Carmen E. Delfi, senior vice president of transaction management at M&T Equipment Finance Group, mentors by example, giving future leaders a firsthand view of how she handles pressure, communicates and treats others amid the very toughest of business decisions. She emphasizes integrity, ownership and accountability, including the importance of acknowledging mistakes and learning from them.

“The most fulfilling part of being a mentor is knowing that your advice and encouragement helped someone further their career path,” Delfi says.

Delfi points to an individual contributor she once mentored who had immense talent but struggled to get out of her own way. Earning her trust took patience, but Delfi helped her recognize her own abilities. Today, that mentee is an outstanding leader in her own right, and the two remain close friends.