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The Power of Mentorship in Compliance

Lisa Fine and Ellen Hunt recently hosted Melanie Sponholz, recently honored as Compliance Week’s 2024 Mentor of the Year, and Margarita Derelanko, Senior Director of Compliance at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, on an episode of the Great Women in Compliance podcast. They had a lively discussion about mentorship, featuring some of the most influential voices in our field. Melanie and Margarita share a mentor-mentee relationship that exemplifies the value of mutual growth and support in our profession.

Mentorship in compliance is more than just guidance; it’s a two-way street that fosters growth and learning for mentors and mentees. Melanie highlights this beautifully, noting that she knows as much from Margarita as Margarita does from her. This reciprocal relationship underscores a fundamental truth about mentoring: an ongoing exchange of knowledge, experience, and support.

Ellen echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the compliance community’s open, sharing nature. In a profession where continuous learning and adaptation are crucial, connecting, sharing, and learning from others is invaluable. Whether through LinkedIn connections, conferences, or casual conversations, every interaction holds the potential for growth and learning.

One of the most critical skills for any mentor is the ability to listen. Ellen stressed that understanding what the mentee needs is paramount. Whether they are seeking career advice, expertise in a specific area, or simply a supportive ear, a good mentor listens first and provides guidance tailored to those needs.

Margarita added that an impactful mentor must be fully present during interactions. This means dedicating undivided attention to the mentee and fostering deep, meaningful conversations that can lead to significant insights and growth. For mentees, being open-minded and receptive to feedback is equally important. Actual progress comes from incorporating the advice and perspectives shared by mentors.

Authenticity and confidence are foundational qualities that mentors should possess. Melanie highlighted the importance of mentors who are comfortable in their skin and genuinely interested in lifting others. This positive energy not only makes mentoring relationships more enjoyable but also more effective.

Lisa shared a personal reflection on the value of vulnerability in mentorship. Early in her career, she found it challenging to relate to mentors who always presented a perfect facade. Only when mentors began sharing their fears and failures did she realize everyone faces challenges. This openness fosters a deeper connection and gives mentees a more realistic view of their journeys.

In today’s interconnected world, mentorship doesn’t have to follow a traditional path. Margarita noted that mentors can be found in various ways, including blogs, newsletters, and virtual interactions. Compliance professionals like Kristy Grant-Hart and Amy Barnard Bahn, who frequently share their expertise online, serve as mentors to many without formal relationships.

This flexibility in mentorship avenues is a testament to the compliance community’s adaptability. Whether through structured programs or informal exchanges, the opportunities to learn and grow are abundant. Ellen related the value of building a diverse network of mentors, akin to having a “kitchen cabinet” of advisors for different aspects of one’s career and personal development.

For those seeking mentors, taking the initiative to reach out is crucial. Melanie encouraged professionals not to be bold and to ask for a virtual coffee or a quick chat. Specificity in your request—highlighting what you admire about their work and what you hope to discuss—can make the approach more effective. Most people in our field are willing to share their knowledge and experiences, especially when approached with genuine interest and respect.

Mentorship is also about fostering confidence. Margarita highlights how influential mentors can instill a sense of belief in their mentees, helping them recognize and harness their potential. This confidence is essential in a field like compliance, where the ability to stand firm in your decisions and actions can have significant implications.

Ellen iterated on the need for safe spaces in mentoring relationships. Whether you are navigating a difficult situation at work or seeking to improve your skills, having a mentor who provides honest feedback in a supportive manner is invaluable. These safe spaces allow growth without the fear of judgment, enabling mentees to tackle challenges head-on.

It is clear that mentorship in compliance is not just about passing down knowledge—it is about building relationships that foster mutual growth, support, and inspiration. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, there is immense value in seeking and providing mentorship.

The bottom line is you need to take action: reach out to someone who inspires you, whether it’s through LinkedIn, a professional network, or an email. Build your kitchen cabinet of mentors and be open to the diverse perspectives and experiences they bring. Remember, the compliance community thrives on collaboration and support; there is always room for one more connection.

