The Echo of a Mentor’s Nudge

I almost missed the biggest opportunities of my life — until a mentor stepped in.

From kindergarten to the workplace, mentors showed up at just the right moments. They helped me recognize opportunity when it was disguised as uncertainty, and reminded me to keep going when I almost didn’t.

That’s what mentorship does.

And it’s why I applied to be a mentor with TechWomen this year — a program that supports women in STEM from countries where both infrastructure and opportunity can be scarce. It takes all of us to stand beside them as they rise higher.

I was lucky to grow up in Turkey at a time when public education was free, accessible, and strong. That foundation shaped everything that followed — not just the knowledge I gained, but the people I met along the way who nudged me toward better choices.

I was lucky to have a teacher who pulled me aside when I was choosing high school. One of the best schools in the city — already over a century old — was known for its rigor and its accomplished alumni. The only catch? It was an all-boys school, and I was a teenager with the usual cocktail of hormones, leaning toward a more balanced option. My teacher said, “If you can get in, it’s a great school. Set your priorities straight.” I applied — and got in. That choice shaped everything that came after: the study groups, the mindset, the peer network.

The school later began welcoming students of all gender identities — a long-overdue correction that opened doors for everyone.

Later, while I was a master’s student, I nearly gave up on applying to a PhD program in the U.S. Funding had been delayed. Deadlines were closing in. I didn’t think I could pull it off. A mentor sat me down and said, “These opportunities don’t come often. Get yourself together and apply already.” I did — and I got in.

Then came another kind of luck: my PhD advisor, Ali Akansu, who didn’t just care about my research, but about the kind of person I was becoming. He talked to me about how I’d show up in the world, how to grow my confidence, how to carry myself with intention. Some of the best advice I’ve ever received came while drinking coffee with him, off the clock.

Do you see the pattern?

A colleague of mine, Abeetha Bala, is one of those people who walks through life with a clear intention: to lift others up and help them channel their grit. She co-founded the TechWomen AWS chapter and has been leading it successfully for two years.

When Abeetha told me more about the program, what struck me most wasn’t just the brilliance of the TechWomen participants — but the weight they carry.

Some come from countries where only 10% of households have stable Internet. Where water cuts are routine — and in many cases, the water isn’t even potable. Where girls are expected to shrink, not lead. Where the moment they speak up, someone tells them not to overstep.

And still, they rise.

They return home and launch bootcamps for girls.
Found startups.
Change curricula.
Mentor relentlessly.
Advocate for access and opportunity — for all.

This isn’t about “helping the less fortunate.” It’s about standing beside people who already carry the future — and amplifying what they’re already doing.

A little guidance — the right word at the right moment — can ripple across villages, classrooms, entire generations.

What we offer as mentors is perspective, encouragement, clarity. What we receive is often greater: the quiet knowledge that you helped someone take their next bold step.

If that speaks to you, apply today. Or find your own way to nudge someone forward.

It doesn’t have to be big.

It just has to be at the right moment.

A version of this piece was originally posted on LinkedIn. This version includes additional reflections — especially on what shaped me.