If you work in communications, you’ve probably noticed: our industry doesn’t hand out neat career maps. There’s no “associate → manager → partner” ladder like law or finance.
Instead, comms careers look more like winding paths. Many of us are lone leads inside businesses, the only person who understands why messaging matters. Some are in agencies, delivering client work at speed, with little room to step back and plan their own growth.
Training budgets usually focus on technical skills – tools, channels, platforms – not the bigger stuff like leadership, visibility, or sustainability. The result is.. too many PR pros end up as the “silent expert”: reliable, capable, but under-seen, over-stretched, and unsure what comes next.
That’s where mentorship comes in.
Mentorship isn’t about telling you what to do. It’s about helping you see where you are, where you’re strong, and where you need to grow. That’s why at Turn Heads Global, we built the Career Growth Compass™ – four essential growth directions every comms professional needs: Strategy, Visibility, Mastery, and Sustainability.
A good mentor helps you grow in all four. Here’s how:
PR isn’t just about “getting coverage.” It’s about connecting comms to outcomes that matter: sales cycles, product launches, cultural shifts.
Mentors help you move from being looped in too late to being the one shaping the agenda. They challenge you to ask “why” before “how.”
Compass tie: North – Strategy.
If no one sees you, no one can promote you, hire you, or invite you to the table. Visibility isn’t vanity – it’s oxygen.
Mentors push you to claim space. They’ll nudge you to post, pitch, or speak when you’d rather stay quiet. They remind you that influence only works if people can find you.
Compass tie: East – Visibility.
Mastery is your craft. It’s not just execution, it’s the credibility behind your work.
Mentors sharpen your skills by giving feedback that stings in the best way. They’ll ask: “Does this plan actually move the business?” or “How would you handle that journalist differently?” It’s uncomfortable, but it makes your work sharper.
Compass tie: South – Mastery.
Burnout isn’t a badge of honour. Yet too many PR people wear it like one.
Mentors help you draw boundaries, say no with confidence, and protect your energy. They remind you that long-term influence only comes if you’re still standing.
Compass tie: West – Sustainability.
The Compass also maps three career stages – and mentorship looks different in each.
You’re reliable, fast, and detailed. A mentor helps you translate that into strategy so you don’t get pigeonholed as “the support.”
You’re advising and steadying high-stakes moments. A mentor pushes you to stop staying quiet, to share your value publicly, and to make your influence visible.
You’re leading with vision, shaping culture, and mentoring others. A mentor helps you recharge, reinvent, and think about legacy instead of just the next deadline.
Mentorship isn’t a “junior” thing. It’s fuel at every stage.
Not every mentor needs to be a celebrity CCO. What matters is perspective and honesty. Here’s where to start:
Look outside your bubble. Sometimes the best mentor isn’t in PR. A product leader or ex-founder can stretch your thinking in ways your comms peers can’t.
Set intentions. Don’t show up saying, “Teach me everything.” Be specific: “I want to grow in Visibility,” or “I need help with strategic framing.”
Expect challenge, not comfort. The right mentor won’t just pat you on the back. They’ll call out your blind spots – that’s the value.
Give back. Mentorship works both ways. Share your insights, teach them something new, or mentor someone more junior alongside. It keeps the learning alive.
A mentor won’t hand you a career plan. What they will do is sharpen your decisions, expand your perspective, and help you move with purpose. PR is a career of constant pivots, and mentors are the people who help you make those turns with clarity instead of crisis.
Don’t climb alone. Grow in all directions.
At Turn Heads, we use the Career Growth Compass™ to help PR and comms professionals stop being the best-kept secret in the room. Our tailored 1:1 mentorship helps you:
Every PR pro benefits from knowing not just where they’re headed, but also what might be slowing them down. A mentor can help you see blind spots and accelerate growth – and this quick quiz is a simple first step to getting that clarity:
