I was standing outside Trinity Church across from Wall Street, reflecting on recent news I received: one of my greatest mentors had passed away. It’s been years since I last saw Richard, but the lessons he left me with? They’re still in my head—like he’s right here.

He helped shape me into the career coach I am today.

Remembering a Mentor Who Shaped Me

Richard wasn’t just any mentor. He was my master coach back in 2009, one of the two people who trained me when I first became a coach. He was also a gifted therapist, an artist, and later in life, a painter who spent his days in Mexico with his wife.

He co-founded the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, a place that has shaped countless lives in the Berkshires and beyond.

What I remember most, though, is his voice. Even now, I can hear it clearly: reminding me to listen more deeply, to ask open-ended questions, to hold space for someone without leading them to an answer.

Lessons That Stay With You

One memory always makes me smile: during a mentor coaching session, Richard challenged me to coach him on the color orange. He said he was being called to paint with it, and suddenly I had to bring all my training to bear on something that seemed so simple — and yet so profound.

That was Richard’s gift. He taught me that coaching isn’t about the subject matter. It’s about presence, listening, and curiosity.

Coaching as Mentorship

Losing Richard reminded me of something powerful: mentorship takes many forms.

A career coach is a kind of mentor. Not in the sense of giving you all the answers, but by helping you ask better questions. By pointing out blind spots. By challenging you to grow in ways you might not see on your own.

Coaching is mentorship with a framework. It combines reflection with strategy, support with accountability. And just like Richard did for me, I now get to do that for others — guiding them toward clarity and confidence in their careers.

Who Has Mentored You?

So let me leave you with this:

• Who has been a mentor in your life?

• What lessons of theirs are you still carrying?

• And how are you paying those lessons forward?

If you’ve been navigating your career alone, know that you don’t have to. Mentorship — whether through a trusted colleague, a teacher, or a coach — is often the difference between standing still and moving forward.

And if you feel like you could use a guiding hand, I offer free 45 minute career consultations. Book Here

Kelley Joyce is a career development coach who is dedicated to helping people discover their career path and land their dream jobs. She has served hundreds of professionals across the U.S., U.K., and Australia since 2012 to radically change their relationship with work. Follow her on LinkedIn for career and business tips.