Investing in People: Why Mentorship Matters at Actian

If there’s been one constant throughout my career, it’s the power of mentorship. From my first job to my current role at Actian, mentors have helped me grow, see new possibilities, and make smart career decisions. As I’ve moved through different roles and companies, I’ve also made it a point to be a mentor for others, which has been a rewarding experience.

At Actian, I’m thrilled to see how much our leadership team values mentorships. This goes beyond a formal program. It covers how we work together, support our peers, and help each other succeed. Mentorships are a core part of Actian’s culture, which is one of the reasons we have an award-winning workplace. 

How Mentorships Shaped My Career

I can trace some of my biggest career growth moments back to the mentors who invested their time and expertise in me. One of my first managers, going all the way back to 2003, made a lasting impact. We worked together early in my career, but we stayed in touch. Even though it’s been more than two decades since we worked together, I consider her a trusted friend and still call her for advice and perspective.

What helped make that relationship so impactful was how intentional her advice was. She helped me map out my three-, five-, and 10-year career goals and encouraged me to think about where I wanted to be in my future, not just what I had to get done that day. This mindset helped shape how I approach my career and how I support others.

I’ve been lucky to have several mentors along the way, including a manager at AWS who I followed through multiple roles. Even today, I regularly call her to get advice on everything from job decisions to how to handle challenging situations. Those relationships have helped me at every stage along my career path, and they’ve inspired me to be just as intentional about mentoring others.

Paying it Forward by Supporting Mentees

No matter where I’ve worked, I’ve always made mentorships a priority. At IBM, AWS, and now Actian, I’ve had mentees whether I was in management or an individual contributor role.

I support having career conversations that go beyond the next task we need to accomplish and instead focus on long-term personal growth. That’s why when one of my mentees from AWS who is based in Sweden took a job at Google, we still continue to connect and share experiences.

I like to map growth and goals on a 2×2 chart. This includes asking questions such as:

• What are you working on now?
• What are your short-term goals?
• Where do you want to be long-term?
• What skills or experiences will help you get there?

These conversations help people see beyond the daily workload and emphasize building a career they’re excited about.

Mentorship in Action at Actian

One of the things I really appreciate at Actian is how the mentorship program is woven into our culture. Every new hire gets an onboarding buddy, which I view as a really smart approach to accelerating how quickly we learn about Actian processes and priorities, and also solve any potential workplace challenges.

That ongoing buddy is the new employee’s go-to resource for all those early questions and, more importantly, someone who can offer guidance from day one in a safe environment. When I joined Actian, Ron Weber was my onboarding buddy. It was very beneficial to have a seasoned marketing professional and colleague to lean on for insights.

The engagement doesn’t end as employees become acclimated to the organization. Mentorships happen naturally at Actian through everyday interactions, career conversations, and ongoing collaboration. I always encourage people to build relationships outside of their immediate teams.

For instance, some of the best advice I’ve received came from people in sales because hearing different perspectives helps me better understand the impact of our work. Hearing other departments’ viewpoints also enables me to think about aspects of our projects that I might have missed or not fully considered. 

Why I Fully Support the Actian Internship and Mentoring Programs

Our internship program is another way I see Actian’s commitment to developing employees and preparing them for the next stage of their careers. Throughout the year and especially in the summer, we engage interns across various departments. They work on everything from creating marketing campaigns to elevating customer experiences to developing innovative technology.

We pair interns with managers and onboarding buddies, giving them meaningful projects with opportunities to drive business outcomes. This isn’t busy work. We offer hands-on projects that directly contribute to our business, platforms, and customer experiences.

For example, this summer I have an intern on my team. She’s leading an account-based marketing project that will be sent directly to customers. It’s rewarding to see her grow, take ownership of the project, and gain experience that she can use both in the classroom and throughout her career. As a manager, having an intern helps me move forward on strategic projects that I might not otherwise have time to tackle.

That’s why our internship program is a win for everyone. Our interns gain valuable real-world experience, and Actian benefits from fresh perspectives, new ideas, and brand awareness in places we may not normally reach. When interns return to campus and talk about working at Actian, they introduce our company to other students—future business leaders—and their professors. I love that Actian gets this exposure on campuses and reaches an audience we don’t otherwise engage with.

 Why Mentorship Will Always Be Important

Career growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through connections, conversations, and continuous learning. One of the most rewarding ways we bring this belief to life at Actian is through our mentoring culture.

Even after years in the field, I still seek advice from my mentors. I want to continue to learn, grow, and avoid blind spots. Mentorship has been a huge part of my success, and it’s something I’m deeply passionate about for others, regardless of where they are in their career.

At Actian, I see mentorships in action every day, from onboarding new employees to internships with university students to the everyday career conversations we have across the business. It’s part of who we are. It’s also a big reason why Actian is such a great place for people to grow their skill sets and advance their careers.

About Liz Brown

Liz Brown is a high-energy, results-driven marketing professional with a proven track record of driving business growth and inspiring, mentoring, and enabling colleagues and peers. Known for her strategic thinking and collaborative leadership, Liz excels at building impactful marketing strategies, ABM programs, and enablement initiatives tailored to top accounts and industries. She has extensive experience in brand positioning, integrated campaigns, and customer engagement, from large-scale events to targeted digital initiatives.