You never quite forget your mentor, whether it’s the one who discovered your talent long before you did, pushed you to go beyond expectations or introduced you to new experiences like fine wine and oysters. In advance of John Prendergast’s visit to Zócalo to discuss his relationship with his “little brother” and whether mentors have the power to change lives, we asked some accomplished Angelenos who they consider their greatest mentors.
Carlos Moreno
My most recurrent mentors have been my schoolteachers, beginning as early as the fifth grade at Solano Elementary School (Mr. Leathers), on to Lincoln High School (Mr. Talley), and then Yale (Professor Alvarez). All of these mentors encouraged me to do my best and challenged me to do a little bit extra beyond the normal school assignments. They had confidence in my ability to not only complete my assignments, but to go the extra mile. There was a term for this–“extra credit.” Somehow, the positive reinforcement worked. I was never discouraged when I expressed an interest in a future profession, whether it was to become a physicist, physician, or a writer. I am literally astounded when I hear reports that people I know, successful in their professions, were told they could not aspire to become what they subsequently have achieved with great success. That is why when I serve as a mentor for a new attorney or law student, I emphasize the many options they have to achieve success and never discourage them from taking a particular course of action when their talents and interests take them there.
Carlos Moreno is former Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. He is the outgoing Chair of the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care and also served as Co-chair of the Child Welfare Council.
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Wendy Greuel
Of the thousands of people I have met throughout my career, a few stand out as mentors who have inspired me and shaped the course of my life. During my decades of public service, two of my most influential mentors were Tom Bradley and Henry Cisneros, the two former mayors that I worked for at the very beginning of my involvement in politics.
Working for these leaders profoundly influenced my early career, because I not only got the chance to be involved in the political process, but I also got to observe tried-and-true executives and learn about what it takes to be successful in public office and as a leader.
These mayors taught me that leadership means tackling the big issues, but never losing sight of the little things that really make a difference in people’s lives. Good governance means finding solutions, regardless of the size of the problem. Budgets and expansive projects are extremely important, but most people care just as much about the state of our roads and the simple, practical things that make up our daily lives. I have carried this belief with me throughout my career, and even earned myself the nickname “pothole queen” around City Hall during my tenure on the City Council. I like to think that Bradley and Cisneros would be proud that I earned that nickname.
Bradley and Cisneros taught me what it takes to get things done and to change the world, and I will continue to do whatever I can–whether it’s fixing a pothole or balancing the budget–to recreate a Los Angeles that works.
Wendy Greuel is Los Angeles City Controller and former President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council.
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Sonia Marie De Léon de Vega
I was fortunate to meet the person who would be my lifetime mentor in college. His name is Dr. David Buck, and he was the conductor of the University Symphony. He saw a talent in me that I had not even seen in myself. He believed in me from the very beginning. I was a pianist at the time I enrolled in his beginning conducting class, but this experience made me change my career goal and this is when I began to pursue conducting.
At the time, there were not any women conductors. Even though there were two females conducting opera, it was unheard of for a woman to conduct a symphony orchestra. The fact that I was a female and that the chances of succeeding in this career were slim were not an issue for him, or for me. What he stressed was excellence–excellence in musicianship and technique; nothing other than excellence would be accepted. In return, I expected that of myself, too.
Now many years later, I have conducted numerous symphonies. Through Santa Cecilia Orchestra, the orchestra that I founded and conduct, I have started a mentorship program. The program is in a middle school that is located in a gang-infested area. I send professional musicians from the orchestra to mentor youth that are playing an instrument in the school orchestra. The involvement of mentors is essential. Everyone needs someone to look up to and someone to believe in him or her.
Sonia Marie De Léon de Vega is the founder, music director and conductor of the Los Angeles-based Santa Cecilia Orchestra. She created Discovering Music, a two-year program that provides music education to schools throughout Los Angeles.
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Kai Ma
On the surface, my greatest mentor and I are nothing alike. He’s a Depression era-born WWII veteran and businessman. I’m a much younger journalist and creative type. Truth be told, we didn’t always agree or get along. But over several years, Bob Wagner, a family friend, managed to open my world up in fascinating ways. He taught me how to gargle fine wines and eat oysters; he shared stories about the war, his travels and 1940s New Jersey. While professors and supervisors provided more hands-on advice about my writing career, Bob’s mentorship focused on my character. He pushed me to think critically and to act ambitiously. His guidance inspired me to aim for bigger things.
It is also because of Bob that I learned failure was acceptable. He even encouraged it. One day, I was crushed after receiving particularly harsh feedback from an editor. Bob showed no sympathy. “So you failed,” he said. “I want you to fail. It means you tried. And it means now, you’re one step closer to succeeding.” This philosophy–that it’s OK to fail, even necessary–felt liberating. These types of lessons allowed me to grow and embrace challenges. And though I haven’t spoken to Bob in years, I still turn to his words during moments of loss or confusion about where to go or what to do next. Even as I write these words, I can hear our last conversation in my mind, especially when he told me: “Use brainpower. Be imaginative. And always, be brave.”
Kai Ma is an award-winning journalist living in Hong Kong. She is the former editor-in-chief of KoreAm, the longest-running English-language magazine serving the Korean American community.
*Photo courtesy of BES Photos.