When I look back on my personal and professional journey, one word resonates deeply with me: mentorship. At every pivotal moment in my life, I was fortunate enough to have someone who guided me, challenged me, and helped me see beyond my own limitations. These individuals weren’t just advisors; they were role models who invested in my success, not for their gain but because they understood the value of lifting someone up. Today, as I advocate for mentorship through my organization, Los Angeles Hope for Kids, I see mentorship as one of the most powerful tools we have for personal and societal change.

Growing up, I didn’t always know the path I would take, but I knew I had potential. That potential, however, was shaped and realized thanks to mentors who provided insight and encouragement when I needed it the most. They didn’t just teach me about business, leadership, or professionalism; they showed me how to be resilient, how to build relationships, and how to navigate the complexities of life with integrity and purpose. In many ways, these lessons were more valuable than anything I could have learned in a classroom.

Mentorship isn’t just about providing advice or helping someone learn the ropes in a particular field—it’s about empowering someone to see the best version of themselves. It’s about giving them the tools and confidence to overcome obstacles and pursue their goals. The more I reflect on my own experience, the more I realize that mentorship is not a luxury—it’s a necessity, especially for those who come from underserved or underrepresented communities.

When I founded Los Angeles Hope for Kids, I did so with mentorship as one of its core pillars. My goal was to create opportunities for children who might not have access to the kinds of guidance and support I was fortunate to receive. In many underserved communities, children face challenges that can seem insurmountable—poverty, lack of access to quality education, and limited exposure to career opportunities. But I believe that with the right mentor, these challenges can be overcome. A mentor can open doors that a child didn’t even know existed, showing them what is possible and helping them realize their potential.

Mentorship is a Responsibility

In my view, mentorship is not just a nice thing to do—it’s a responsibility. Those of us who have experienced success, whether in business or other aspects of life, have an obligation to pay it forward. It’s easy to get caught up in our own achievements and forget about the path we walked to get there. But I truly believe that the mark of a great leader is not just what they accomplish personally, but what they help others achieve.

As entrepreneurs, business leaders, or even just individuals with life experience, we have valuable knowledge to share. We’ve navigated challenges, solved problems, and learned lessons along the way that can greatly benefit those coming after us. Mentorship isn’t about giving someone a roadmap—it’s about helping them create their own. It’s about being there as they chart their course, offering guidance, wisdom, and a different perspective when needed.

Through Los Angeles Hope for Kids, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of mentorship. The children we serve often come from difficult backgrounds, and many of them face challenges that most adults would struggle to cope with. Yet, with the help of their mentors, they begin to see a way forward. They develop confidence, set goals, and start to believe in a future that once seemed out of reach.

Advocating for Mentorship

Advocating for mentorship is about more than just encouraging people to take on mentees. It’s about building a culture where mentorship is valued and prioritized. In our fast-paced world, it can be easy to overlook the importance of investing time in another person’s growth. But the truth is, mentorship is an investment in the future—not just for the mentee, but for society as a whole. When we mentor someone, we’re not only helping them succeed, we’re helping to build stronger communities, industries, and even economies.

We must advocate for mentorship in schools, businesses, and communities. We need to create formal and informal mentorship programs that make it easy for experienced individuals to connect with those who need guidance. For companies, this means making mentorship a key part of corporate culture, offering mentorship programs that help develop young talent and foster leadership skills. In schools, we need to pair students with mentors who can inspire them to pursue higher education, dream bigger, and break the cycle of poverty. In our communities, we need to reach out to young people who may not have role models at home and show them what is possible with hard work and support.

I also believe that advocacy for mentorship requires leading by example. I make it a point to personally mentor young people, whether through Los Angeles Hope for Kids or in my professional life. The time I spend mentoring is some of the most rewarding time I invest. Seeing someone I’ve mentored achieve their goals or surpass their own expectations is incredibly fulfilling. It reminds me of the power we each hold to make a difference.

Creating a Legacy of Mentorship

In the end, I want my legacy to be one of mentorship and empowerment. Success, to me, is not just about what I achieve in business or the ventures I create. It’s about the impact I make on others—the people I’ve helped and the lives I’ve touched. When I think about the children who come through Los Angeles Hope for Kids, I don’t just see them as beneficiaries of a program—I see them as future leaders, innovators, and mentors themselves.

My hope is that they, too, will one day pay it forward. That they will become mentors and advocates, continuing the cycle of empowerment that started with a single relationship. Because that’s the real power of mentorship—it doesn’t stop with the mentee. It grows, expands, and touches more lives than we ever could on our own.

So, I ask each of you: if you’ve had the benefit of a mentor in your life, or if you’ve gained experience and wisdom through your own journey, take the time to mentor someone. Advocate for mentorship in your workplace, in your community, and in your personal life. The investment you make today could change the course of someone’s life tomorrow—and that is a legacy worth leaving.

-Vivek Shah, Founder of Los Angeles Hope for Kids