reinforces existing hierarchies? Wrong on both counts. In the arts, we tend to style ourselves as bastions of humanity, beauty and generosity. And yet, in Big Bad Corporate America there exist more examples of paying it forward and sharing expertise than have ever been available to, never mind prioritized for artists in opera. These coalesce tangibly in mentorship. Artists exist in scarcity—too many) Mentorship provides the most in-demand, transferable skills, while also forging meaningful connections. Universities and multinationals have studied it: whether traditional senior-junior or peer-to-peer, mentorship promotes innovation through interdisciplinary exchanges and creates more loyal stakeholders and employees by investing in its talent over the long term.
