Do you need an academic mentor or a professional coach? Or both? Or asked another way, what kinds of support can you expect from a mentor vs. a coach when you are trying to reach your career goals?

If you’re a little fuzzy on what some of the distinctions are between mentorship and coaching, then don’t worry, this episode is for you.

In this 54th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I talk about mentoring and coaching within the context of higher education. In order to think through the question that I just posed, we actually need to parse out what some of the differences are between professional coaching and academic mentoring. 

And in a future episode I want to think through some of the places where mentorship and coaching can also overlap. Hopefully this discussion will help you to decide which one—coach or mentor—may be most helpful for you at this stage of your academic career. Or maybe it will clarify for you that it would be great to have supportive mentors along with a supportive coach.

Find the full written transcript at RisewithClarity.com/54, along with all of my other podcast episodes and other resources for women of color faculty in higher education.

Dr. Katherine Lee is a Higher Ed Coach and Career Strategist and a former tenured professor at an R1 university. She helps women of color faculty to manage the tenure track, navigate politics, and take the next steps to advance their careers. To find more resources or to work with Katherine, check out her website at: Rise with Clarity.