U.S. WIN GROW – Being the Best You
U.S. WIN GROW General Session – Being the Best You
On May 28th, about 40 in person and 10 online participants gathered for the GROW General Session held at Duke Energy Corporate Office in Charlotte. The topics of the day were all about “Being the Best You.” Speakers talked about leveraging trusted partners and allies and having the courage to challenge them about supporting your own development. The group discovered that having a mentorship is not only for the beginning of one’s career, but it is a career long bolster for growth and discovery, even as a leader.
Steve Long, Chief Executive Officer of Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), encouraged identifying a potential sponsor in addition to a mentor, and working to solidify that relationship. While mentoring largely focuses on listening and offering personal advice based on experience, a sponsor offers advocacy in rooms you are not in, stakes their reputation behind you, and creates visibility for your work. Highlighting these differences motivated many in attendance to think more deeply about who is out there representing their best interest and nominating them for the next opportunity.
In a “Where Are They Now” session we heard from participants who have been mentors and mentees in the U.S. WIN GROW Program, sometimes at the same time. This segment was especially meaningful because it connected U.S. WIN GROW experience to real career outcomes. By reflecting on the journeys of past participants, the session demonstrates how investing in people creates long-term value for individuals, organizations, and the broader industry. Topics included the importance of transferring knowledge to the next generation and the need for emerging professionals to learn not only technical skills, but also the judgment, accountability, and program rigor that come with growing responsibility.
The program concluded with a keynote from Steve Capps, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer at Duke Energy. Capps provided reminders that you are in control of your own destiny when it comes to making the most of opportunities. He also expressed gratitude for those that had supported his rise over the years.
For mentees, the benefits of mentoring can be transformative. Mentoring is shown as a driver of faster skill development, stronger engagement, higher confidence, and improved career progression. For mentors, the value is equally significant. Mentoring strengthens leadership by sharpening communication, coaching, listening, and problem-solving skills. It gives experienced professionals a meaningful way to share what they have learned while reinforcing their own understanding and perspective. A mentorship also contributes to expansion of professional networks that can lead to future opportunities.
If you are interested in applying to be part of the U.S. GROW Program as a mentor or mentee, communication about the application process is forthcoming in June. The final date to submit applications for consideration is August 14, 2026. You can also visit our Booth at the U.S. WIN National Conference or contact Shannon McArdle, smcardle@myneil.com with any questions.
