect and admire. Composing, playing and performing music have always been an important part of my life. With my decision to go return to college, I find myself often neglecting this aspect of my self. Oscar has agreed to help me stay on track with finding and performing at least one gig a month and with finishing a new CD project.

My third mentor is my Dad. I hope that’s okay. ☺ He is one of the most successful and personally balanced businessmen I know. I admire his ability to take an idea and turn it into a creative and profitable business venture. He has also had the good sense to know when to sell his companies to larger organizations. At the same time, he devotes much time to his family and volunteerism. We both share a love of helping disadvantaged people improve their lives. This summer, I will be teaching English at an impoverished school in Donihue, Chile. My Dad is planning on coming down for a month to help with some rebuilding projects we have planned for the community. He will also be helping me to start a non-profit company to increase my ability to help others in economically impoverished areas.