By Nicole Carrea, Chief Development Officer 

January is National Mentoring Month - a time to reflect on the relationships that shape our careers, build confidence, and open doors to opportunity. At StreetWise Partners, mentorship sits at the center of everything we do, helping job seekers navigate unfamiliar professional spaces with guidance, encouragement, and real-world insight. 

To mark the month, I sat down with John Doyle, CEO of Marsh, to talk about his own career journey, the mentors who influenced him along the way, and what mentorship means to him today. 

What followed was a thoughtful conversation about learning by doing, resilience, and the power of showing up for others. Lessons that feel especially relevant for anyone navigating the early or middle stages of their career. 

Nicole: As we think about National Mentoring Month, when you look back on your career, where do you see mentorship showing up most clearly and why does it still matter to you today? 

John: When I look back, mentorship shows up at every stage of my career, and it still does today. Early on, I leaned on mentors to help me learn the business and navigate challenges I hadn’t encountered before. As my career progressed, mentorship became less about technical guidance and more about perspective, judgment, and leadership.  Even now, I continue to learn from colleagues, board members, and other leaders.  

Nicole: You were also a first-generation college graduate. How did that experience shape your early career and your confidence stepping into the professional world? 

John: I grew up in New York and graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Management in 1986. At that point, I had limited exposure to professional environments, but I quickly realized that I had been well-prepared to compete in them.  A week after graduating, I became an underwriting trainee at AIG. That opportunity sparked my excitement and put me on a path that wasn’t necessarily planned, but one that was full of learning and growth. Early on, I built confidence by asking questions, learning on the job, and trusting that I could figure things out as I went. 

“I didn’t walk into my first professional role knowing exactly what I was doing. I built confidence by asking questions, learning on the job, and trusting that I was prepared to compete.”

Nicole: That experience of stepping into new spaces without a clear roadmap feels very familiar for many StreetWise job seekers - confidence is often built through action, not certainty. I’m curious, looking back, are there any lessons from mentors that really stuck with you? 

John: One lesson that really stuck was the difference between being a manager and being a leader. Managers tell you what to do. Leaders help you understand why the work matters and how it connects to something bigger. That context is essential. Early in my career, I was always studying leaders...not just people I worked with, but competitors, public officials, coaches, and leaders in other institutions. I wasn’t trying to emulate anyone. I always knew I wanted to lead in my own way. But I paid close attention to what inspired me and, just as importantly, what disappointed me. 

Nicole: How has your understanding of mentorship changed as you’ve moved into leadership? 

John: Mentorship is about more than giving advice for me. It’s about fostering growth through honest dialogue and shared learning.  Today, I see mentorship as a two-way street, it's empowering others while continuing to learn from everyone around me. In professional services, we really operate on an apprenticeship model. You learn by doing, ideally with guidance from experienced professionals. Even with hybrid work and artificial intelligence, nothing replaces the deep learning that comes from real, experiential relationships. 

“Mentorship isn’t just about giving advice. It’s about creating the conditions for growth through honest dialogue, shared learning, and support.”

Nicole: Were there moments when mentorship really changed the trajectory for you? 

John: One pivotal moment was when I moved from being a subject-matter expert in D&O insurance to leading a business unit. I didn’t have deep leadership experience yet, but I had a strong desire to lead. Mentorship during that transition was critical. Other defining moments came during times of crisis...the Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. In those moments, I leaned heavily on mentorship and the experience of strong leadership teams. Clear communication, calm leadership, and staying focused on purpose really matter when things feel uncertain. 

Nicole: You’ve spoken about resilience. What would you share with young professionals facing setbacks? 

John: If you work in a competitive environment, setbacks are inevitable. Promotions pass you by. Opportunities don’t unfold the way you expected. Resilience and perspective are essential. Looking at things through a long-term lens helps. So does continuing to raise your hand for projects or roles that stretch you, especially during challenging moments. When you cultivate a mindset of running toward opportunity, it’s amazing what can happen. 

Nicole: What advice would you give to young people entering today’s job market? 

John: It starts with purpose. You may not know your own personal purpose yet, but if you understand the purpose of the organization you’re working for, or hope to work for, and how your role connects to it, you’re already at an advantage. I’d also say: don’t be afraid to take risks. Every risk comes with experience. When risks work out, the rewards can be significant. When they don’t, you learn and build confidence by realizing failure isn’t the end of the line. 

Nicole: Marsh is one of the longest-running partnerships at StreetWise, and your employees have always been incredibly generous with their time and talents. What do you hope people gain from mentoring or volunteering with organizations like StreetWise Partners? 

John: I hope people feel the joy of having an impact,  even a small one, on someone else’s life. I also hope they realize you don’t have to be a CEO or senior leader to be a mentor. Everyone has experiences and lessons that can help someone else navigate a similar path. 

“You don’t have to be a CEO to make a difference. Everyone has experiences and lessons that can help someone else find their way.”

As we celebrate National Mentoring Month, John’s reflections underscore something we see every day at StreetWise: mentorship isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up, sharing what you’ve learned, and helping someone else move forward with confidence. A big thank you to John for sharing his perspectives!  

This is your chance to make an impact. Become a mentor today and join mentors who are helping to shape the next generation of talent.