Mentorship is a key aspect of a successful local government career. Mentors and mentees can work together to exchange best practices and support each other as they grow in their careers and face new challenges. 

SheLeadsGov recently discussed the value of mentorship and the advice given to local government professionals that has helped them in their careers. Kimberly Funderburk, president of government and education at Cigna Healthcare, noted, “Great mentors take the time to understand individuals, help build stronger teams, and inspire future leaders to grow in ways that reflect their own unique talents and aspirations.”

Four local government professionals share their insights and encourage others to find meaningful mentorship interactions. 

	Leadership is not one-size-fits-all. “You have to change your approach depending on who you’re talking with because, at the end of the day, you’re trying to communicate with somebody. And you can be you, but you can also be a version of you that knows how to communicate with them.” — Caitlan Biggs, assistant town manager, Little Elm, Texas
	Different perspectives are important. “When I started [in local government], the prevailing wisdom that I heard over and over again was that I needed to have a mentor who was demographically similar to me, so [I should] look for an African American female in my field. 20 years in, Tim is my most impactful mentor, and he didn’t check any of those boxes. He had that ability to stand in my blind spot and offer me a different perspective. My understanding of mentorship has evolved, and the advice that I would give is to focus on having not just one mentor. You need to have a mentorship bench, and there needs to be diversity in that bench.” — Jeanette Green, director of human resources, Thousand Oaks, California
	Mentorship does not have to be formal. “I've not ever had a formal mentoring relationship where you put it on the calendar once a month and you've got these scheduled meetings, mainly because I don't really operate well in that format. It's always been an informal thing, which helps me to mentor folks along the way. I'm mentoring others that are coming behind me, but I'm also seeking out my mentors or they're seeking me out when there's challenges that that I need to talk, talk through.” — Paulette Hartman, city manager, North Richland Hills, TX
	Mentoring is part of leadership and based on trust. “Part of leadership is recognizing that mentorship is part of your role. Just like any other professional relationship you’re going to have in the organization, it’s a relationship that is based on trust. So you need to make sure that if you’re going to mentor somebody, they want you to mentor them.” — Tim Hemstreet, county administrator, Loudoun County, VA

Continue the Conversation at the 2026 ICMA Annual Conference. 

The dialogue around mentorship and women’s leadership continues in Long Beach. Join thousands of local government leaders to connect with peers, explore practical strategies, and gain insights you can apply immediately in your organization. 

Check out the following sessions on mentorship:

• Legacy in Motion: Mentoring Through the Ages
• The Power of Proven Practice: Scaling a High-Success Mentorship Model

And don’t miss the women-focused sessions!

Register Today!