Latest / The Career Mentor Podcast with Fexingo: Finding Mentors, Sponsors, and Career Advisors / How to Find a Mentor When You Are Changing Industries
Transcript
- Lucas: You've spent twelve years building a career in consumer goods marketing. You know the retailers, the margin structures, the seasonal cycles. Then you decide to move into healthcare tech. And suddenly, all that hard-won industry context barely applies. Luna: It is a humbling feeling. You go from being the person who knows how things work to asking basic questions again. Lucas: Exactly. And the standard advice — 'find a mentor' — feels almost hollow in that moment because your existing network is mostly people in your old industry. They can give you general career advice, but they don't know the specific landmines of healthcare tech. Luna: So what do you do? Cold-email strangers on LinkedIn? Lucas: Sometimes that works, but there's a better framework. I want to talk about the three types of mentors you actually need when you're changing industries. Not just one mentor — three distinct roles. Luna: Okay, I'm listening. Give me the first one. Lucas: First is the domain expert. This is someone who has deep technical knowledge in your new industry. In our example, that's a healthcare marketer who understands HIPAA compliance, physician referral patterns, and the difference between selling to hospital systems versus selling to consumers. Luna: Right — the person who can tell you what you don't know you don't know. Lucas: Exactly. The danger without a domain expert is that you'll apply consumer goods logic to healthcare and make expensive mistakes. For example, you might assume a direct to consumer campaign is the best play, when in reality, the decision-maker is a physician who needs clinical evidence. Luna: That is a costly lesson. So how do you find a domain expert if you don't know anyone in the industry yet? Lucas: Start with your alumni network. Most universities have industry-specific groups. If you went to a school with a strong healthcare program, there's likely a healthcare alumni group. Also look at professional associations — the American Marketing Association has healthcare-specific chapters. Luna: And I assume you're not asking them to be your mentor in the first email. You're asking for a fifteen-minute informational interview. Lucas: Correct. You say, 'I'm exploring a move into healthcare marketing and would love to learn about your path.' That's low-commitment. Most people will say yes. And during that conversation, you can gauge whether this person has the depth you need. Luna: Okay, so that's mentor number one. What's the second type? Lucas: The culture translator. This is someone who understands the unwritten rules and norms of your new industry. In consumer goods, decisions might be made by a brand manager with significant autonomy. In healthcare tech, decisions often go through a clinical review board. The pace is different, the hierarchy is different, the language is different. Luna: I like that term — culture translator. So this person helps you navigate the soft landmines. Lucas: Yes. They can tell you things like, 'In this industry, you never schedule a meeting during the last week of the quarter because everyone is focused on closing deals.' Or, 'When you present data, you need to include a statistical significance test — that's expected here.' Luna: And where do you find a culture translator? They might not be in your alumni network. Lucas: Conferences are great for this. You go to a healthcare marketing conference and you talk to people who have been in the industry for a while. You can also find them through LinkedIn — look for people who made a similar industry switch a few years ahead of you. They've already been through the transition. Luna: So someone who moved from CPG to healthcare five years ago. They can tell you what surprised them. Lucas: Exactly. And they're often eager to help because they remember how hard it was. The third type is the sponsor. This is different from a mentor. A sponsor is someone with influence who actively advocates for you — they put your name forward for opportunities. Luna: And without a sponsor, you might get stuck in a lateral move instead of a real step up. Lucas: Exactly. When you change industries, you often take a step back in title or pay because you're learning. A sponsor can help you make sure that step is temporary. They might recommend you for a stretch assignment or introduce you to the right people. Luna: How do you find a sponsor when you're new to an industry? Lucas: You earn it by delivering results. In your first year, you need to prove your value on a specific project. Then, when you have a win, you ask your domain expert or culture translator if they know someone who could advocate for you. Sponsors rarely come from cold outreach. Luna: So it's a longer game. You build the foundation with the first two mentors, then the sponsor emerges. Lucas: Right. And it's worth noting that these three roles can be filled by the same person if you're lucky, but it's more realistic to find three different people. Each has a different function. Luna: Before we move on, I want to touch on something you mentioned earlier — the informational interview. I think a lot of people struggle with how to make that conversation productive. What's your best tip? Lucas: Prepare three specific questions that show you've done your homework. Not 'What's it like to work in healthcare?' but 'I noticed that your company recently launched a patient engagement platform. How did you approach the go to market strategy differently than you would have in a traditional pharmaceutical setting?' That shows you've researched and you're thinking deeply. Luna: And if the conversation goes well, you can ask if they'd be open to a follow-up in a few months. Lucas: Exactly. That's how you turn an informational interview into an ongoing mentor relationship. And it reminds me — if you're finding this kind of practical advice useful, we keep this show ad-free thanks to listeners who support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a small way to help us keep creating episodes like this one. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. Even a one-time contribution helps cover our production costs. Lucas: Alright, back to the framework. Let's talk about a common mistake people make when they're changing industries: they try to find a mentor who is too senior too quickly. Luna: You mean they aim for the VP or C-level right away? Lucas: Yes. The logic is, 'I want the most influential person possible.' But a senior executive often doesn't have time for a junior mentee who needs basic industry orientation. You're better off finding a director or senior manager who has more bandwidth and remembers the transition more vividly. Luna: Plus, a director might be closer to the day-to-day work that you need to learn. Lucas: Exactly. And in two years, that director could become a VP, and then you have a sponsor who has watched you grow. So think long-term. Luna: What about the timing? When should you start looking for these mentors — before you make the switch or after? Lucas: Before, ideally. Start building relationships while you're still in your current role. That way, when you're ready to make the move, you already have people who can guide you. If you wait until after you've started the new job, you're already behind. Luna: That makes sense. So if someone is listening and thinking about a change, they should start today. Lucas: Yes. Even if it's just one informational interview a month. Over six months, that's six new relationships. One of them will likely become a mentor. Luna: I want to add one more thing. When you're changing industries, don't discount the value of peer mentors — people who are also new to the industry but maybe a year ahead of you. They can share recent lessons. Lucas: That's a great point. A peer mentor can be a study buddy of sorts. You can compare notes on what's working and what's confusing. And they're often easier to connect with because you're on similar footing. Luna: So to recap: domain expert for the technical knowledge, culture translator for the unwritten rules, sponsor for advocacy, and peers for solidarity. Lucas: That's the framework. And the key is to be intentional. Don't just say 'I need a mentor.' Say 'I need a domain expert in healthcare marketing who can explain clinical trial terminology to me.' That specificity will help you find the right person. Luna: And when you do find them, treat the relationship with respect. Come prepared, follow up, and find ways to add value back. Lucas: Absolutely. Even if it's just sharing an article you thought they'd find interesting. Small gestures matter. And with that, I think we've given listeners a solid blueprint for navigating this transition. Luna: I think so too. Next week, we'll talk about what to do when your mentor gives you bad advice. Stay tuned. Lucas: See you then.