Testosterone may be taking a large share of the blame for Wall Street’s mess, but in
cable some women still seek advice from men on how to succeed. As a curveball in this women’s issue, we profile three
male mentors who’ve helped women rise in the executive ranks. Ironically some of their advice sounds surprisingly, dare
we say it, feminine. The bottom line—mentoring is all about relationships, listening and communication.
By Caron Carlson
Brad Dusto COMCAST Dwight Duke CISCO Jim McCaffrey TBS
Brad Dusto, President of Comcast’s 6-state Dwight Duke, Corporate SVP and President If only all male bosses were like Jim Mc-West Division, learned about the impor- of Transition Network Systems at Cisco, Caffrey, EVP of Operations & Strategy at
tance of mentoring people other than white credits his mother for much of his business TBS. Well, we can dream.
males after launching a pay-per-view ser- acumen and appreciation of mentoring. A few years ago, Michelle McGuire, a se-vice in New Orleans many years ago. Advice from his mother “that really con- nior director at TBS, approached McCaffrey
“I was selecting the movies. Quite frank- tinues to stick with me is that the decisions with a plan to give 100 women the chance
ly, they were doing terribly.” So Dusto as- you make and the way you behave creates to advance their careers by joining WICT.
sembled a cross-section of the workforce your character.” “It was supposed to be an hour-long
to view movie trailers. More from Mother: Be very sensitive meeting because I thought I was going to
“The first thing they chose was The Color about how you are perceived; carry your- have to give him the hard sell,” McGuire
Purple,” he recalls. After that he let his em- self in a way that brings energy to your or- recalls. “Right away he said, ‘Great, I don’t
ployees select the movies, and the service ganization; and care about people. see why not.’” Currently Atlanta-based Mc-
fared much better. At the same time, Dusto The first thing about mentoring is “you’ve Caffrey underwrites membership for more
recognized a broader lesson: “You need to got to listen…and you’ve got to get to know than 500 employees in the Atlanta chapter
hear the voices of the communities you serve. the person a little bit,” says Duke, who’s of WICT. The national headquarters of WICT
I realized our management teams had to rep- based in greater Atlanta. is located just outside of Washington, D.C.
resent all facets of the people we serve.” One of Duke’s success stories is Sheri- For McCaffrey, mentoring is finding talented
Dusto also realized that it’s difficult for ta Caesar, now a VP at Comcast, but who employees and helping them reach their po-
employees in the ranks to gain the “big worked for Duke at Scientific-Atlanta. At tential. Mentoring women brings a broader
picture” perspective needed in manage- a time when customers typically were not range of perspectives into leadership.
ment. Mentoring has become a way for him willing to pay for extra services, she was “At that intersection you get the highest
to teach that. To provide the big picture, trying to launch a service business. This probability of success. That’s where you
he developed boot camps tailored to each required no less than a change in organi- get the best thinking.” It’s also about math.
mentee’s strengths and weaknesses. zational culture. “Dwight reminded me that “Nobody’s getting 30 shares anymore. It’s
Cathy Kilstrom, an SVP in customer care sometimes cultures are slow to change,” all about aggregating smaller and smaller
at Comcast, says Dusto sets the tone for “I was really challenged about how I was audiences. How are you going to reach
the organization. going to tee up this opportunity with the cus- them if you don’t understand the shoes
“He’s helped many women find their tomer,” Caesar says. “Dwight kept insisting they’restandingin?”
voices and a seat at the table and at the on [explaining] what’s in it for them. It’s about McCaffrey mentors six employees in a
same time elevate their position,” Kilstrom relationship-building with the customer.” formal program. He mentors informally as
says. “He is a great listener” and was sup- Says Caesar: “I can be a little bit of a bull a matter of routine. “It allows me to under-
portive of her tenure as president of WICT’s in a china shop when it comes to initia- stand what people are thinking and what
Rocky Mountain chapter. “He believes that tives.” Duke “encouraged [me to focus on] the challenges are... The information flows
was an investment for the future.” communicating.” It worked. both ways.” ♣
