The Secret to Growing as a Leader? Flexing Your Mentorship Muscle

You may not have heard of Leonard Kim.

When I met Leonard during my first 100 days of ‘listening and learning’ as a new CEO, I felt like I was hanging out with a movie star. You see, Leonard is an entrepreneurial icon in Korea. In the early 1990s, he and his wife, Esther, were living in Seattle and running a successful restaurant business. Upon learning of Amway and its business opportunity — and hearing it would be opening a new market in Korea — Esther was convinced that she and Leonard should move back home. With only five products available to them as Amway first launched in Korea, things were not easy. However, with their deep conviction and famous “we can do it!” attitude, they were able to build a highly successful, large business over a period of 35 years that includes tens of thousands of fellow entrepreneurs and customers using a wide range of health and wellness products.

But here’s the most critical thing to know about Leonard: his success as an entrepreneur is inextricably linked to his spirit of giving — as a mentor. 

Above all else, Leonard truly wants young people to have the same success as an entrepreneur that he’s had. In conversations with young entrepreneurs today, Leonard often repeats his favorite mantra: “Everyday Christmas.” What does this phrase mean? In Leonard’s eyes, our most precious moments in life are when we are able to help someone else … things are best when we have an abundant and giving heart. If we treat each day like it’s a holiday – like it’s Christmas – we will live with joy and eagerly lend a hand to others. These aren’t just thoughtful words on servant leadership. Leonard truly lives them through action. 

One incredible example: in 2002, Leonard was running an ultramarathon in Hawaii with some colleagues — those he had personally mentored — but as he neared the finish line, he realized they’d fallen behind. Because of his belief that goals are meant to be achieved together, Leonard immediately turned back around to find them. That’s right: Leonard ran almost 50 more miles in order to encourage all his partners to complete the race alongside him. If that’s not true mentorship, I don’t know what is.

For any leader, I believe it’s vital to practice this generosity of time and spirit. Being a mentor is an invaluable way to help new entrepreneurs succeed, build leaders, and in the spirit of growth mindset even learn a thing or two from a generation with completely different perspectives. Ultimately, it’s the gift that keeps on giving: by sharing your expertise with others, you become a better leader yourself. Here’s how to follow this blueprint and flex your own mentorship muscle.

Build relationships that go beyond business

Another entrepreneur who thrives as a mentor is Pam from Thailand, who has built a great health and beauty community alongside her husband, Chris. Regularly meeting young entrepreneurs for coffee around Bangkok, Pam helps guide them in their business journey: how to schedule their day, how to connect with customers, how to accurately market health and wellness products, how to carry themselves and how to learn from failures or setbacks. But it’s not all business talk: she also meets with her mentees for workouts or fitness activities that build tighter bonds and friendships.

Building relationships with this ‘live to serve’ mindset will help you go beyond business and make your network stronger. With a strong foundation of trust and care with the people around you — whether they’re collaborators, colleagues or potential customers — success is sure to follow.

Show, don’t tell

The best leaders are the ones who lead by example, who practice what they preach. Zhanbolat and Maral Bekmusaevy from Kazakhstan come to mind. Before joining the Amway business, Maral had a management position in one of the leading banks of Kazakhstan, while Zhanbolat was an entrepreneur. As they’ve built success as entrepreneurs together over the past couple of decades, they have made it their mission to mentor others. In a market that has limited economic opportunities, Zhambolat personally travels across Kazakhstan to small villages to run seminars that include a focus on building financial stability, taking care of your health, building a personal brand, and developing overall quality of life that’s balanced between work and family. Even more, in 2019 Zhanbolat was recognized by the government as a ‘philanthropist of the year’ for his charitable work supporting an orphanage in the south of Kazakhstan.

This ‘show, don’t tell’ mentorship philosophy has even been passed down to their children.  Their eldest daughter, Toty, is one of the top young entrepreneurs in the region. She is a leading mentor for countless creators who are building online communities and personal brands around their passion for health and beauty.

Take a chance on those you believe in

Back in 2007, my family and I were living in Durban, South Africa. We were nicely settled, and I was enjoying a new role within Unilever. One morning in December, I received an email from one David Novak, the co-founder and CEO of Yum! Brands. David welcomed me to come visit him in Louisville whenever I had the chance. I thought, “Wow… really??” I took the opportunity to fly out to meet with him. One thing led to another, and I ended up taking on a new role with Yum! I am forever grateful for him taking a chance on me, as it completely changed my life.

Since that first email, I have learned a lot from David about leadership and mentorship. David has the unique gift of making everyone around him feel like they can do anything they put their minds to. Like many others, he has inspired me to be a continuous learner, lead with heart, focus on culture, spotlight and recognize talent, and most importantly, leave a room with more energy than you found it. What could be a better legacy to leave than that?