Why Elite Tech Leaders Say Mentorship Fails Without This One Step
Stop waiting for a mentor to lead—here’s how to take control of your career growth today.
Fiona Fung, an engineering lead at Anthropic and a former engineer at Microsoft and Meta, offers a masterclass on mentorship efficiency. In a recent interview, she dismantled the myth that merely pairing with a senior expert guarantees career transformation. Instead, Fung argues that the mentee’s proactive mindset is the true catalyst for success. If you aren’t driving the relationship, you are wasting it.
The core mistake Fung observes is passivity. Mentees often wait for mentors to define the agenda, assuming the senior figure will instinctively know what they need. Fung urges a shift in ownership: “Set really explicit goals for what it is that you’re looking to receive out of the mentoring relationship.” Whether you seek a promotion, technical clarity, or a shift in career direction, you must articulate that success metric before the first meeting. Without a defined destination, the mentorship drifts.
Fung also recommends optimizing the format of your interactions. Many mentees squander valuable one-on-one time offering status updates on tasks. Fung suggests moving these updates to asynchronous channels—shared docs or chat logs—so live sessions can focus on high-leverage, deep questions. This respects the mentor’s time and elevates the conversation from tactical reporting to strategic growth.
Finally, Fung highlights the psychological discipline required to receive feedback. She shares advice from a mentor who taught her to enter “read-only” mode during criticism. This means listening without defending and processing the feedback for at least 24 hours before reacting. This emotional regulation prevents defensive loops and ensures the wisdom lands. By setting clear goals, managing logistics, and mastering your mindset, you transform mentorship from a passive hope into an active vehicle for career acceleration.
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