"The importance of mentoring is to help girls and women to tap into the knowledge of those with more experience than themselves and learn faster than they would on their own. Mentoring creates an environment for success for the less experienced. Girls and women need to be creative, flexible, and may need to be unconventional in their approach. Mentoring helps provide guidance through the obstacles and can lead to creative solutions."

-- Leah C., Senior Program Manager

"When I've mentored young women, women, or girls in the past, I've pulled from within. I've pulled from my roots. I've given them some piece of my past, so they'll get an understanding of what my journey was and what I've encountered along the way. These experiences helped shape me into the individual that I am today. As a mentor you have the ability to reach back into your past and share your experiences with your mentee to advise them of the good and the bad sometimes. I just let them know what's out there and advise them to keep their eyes and ears open for all types of experiences and opportunities."

-- Val S., Service Desk Manager

"I believe we are leaders in the workforce and we are supportive to other women who may need some uplifting. We have strength in numbers and women have made a footprint on this world. I have a daughter and I want her to see her mother succeed in her dreams and goals. I want to show her, she can do or be anything she is determined to be and not let stereotypes or others dissuade her. I have a strong role model in my mother and I hope to be a strong role model for my daughter. Here at General Dynamics, I have had the honor to work alongside many strong, determined and gifted women."

-- Christina S., Sr. Security Manager and FSO

"I read an article recently that said women need to stop waiting for mentors to be assigned. We need to start seeking out mentors for ourselves, and we need to accept invitations to be mentors. It can be awkward to ask someone to be your mentor, but it is a valuable way to gain knowledge and receive advice from leaders and subject matter experts. I’ve recognized that some of the people I want to learn most from are not always female, and that’s okay. For girls, mentorship plus exposure to strong female role models is critical. They need to frequently hear the message and see examples that prove there are no limits on the subjects they can study, the sports they can play, or the careers they choose to pursue."

-- Andrea S., Program Manager & Deputy Portfolio Manager

"For me, it was important to see that women in engineering-centric corporations could be effective and make a difference in support organizations. When I moved to my current organization, I was mentored by two very enthusiastic and respected women. Coming up in the ranks from an hourly position to exempt, taking on direct reports, participating/presenting in program reviews and more seemed unattainable when I first started. Based on my own experience, it could have been so easy for me to give up and seek positions in other companies had these women not taken the time to encourage me."

-- Theresa W., Subcontract Administrator, Supervisor

"Mentorship shows you your blind spots. It enables you to gain an outside perspective from someone who cares about you and is invested in seeing you succeed. The reasons women need to seek out mentorship are multifaceted and have changed dramatically over the years. A great mentor will help you be more successful in your current role, giving you insight quicker than you could gather on your own. They will advocate for you and expand your capabilities and network. They will give you the candid feedback that you need to truly grow."

-- Heather D., Technical Manager

"Mentorship and women supporting women is critical in encouraging our future changemakers. I have found that the best mentors create conversation instead of lecturing. Mentors that educate through sharing personal narratives invites others to do the same. I am proud to be a part of a company that encourages sharing knowledge and paying it forward."

-- Nicole M., Advance Strategy and Business Development Cost Manager