Southern Nuclear launches mentoring programs

January is National Mentoring Month, and our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) excellence teams are introducing three mentoring programs to Southern Nuclear: Career Mentoring, Leadership Mentoring and Senior Reactor Operator Mentoring.

“Organized mentoring programs have proven to have a beneficial impact in helping develop our people,” said Kaitlin Giles, DE&I Business Partner. “Mentoring helps capitalize on the experience of our employees, while helping develop leadership skills, especially for those employees who are newer to the organization.”

Josh Carroll, Plant Farley Engineering Director, serves as a mentor to several others, and he has found the experience benefits him as well as those he mentors.

“It matters to me,” he said. “I want to help other leaders grow, and I’m still learning myself. I’ve learned from those I’ve mentored, and it has helped me develop too.”

Josh said he offers advice based on his own experiences, and he often helps others see things from a different perspective. “I grew up here at Plant Farley, and I learned from a lot of leaders what to do and what not to do. If I can have a conversation that helps someone else be a better leader, I am glad to take that opportunity.”

Josh admits it can sometimes be time-consuming, and sometimes he has had to decline requests to serve as a mentor, but he never simply says no. “I think about someone who might be a better fit. I suggest one or two other people who can serve as mentors, and I’ll even reach out to them and ask them if they are willing. I try to set the stage for success, even if I have to decline,” he said.