Mentoring her way to success

COEUR d'ALENE — Local political icon Sandy Patano highlighted the importance of mentorship at North Idaho College's “Day of Dialogue” here Wednesday. Her own ascension into business and politics came about due to mentorship, she said.

As a young college graduate she didn't know where she was going, but a mentor urged her to apply for a job with Sunshine Mining. Patano said the company had few female employees. Nonetheless, she got the job. While managing Sunshine Mining's public relations and communications, Patano came to the attention of Republican politicians in Idaho. Work in politics was “outside my comfort zone,” she said. She didn't think she had the skills for the job. However, her boss and mentor convinced her that she was ready. Eventually she became convinced that due to public policies crushing the mining industry, the only place she could advocate for mining was in politics.

The Spokane native and Eastern Washington University alumna worked on former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's staff for 18 years. As an independent consultant she started the North Idaho PAC in 2012 to elect Republicans to office, and managed Steve Widmyer's successful bid for mayor of Coeur d'Alene in 2013. She has served on the advisory board of the Coeur d'Alene Kroc Center since its inception, is a former board chairman of Inland Northwest Community Foundation, took part on the Idaho Capitol Commission, and is part of Pita Pit USA's board of directors.

Patano told her mostly-female audience that potential mentors usually aren't too busy mentoring other people to mentor them. Instead, there are plenty of potential mentors ready and willing to help you strengthen your career, she said.

“Don't be afraid to ask for fear of rejection.”

Patano advised her listeners to be specific about the skills they wanted to improve upon, and to ask others for help. Their self-imposed limitations were their greatest obstacle, she said.

“Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone.”

She advises high school and college students that they don't need to know what they're going to be, but should explore fields until they find one they're passionate about. Finding a mentor can help with that process, and is an investment in oneself, she said.

“Invest in your own life story. No one else is going to do it for you.”