Paying it forward: How mentorship comes full circle for early talent

Stepping into an early-career role is a pivotal experience, and having the right support system can make all the difference. Red Hat interns have the opportunity to tackle real-life business challenges, which helps them better understand the career paths that interest them. And they give back to their teams in return: Emerging talent brings renewed energy, curiosity, and unique insights that can completely transform team dynamics. At Red Hat, this reciprocal exchange is fueled by a culture of mentorship that spans across all experience levels. To see this in action, we chatted with mentors across the company to find out how this summer’s interns have made an impact, and what we can all learn from guiding early talent.

Marc Richter manages a team of Red Hat technical account managers (TAMs) for the southeast commercial region in the US. This past summer, Aarna Upadhyaya, a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been shadowing several of Marc’s TAMs to get a better understanding of the modern reality of IT business. 

For Marc, one of the most unexpected impacts of having Aarna on board was the way his team—made up of many industry veterans—learned alongside her, leading to a reciprocal exchange of perspectives and skills. “Seeing the world through the eyes of someone who is new to these experiences gives us a chance to reset our approach,” said Marc. ”Aarna has absolutely given several of my team members the chance to exercise their mentoring skills.”

With over a decade of experience as a Scout leader, Marc has fostered a passion for supporting the next generation, which has extended naturally to the workplace. For Marc, one of the most rewarding aspects of the internship program has been hearing positive feedback from his team and seeing the meaningful ways Aarna has grown and contributed—from collaborating on publishing knowledge-centered support articles to prepping for the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) exam.

When asked for his advice for early-career professionals, Marc encourages them to lean into the unknown: “Red Hat is a safe place to fail in a spectacular manner. We will pick you back up and figure out, together, how to do better next time.”

Learning across teams and generations

Although wisdom, coaching, and tricks of the trade are often imparted from managers, mentorship at Red Hat can be found across teams, functions, and experience levels. Senior software engineer Alex Oladele spent the past summer as a mentor to Mason Mines, who is supporting the Ansible automation hub team as a software engineering intern. 

According to Alex, Mason’s enthusiasm has been contagious. “The positivity he brings to the role has created a sense of lightness throughout the team. We joke around a lot more, we get to celebrate his wins frequently. It feels good to see other people doing well.”

Intentional support can end up coming full circle, transforming mentees into mentors who continue the cycle of growth. One of the ways Alex has found fulfillment in his own career is witnessing others flourish, and helping them to do so by sharing his own experiences and hard-earned lessons. He credits this in part to support he had earlier in his career. “I don't think that I would be where I am without the mentors that I have had in my life,” he said. That support gave him the confidence to attend industry conferences and become a public speaker. 

Our college interns in Raleigh and Boston recently had a similar opportunity to pay it forward. After several weeks of tackling their own projects, building relationships, and familiarizing themselves with various software platforms, they were joined by the latest cohort from the High School Internship Program. Several participants from both the college and high school programs partnered up to create opportunities for connection and shared learning. Drawing upon their own experiences, the college interns offered support and encouragement as the high school cohort navigated a new professional environment. 

Figure 1. Mentors in the Red Hat Internship Program welcome the high school interns in their first week at Red Hat

Alissa Rogozin, a sales intern in the Boston office, reflected on the rewarding experience of mentoring a high school intern. “It allowed me to reflect on how much I’d grown in just 12 weeks, while also stepping back into the shoes of ‘day 1’ me,” said Alissa. “That awareness pushed me to slow down and explain things more clearly, reinforcing the idea that teaching something well is often the best way to understand it yourself.”

Ultimately, intentional mentorship enriches Red Hatters at every level—whether it’s a manager helping an intern navigate a complex project, a peer sharing tricks of the trade, or a seasoned intern guiding a new joiner. Hard-won expertise truly comes alive when it’s shared with others, and as your experience grows, stepping into a mentor role is a natural and vital next step.

Want to stay connected about upcoming Emerging Talent programs at Red Hat? Keep an eye on our careers site and sign up for our Talent Community to get updates on future opportunities.