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Great Women in Compliance

Great Women in Compliance: Building Great Mentor/Mentee Relationships

Welcome to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on the Compliance Podcast Network, sponsored by Corporate Compliance Insights. In today’s episode, Lisa Fine and Ellen Hunt speak with Melanie Sponholz and Margarita Derelanko, Senior Director of Compliance, Ivy Rehab Network, about mentor/mentee relationships.

The group discusses various aspects of mentoring, from choosing a mentor to building a relationship. They also discuss how this is a 2-way street and how mentors and mentees learn from one another. Mel and Margarita have an established mentoring relationship, and they talk about their experiences with one another and what they see as successes and pitfalls. They discuss the importance of having an authentic connection between the two individuals.

A mentor can provide critical support and guidance throughout one’s career. This episode can help those looking for mentors and how you can maximize this relationship, whether you are the mentor or mentee.

Topics include:

  • How being curious is a critical skill for a mentor
  • The importance of being open and vulnerable
  • How to reach out and make an initial connection with a potential mentor
  • Mentor/mentee relationships take many different forms 
  • Practical tips for mentors and mentees

You can join the LinkedIn podcast community or the Great Women in Compliance podcast community here.

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Compliance Week Conference Podcast

Compliance Week 2024 Preview Podcasts – Ellen Hunt and Melanie Sponholz on Conveying the Value in Compliance

In this episode of the Compliance Week 2024 Speaker Preview Podcasts series, Ellen Hunt and Melanie Sponholz discuss their presentation at Compliance Week 2024, “Conveying the Value in Compliance.” Some of the issues they will discuss in this podcast and their presentation are:

  • Showing your management and Board the value of compliance
  • Does compliance contribute to the bottom line or protect the bottom line?
  • Reconnecting with colleagues at Compliance Week 2024.

I hope you can join me at Compliance Week 2024. This year’s event will be held April 2-4 at The Westin Washington, DC, Downtown. The line-up for this year’s event is first-rate, with some of the top ethics and compliance practitioners around.

Gain insights and make connections at the industry’s premier cross-industry national compliance event, offering knowledge-packed, accredited sessions and take-home advice from the most influential leaders in the compliance community. Back for its 19th year, join 500+ compliance, ethics, legal, and audit professionals who gather to benchmark best practices and gain the latest tactics and strategies to enhance their compliance programs. Compliance, ethics, legal, and audit professionals will gather safely face-to-face to benchmark best practices and gain the latest tactics and strategies to enhance their compliance programs, among many others, to:

  • Network with your peers, including C-suite executives, legal professionals, HR leaders, and ethics and compliance visionaries.
  • Hear from 80+ respected cross-industry practitioners who are CEOs, CCOs, regulators, federal officials, and practitioners to help inform and shape the strategic direction of your enterprise risk management program.
  • Hear directly from panels on leadership, fraud detection, confronting regulatory change, abiding by cross-border rules and regulations, and the always-favorite fireside chats.
  • Bring actionable takeaways to your program from various session types, including cyber, AI, Compliance, Board obligations, data-driven compliance, and many others, for you to listen, learn, and share.
  • Compliance Week aims to arm you with information, strategy, and tactics to transform your organization and career by connecting ethics to business performance through process augmentation and data visualization.

I hope you can join me at the event. For information on the event, click here. As an extra benefit to listeners of this podcast, Compliance Week is offering a $200 discount on the registration price. Enter the discount code TFOX2024 for $200 off.

The Compliance Week 2024 Preview Podcast series is a production of the Compliance Podcast Network. Compliance Week is the sponsor of this series.

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The Ethics Experts

Episode 113 – Melanie Sponholz

In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Gio welcomes Melanie Sponholz. Melanie Sponholz, MSPT, CCEP, CHC, CHPC, is the Chief Compliance Officer for Waud Capital Partners, Healthcare. Waud is a leading middle market private equity firm with a focus on healthcare and business and technology services.