Passion, Power, and the Mentorship Paradigm Shift in Tech

In today’s rapidly evolving tech world, mentorship has emerged as more than a professional development tool—it’s a powerful human connection that fosters resilience, purpose, and authenticity. Particularly for women in engineering and STEM, mentorship isn’t just about career guidance; it’s a lifeline to navigating environments where their voices may still fight to be heard. While technical skills are important, the emotional and strategic support mentors offer in the face of difficult workplace dynamics often makes the most lasting impact. Crucially, modern mentorship is becoming a two-way street—experienced professionals are not just teaching, but also learning from those they guide. This new model values emotional intelligence, shared lived experience, and mutual respect over hierarchy and formality. When mentees articulate their needs with clarity and mentors respond with empathy, both parties grow—and the entire industry benefits.

To explore how this dynamic unfolds in real-life engineering leadership, we turn to Kim Porter, Director of Mechanical Engineering at MiTek Corporation, whose insights on mentorship and passion are as pragmatic as they are inspiring.