Thank Your Mentor Spotlight: Dr. Andrew Masich

We all have had mentors. Sometimes we don’t even know it until much later as we hear ourselves repeating their words or experiencing a dejavú moment that our mentor had predicted or shared through recounting their own story. I have had so many mentors. It’s hard to pick just one. Without question, my mother was the person who most influenced me by her example. If I were allowed an historical figure mentor I’d choose Abraham Lincoln—smart, funny, inventive, compassionate, quirky and a great storyteller. 

SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO ME...

If I had to single out just one mentor, I think it would be Audrey Brourman. I met her when I moved to Pittsburgh in 1998 to take the reins of Pittsburgh’s newly opened Heinz History Center. She was the History Center’s Fundraising Counsel. Older and considerably wiser than I, she introduced me to the community and showed me the ropes. Most importantly, she knew the history—the back story—of the people who could most help us achieve our educational and inspirational mission.

THIS PERSON HAS HAD SUCH A BIG IMPACT ON MY LIFE BECAUSE...

Audrey helped me hit the ground running. She helped me avoid the pitfalls that plagued other newcomers and my predecessor. Audrey helped me learn to observe and listen to people’s stories. She helped me understand that most people want to make a difference.  If you can show them the way, in the end, they will feel better about themselves. This is a fundamental human need. We all want to feel good about ourselves and that we are making a positive difference.

WHY IS MENTORING IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE? 

We can all learn from others. The idea of modeling our behavior and values on those whom we trust and admire is a key element in our growth and maturation.  

A MESSAGE FOR MY MENTOR...

Audrey is no longer with us, but she lives on through me and in others whose lives she touched. I suppose I would tell her that and thank her for her sage counsel and encouragement. I might remind her, at the risk of sounding corny, that by being a mentor she is, in a way, not just an influencer but an immortal part of who we are.