AWEC Mentor-Mentee Spotlight: Fabiola Riobe & Pyemwa Deshi

Fabiola Riobe & Pyemwa Deshi

Anyone who has founded a company will know, having an experienced adviser who can lend an ear and wise counsel during the tough times is key to their success. Mentors play a significant role in the lives and businesses of all our Fellows. 

This piece is the second in a series of spotlights on Cohort 3 Mentor-Mentee relationships. Fabiola Riobe is Associate Provost of academic innovation, online education and global opportunities at Rockland Community College in New York. In addition to her academic expertise, Fabiola also runs a financial education services business, which teaches clients the basics of financial management, and brings this range of insights and expertise to her mentoring relationships. Pyemwa Deshi is a Year 3 Fellow and the Administrator of Yunik Schools, a group of primary and secondary schools providing affordable education for low-income families in the semi-rural areas of Nigeria. Pyemwa took over the business after the subsequent passing of her father, the founder of Yunick Schools. 

What drew you to become an AWEC mentor?

AWEC directly impacted me. I was a member of Cohort 1 so I knew first-hand how uplifting the AWEC experience is. So, when the opportunity came to pay it forward, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. After seeing the amount of work that the AWEC team put into creating opportunity and providing a structure for female entrepreneurs like me, it was a given that however they planned to sustain it, I had to lend my services in any way possible. 

Had you been a mentor prior to becoming one at AWEC? If so how do the experiences compare?

My leadership style has always been to impart knowledge in whoever I meet, whether through athletics, throughout my career as an educator or as a mother. It’s not enough to say, “I know how to do certain things. I have to create a bridge and a network around me to pour into other people” what I have learned.

If you could offer 3 tips to someone either interested in finding a mentor or becoming a mentor themselves, what would they be?

• First, you have to have intent in everything you do. You have to understand your goals, whether as a mentee or mentor.

• Next, fluid communication between both parties is essential. Don’t be afraid to mix up how you talk with each other: it can be live, on Zoom or on the phone. Or you can send a survey through Google Forms. Or quickly chat on WhatsApp. At the end of the day,  you both have to know what you are trying to accomplish in the relationship.

• The third is transparency.  You have to approach this relationship as organic and raw as possible to get what you need to get your business to the next level. There is no pass or fail. Be open about your struggles, your failures. As a mentor, I am not there to judge. I am trying to facilitate a conversation that will get my mentees where they need to be.  You spend so much time posturing that you miss an opportunity.

How has the pandemic impacted your relationships with your mentees?

When you think of a standard mentor/mentee relationship, immediately there's an established hierarchy. The pandemic has allowed us to show our human sides, creating an empathetic level between both parties. The pandemic has truly humanized everyone. Everyone’s lives have been turned upside down, from kids being at home and interrupting meetings to needing to schedule ahead of time when to go to the grocery store because of early closure or long lines. It has allowed us to deconstruct, pull back the layers and look at ourselves as 6 women getting together wanting to change our lives. 

In many mentor-mentee relationships, the mentees assume that they are reaping all the benefits. What do YOU get out of these experiences?

I’ve actually gained a lot of industry knowledge like never before. Pyemwa and I operate in the same industry, but my other mentees are all in different industries and in different countries. My learning is so vast and diverse. Because of that glimpse into different sectors and hearing their unique challenges, I can stay relevant and up-to-date  in the business environment.

Have you noticed any common characteristics from mentees that perform really well? 

Vulnerability. The mentees that perform well are the ones that tell the truth, who lay their cards out on the table. They’ll look at an assignment or process they are going through, and it’s honest. The people who are vulnerable, who understand the real state of their business, who aren’t trying to be something they’re not, are more open to receiving someone else’s input or idea

What were your expectations with regards to mentorship? How did it turn out? 

When I joined AWEC in April, I approached the opportunity to have a mentor with an open mind and no expectations. I wasn’t sure about what this relationship was going to look like. When I found out the name of my mentor, I did a quick Google search to learn more about her. I was so excited to learn she was also in the education sector, same as me.

Fabiola did not skip a beat: when she received her list of mentees, she immediately set up a call with all of us. It was during this call that I knew that this relationship would be beneficial. 

Can you recall the first aha moments with your mentor? What results came out of that moment?

Like all business owners, I am feeling the effects of the global pandemic. 

We had to close the school during the first months of quarantine, directly impacting my staff and students. I couldn’t pay the staff and the students could not go to school. Going digital is not a viable option for us because we are in a rural area of the country. During the month of financial management, Fabiola met with each of us to address specific questions. I told her I couldn’t apply what she learned because we were out of business, so this was Fabiola’s response;

“It’s clear that you are passionate about your business. These were people in your father’s care, and they are in your care now. I don’t know what the solution is but I think you have to look inwards. You don’t have to have an answer now, but you need to know that there is something out there you can do to offer these people your support.”

Just hearing this was like a lightbulb moment for me. I immediately contacted a friend who works with action leaders. He has worked with schools in rural communities; developing correspondence education (distance education) programs, and advised me to create lesson packs. I gathered the staff and I told them, “We can do this. We can keep the children busy. We can pay people part of their salaries.” I just knew that I could get people to sign up. About 50 percent of the parents registered, and we were able to sustain the program for 6 weeks until schools could reopen.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from your mentor?

Fabiola taught me the power of believing. She says, “For every idea you have, it’s a yes! Don’t overthink it. Just do it.” Put it to work and see what happens.

AWEC isn’t about scores. It’s about learning. Don’t think about your scores. Think about what you are getting from it. 

How do you structure your mentoring sessions to make them work for you?

With a mentor like Fabiola, I’ve learned to let her take the lead. She will generate questions for us during our meetings. But I also know that, if I have a question, I can just chat with her and as soon as she is online, Fabiola will respond. 

If you could offer 3 tips to someone interested in finding a mentor, what would they be?

• The first tip would be to look for someone who understands your industry, who “speaks your language.”

• The second tip would be to look for someone who sees mentoring as more than just a professional obligation. Look for someone who is warm. We both know and understand each other’s families, our children. This familiarity has helped to break the ice in our relationship.

• The third and final tip is to look for someone who you aspire to be like.

What allows the relationship to be successful from the perspective of the mentee?

Willingness to learn is essential. Don’t feel entitled to any relationship. Don’t expect the mentor to spoon-feed you the answers. It’s not their job to always push you. For every relationship, you have to bring in your own value.