Empowering Young Designers: The Power of Mentorship in Lighting Design

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What if sharing your expertise could shape the future of an entire industry? In our latest episode of Light Talk, I recount my journey through mentorship in the lighting design field and the profound impact it has had on both my career and the lives of those I've guided. From my blog post "Pay It Forward," this episode reveals how mentorship isn’t just about imparting knowledge but also building lasting relationships and contributing to the growth of the next generation. Listen in as I reflect on the importance of sharing our experiences to foster a thriving professional community.

In this special episode, I dive into my role as a mentor in the Silhouette Awards, a prestigious industry mentorship program led by Katia Kolovea (Archifos) and Eve Gaut (Parrot Marketing). Hear about my enriching experience mentoring Cristina Martinez, a passionate young talent in lighting design, and how our journey together has inspired me to continue giving back. This episode is filled with insights on the rewarding nature of mentorship and its broader impact on the built environment. Don't miss out on this heartfelt discussion and be sure to visit lighttalk.space for more educational content that keeps you illuminated.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome back to the Light Talk podcast.
I'm Martin Klaassen and greatto have you joining me again.
Today.
I'll be reading a short andinsightful blog post that
captures my recent experiencesin the lighting design field.
If you've been curious aboutthe world of lighting design, I
think you'll enjoy this quickglimpse into my daily encounters
that inspire me.
Don't forget to visit mywebsite, lighttalkspace, for

(00:26):
more educational content,including my in-depth blogs,
vlogs and podcasts.
Now let's light up your day withtoday's episode, blog 47, pay
it forward.
Paying it forward is reallywhat we do when we mentor other
people, specifically the youngergeneration.
You can't possibly make all themistakes yourself to learn from

(00:48):
, so you can and should learnfrom others as well.
Therefore, sharing yourexpertise and experiences as a
mentor are an importantcontribution to your mentee's
development specifically andtherefore, by extension, also to
the greater lighting industryand the build environment in
general.
While you may never knowexactly what or which part of

(01:08):
those experiences helped orimpacted the path that your
mentee chooses in life, the pureact of sharing and the
knowledge that you contributedis gratifying.
Rather than keeping it toyourself, paying it forward by
sharing as a mentor should be ano-brainer.
It has always been for me.

(01:32):
I have mentored many people overmy career, mostly people around
me, my team, to which I giveand have given leadership, but
also others that I have trainedor those that I have come across
in the industry or those whohave sought me out to give them
guidance.
When asked to participate inthe Silhouette Awards, an
industry mentorship programcreated by my dear friend Katia
Colovea and Yves Gaut, I did nothave to think for a second.
Of course I was going to do it.
My mentee this year wasCristina Martinez, a talented

(01:55):
young woman keen to make adifference in this world with
her work in lighting, butwanting some guidance and
reflectance of the bestdirection to achieve that.
The beautiful side effect ofsuccessful mentorships like this
is that it creates a deepfriendship and bonding.
Today, I still keep mentoringpeople.
That insatiable drive in me topay it forward remains, and my

(02:17):
blogs, blogs and books are animportant and immediate
expression of that desire toshare my knowledge, vision and
experience.
Thank you for tuning into thisepisode of Light Talk.
I hope you enjoyed this quickpeek into my world as a lighting
designer.
If you found value in today'sblog reading, be sure to

(02:39):
subscribe and share it withothers who might appreciate it.
Your support helps For moreinsights, discussions and
resources.
Don't forget to check outlighttalkspace.
Join me next time for my nextinsight.