Degrees: Real talk about planet-saving careers How a mentor can open doors, including ones you didn’t know existed
Oct 22, 2025
Dr. Barbara Dos Santos, a Utility Partnerships Manager at Arcadia with a Ph.D. in climate policy, shares her inspiring journey in mentorship, focusing on equity and support for women and people of color in sustainability. She discusses how intentional mentorship can create opportunities and dissects effective relationship strategies. Listeners will gain valuable job-hunting tips and hear how recognizing hidden needs can empower mentees. Barbara highlights the importance of commitment in mentorship and reflects on her transformative experiences with mentors.
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Open-Door Mentorship Works
- Be openly available: put your calendar link and invite people to book time to talk about climate careers.
- Respond to inbound requests promptly and offer short, helpful conversations to expand access.
Set Clear Goals And Commitments
- Make mentorship intentional and targeted by defining clear goals with the mentee at the start.
- Require mutual commitment: mentees must give time, attention, and follow-through to make progress.
Use KPIs And Stepwise Plans
- Treat mentorship like a project: set KPIs that map to the mentee's goals and measure progress.
- Co-create a stepwise plan (resume, target companies, networking, applications) and revisit it regularly.