By Dave DeFusco

When Sam Denker graduated from with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in real estate, he quickly obtained a job as a lease analyst at JLL, a global professional services firm specializing in real estate and investment management. While thrilled at being hired, he quickly concluded that he needed advice on how to ingratiate himself with his new colleagues and maximize his influence within the firm. 

He saw on LinkedIn that Jesus Olivera, a senior AI engineer at IBM who graduated from the Katz School in 2022 with an M.S. in Data Analytics and Visualization, was deeply involved in mentoring and, drawn by his impressive background in data analytics and his experience at a Fortune 500 company, dashed off a message. 

“That he worked at big firm was very interesting,” said Denker. “I wanted to hear about how he acquired that role.” 

They agreed to have a monthly hourlong conversation, with each being available to the other in between calls for advice and consultation. The experience exceeded Denker’s expectations. 

“He was very friendly, very nice,” said Denker. “He was generous with his time and answered my questions to the best of his ability. He even followed up afterward, wishing me well during the Jewish holidays.”

One piece of advice from Olivera has stuck particularly with Denker: “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Once you start a new role, you can succumb to impostor syndrome, but they hired you for a reason.” This reassurance helped Denker navigate the early days of his role at JLL with greater confidence. “Everybody who’s been at the company has also been in your shoes,” Olivera told him. “Just be yourself.”

As president of the Katz School Alumni Association, Olivera spearheads a mentorship program that pairs students and graduates with professionals willing to offer an hour of their time each month. The goal is to offer guidance, support career development and foster lifelong learning. The program aligns with the alumni association’s broader mission of creating meaningful relationships through events, educational opportunities and service initiatives, contributing to a thriving, engaged Katz School community. It has been a resounding success, providing students with the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and expand their networks.

“Mentorship exposes both parties to new ideas and perspectives,” said Olivera. “It’s very much reciprocal, and there’s so much to be learned from the people you’re mentoring. Both sides are meeting different types of people, understanding different experiences and growing their own network of up-and-coming professionals to be able to support or to be able to offer opportunities.”

While anyone can serve as a mentor, effective mentors cultivate some key traits. The best ones are great listeners, see the potential of the people they’re mentoring, and are willing to support them. 

“As a mentor, sharing specific experiences that have helped shape my opinion on how to do things is a key element of mentorship,” said Olivera. “Clarity and communication are also mutually important. It would help people who are being mentored to have goals they’re working toward. You should be clear with the mentor as to why you’re meeting them and what you’re hoping to gain.”

Olivera’s dedication to mentoring stems from his own experiences. “I’ve learned that you have to give to receive; it never goes the other way,” he said. “Even some of the jobs I’ve gotten in the past have been because I gave first.” 

Denker’s experience with Olivera has underscored the importance of mentorship in his own life. “It’s not so much what you know; it’s who you know,” he said, “especially in an era when computers are being used as a gatekeeper in the job application process.”