Broadened Experiences via Mentorships
WILMAH’s Mentorship platform offers participants a unique chance to learn from other industry stakeholders across roles and organizations.
Having a background in education, mentorship was always something that resonated with Janice Addams as a means of building a network of like-minded individuals. In fact, she seeks at least one official mentor for herself every year.
“Mentorship creates a safe space to ask questions, relate with others who are familiar with your business, and work through real-life situations,” said Addams, sales director – U.S. Companion Animal, Ceva Animal Health, LLC – USA. “It’s a think tank that allows you to brainstorm, experiment, think out loud, and problem-solve outside of your usual environment or groups. I like having a formal means of leaning on someone whose purpose is to support your development objectives, share best practices, and pass along key learnings from their failures and successes.”
One recent meaningful experience came through Addam’s membership in Women in Leadership and Management in Animal Health (WILMAH). After hearing about the organization’s mentorship program through their events at national conferences, emails, and LinkedIn posts, she decided to sign up. She was partnered with a colleague in a similar role, but from another organization.
In her role at Ceva Animal Health, Addams is responsible for sales alignment and execution among six regions throughout the U.S., and manages six regional managers who each coach and lead 10 territory managers.
For the WILMAH mentorship program, Addams was paired with Keri Weppler, an area business manager for Zoetis. Weppler leads a team of 10 that covers the Pacific Northwest and Montana, Northern California, as well as Alaska and all places in between. She has been with Zoetis for almost 25 years in various roles.
Addams said she loved comparing experiences and ideas with Keppler during their time together. In fact, she believes the two made a lifelong connection that will continue throughout their careers. “I continue to lean on Keri for advice and rapport,” she said. “My questions were reciprocated so I felt heard and valued. It was wonderful to feel like I wasn’t only receiving support but able to give back as well. I always felt energized by our conversations. In the process of being a mentee, I felt like I was learning how to be a good future mentor who can make a difference in someone else’s day and career.”
Elevating opportunities
WILMAH’s mentorship platform is one of the association’s most successful initiatives to date. WILMAH utilizes the Chronus Mentorship Platform. The software is designed with strategic mentoring resources that allow users to have productive learning experiences in a highly efficient manner. WILMAH’s agreement with Chronus offers association members “the ability to learn and grow from each other, resulting in powerful development and learning opportunities.”
Each member that wants to be a part of the mentorship platform starts by building a profile. Once the profile is complete, the software platform’s algorithm will take the information provided and find a suitable match with another member based on similar goals, strengths and areas of opportunity.
The mentorship process itself lasts six months. The system will make recommendations on topics and meeting frequency. Or, the mentor and mentee can set their own topics and dates. Members can choose to utilize the platform to schedule meetings, or they can have their meetings outside the Chronos platform using FaceTime, Zoom, Teams, phone calls or even in-person meetings.
As of early 2024, there were about 350 members – mentors and mentees – registered in the platform.
“The great thing about WILMAH and this type of mentoring program is, it’s across the industry, in different organizations,” said Weppler. “I’ve been involved in mentorship programs within my own organization, and they have been helpful. The WILMAH mentorship platform offers a chance to expand your network and see what is out there in the industry. You get a better feel for who the industry players are. So, it broadens your experiences in ways that you wouldn’t get in an internal mentorship program.”
Weppler encouraged leaders who have already signed up to the platform to spend time learning about all the tools and resources available to them. “I would love to see more people take advantage of everything that’s offered in the platform,” she said.
In an industry where people are so passionate and dedicated, animal health can be a very small world, said Addams. A program like WILMAH mentorship provides an avenue for those newer and not as well-connected to feel welcomed and explore the industry’s offerings.
“I also think formal mentorship programs like this bode well for introverts who can get lost in networking events and social gatherings but have the desire and potential to lead,” Addams said. “With WILMAH especially, having so many women leaders available to mentor others means we can see, hear, and support each other faster and better and with long-lasting impact.”
Weppler, who has been a member of WILMAH since its inception, and a board member for the last two years, believes that when more stakeholders get involved in industry-level organizations like WILMAH, it raises the tide for everyone. “When we get involved with a wider audience beyond our own organizations, it elevates the opportunity for women in leadership, and develops opportunities for women who may not necessarily have it in their own organizations.”
Mentorship resources
With an invaluable network of diverse members and a pillar focus on mentorship, WILMAH offers all paid members access to the Chronus Mentorship Platform. Chronus is the leader in mentoring software with strategic mentoring resources that allow our members to have productive learning experiences in a highly efficient manner. WILMAH’s agreement with Chronus offers members the ability to learn and grow from each other resulting in powerful development and learning opportunities.
