Featuring a Q&A with JD Chesloff, Mentor and President & CEO of the Roundtable, and Marielba Arias, Mentee and Assistant Branch Manager at Cambridge Savings Bank’s Somerville-Assembly Row Branch.

As National Mentoring Month comes to a close, the Roundtable is reflecting on its partnership with Conexion and mentoring efforts to support rising talent in the Massachusetts business community. Conexion is a Massachusetts-based organization dedicated to developing a pipeline and network of Hispanic and Latino leaders with the mission of equipping corporations, nonprofits, and government to effectively address the implications of the nation’s changing demographics, to the mutual benefit of the individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. As part of Conexion’s Early and Mid-Career Mentoring programs, JD Chesloff, President & CEO of the Roundtable, was connected in 2021 as a mentor to Marielba Arias, an Assistant Branch Manager at Cambridge Savings Bank’s Somerville-Assembly Row Branch.

JD brings more than 25 years of professional experience as a Conexion mentor, including over a decade in working government and serving in a leadership role with the Roundtable and its membership of CEO’s and senior executives of large companies across a range of industries and regions in the Commonwealth. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and on the Boards of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, Science from Scientists, and the Taly Foundation. Over the past year, JD has been mentoring Marielba, who has worked in the banking industry for six years and over two years with Cambridge Savings Bank. Marielba began her career first as a full-time Teller with career advancement over the years including roles as Universal Banker, Small Business Relationship Banker, and Senior Personal Banker. Marielba graduated from Salem State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Professional Studies and a minor in Educational Studies.

In celebration of National Mentoring Month, JD and Marielba share their personal experiences as both a mentor and mentee:

JD, why did you decide to become a mentor with Conexion’s Early and Mid-Career Program?

JD: The Roundtable had been working with Conexion organizationally on programs to connect business leaders and Conexionistas. This had the mutual benefit of building social capital amongst the Conexion cohort while providing Roundtable members with access to diverse talent.  It also allowed for each to learn from the other, about one another, and connect people who are traditionally not connected.  I saw the power and impact of those relationships and thought, not only was it valuable for the Roundtable to get out of its traditional lane, but it was time for me personally to do it as well. I wanted to expand and diversify my personal network, build new relationships, and learn from people with different perspectives and experiences than me.

How have you engaged with Marielba, especially virtually, to be an effective resource for her?

JD: Marielba and I originally met every two weeks via Zoom, and in person on a number of occasions.  I soon learned that she was a rising star in her company and industry, and thought that by connecting her with Roundtable business leaders, she would have the opportunity to learn about their career paths, get advice, and build relationships directly with some of the most prominent business leaders in Massachusetts. So, we would meet every other week with a different leader, from different industries and backgrounds, and she would ask questions and engage in what became really fascinating conversations.  Making the direct connections – which is at the heart of Conexion – proved to be a valuable experience and resource to Marielba even in what was predominantly a virtual environment.

What has been most rewarding for you in serving as a mentor to Marielba?

JD: There have been two: first, watching her grow professionally, gain confidence in herself, and eventually get the promotion she had been working toward. I have no doubt that Marielba is going to do great things. She is motivated by her desire to help people, and has the empathy, kindness and drive to be successful in doing so. Second, it has been incredibly rewarding to build a new relationship and learn so much from her and her unique perspective. Marielba and I have very different backgrounds and life experiences, and her willingness to share hers with me has been both rewarding and enriching.

Marielba, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. What motivated you to partipate in the Conexion program?

I was informed by my manager, Jane Gricci, that I had been nominated to participate in a mentoring and leadership program called Conexion. She explained to me that the nomination had to do with great performance reviews and my career path. Back then I knew very little about Conexion, besides it being a mentoring and leadership program for Latinos. The bank had recently joined the program and I felt very honored to have been chosen to participate in Conexion’s Early Career Program.

As you reflect on your professional development and career goals, what are the benefits you find valuable in having a mentor?

Marielba: I’m not sure where to start because mentorship simply changed my life. I had teachers in high school and college professors that I considered mentors, but I always wanted an official mentor to guide me in life. Never would I have thought that I would finally have the opportunity at this stage of my life. Having a mentor, especially during the work transition I was working towards to, was very valuable. I truly believe that having a mentor helped me reach my career goals at that moment. It also helped me be where I am today and made me aspire for much more. Having a mentor meant that I had someone with wisdom and professional expertise that was ready to help me with questions and guide me through uncertainties. Thanks to mentoring I was able to talk about things with a person more experienced than myself, which I believe helped me learn and grow quicker. Having a mentor helped me so much in becoming an authentic and self-confident leader, building and expanding valuable professional connections, and examining and shaping my personal and professional brand.

JD, why do you think other Massachusetts business leaders would benefit from partnering with a mentoring program like Conexion?

JD: It is a remarkably rewarding experience to serve as a mentor in Conexion.  There is certainly the professional component, being part of the growth and advancement of Latina and Latino professionals and helping them navigate their careers.  Hispanic people often talk about feeling “invisible” or having “imposter syndrome” in their workplaces.  Working with them to address this is particularly rewarding.  And there is also the personal component.  I have had the great opportunity to have three mentees through Conexion, all of whom have enriched my life personally. Having the chance to impact someone’s life, and have yours impacted at the same time, is a truly unique experience that I highly recommend to other business leaders.

Marielba, what has been most rewarding for you in having JD as a mentor?

Marielba: Like I told JD before, I will always be enormously grateful for having had the opportunity to meet him and having him as my mentor. It’s been an incredible journey getting to know JD the successful leader, but also getting to learn and see that behind all that success there is this humble, reliable, appreciative, inclusive, and caring person. These attributes were precisely the reason why I felt so comfortable around him and never felt different because of my country of origin or any other personal matters. Getting to spend time with him, hear his stories, and gain his pieces of advice has been incredibly impactful. I am very thankful to JD for having joined the Conexion program to guide and inspire people like me. I feel very lucky to know that I can count on such an amazing human being. I truly believe I was paired with the best mentor ever.

To learn more about Conexion, visit: http://conexion-all.org/.