Mentorship can backfire when it feeds insecurity instead of confidence.
Sociologists Jessica Collett and Jade Avelis found that mentoring programs often create unintended consequences.
When paired with accomplished mentors, young women in academia frequently felt inadequate.
Instead of seeing a path forward, they saw a standard they couldn’t meet.
One mentee even wondered if her mentor was “secretly Superwoman,” asking, “How could I ever live up to that example?”
This is the problem with mentorship rooted in perfection.
When mentors only showcase their achievements, it creates a narrative of untouchable success.
Mentees begin to measure themselves against an impossible ideal, missing the humanity behind the polished facade.
A more meaningful approach?
Vulnerability.
Great mentors share not just their victories but also their struggles.
They talk about the failures, self-doubt, and missteps that shaped their journey.
Confidence grows not from seeing someone else’s perfection but from realizing you’re not alone in your imperfection.
Mentorship isn’t about being a hero.
It’s about being human.
“A mentor’s greatest gift isn’t their success—it’s their honesty about the struggles that built it.” – Mike Brewer