Behind every great leader is often an even greater mentor.

Someone who believed in them early, shared wisdom freely, and offered support without strings.

In a recent episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray and his co-hosts shared powerful personal stories about how mentorship shaped their careers — and their lives. Whether through open-hearted guidance or tough-love truth bombs, their reflections made one thing clear: mentorship is a force multiplier.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Mentorship accelerates growth — in business, in leadership, and in self-awareness
✅ Great mentors offer access, vulnerability, and wisdom
✅ You can learn from people even if you don’t like them
✅ Regular check-ins with a mentor can unlock new levels of success
✅ Transparency helps mentees see what’s possible — and what’s real
✅ You don’t need to be perfect to be a mentor. You just need to show up.

From the UN to Entrepreneurship: Ramon’s Journey with Jako

Ramon kicked off the discussion by honoring his longtime mentor, Yako Verinsky — a two-time entrepreneur and founder of Orion Global Solutions.

“When I worked at the United Nations, I’d sneak over to his desk. He’d turn around his computer and show me his profit and loss statements. Who does that?”

This act of transparency stuck with Ramon. Yako’s willingness to share not just his wins, but also his struggles, gave Ramon an early and real-world education in business. It shaped how he built his own brand and supported others through his journey as a speaker, author, and CEO.

The biggest takeaway?

Mentors don’t just give you advice — they show you what’s possible.

Lenika’s Mentor: Turning Personality into Profit

Co-host Lenika Johnson, CEO of Press Staffing, also paid tribute to someone who shifted the course of her life: Rod McKinnis, author of Sales Simple.

Rod didn’t just teach her how to sell. He showed her how to sell as herself.

“He taught me how to take my personality and strengths and turn them into profit — without shrinking to fit someone else’s box.”

They met weekly, strategizing on goals and opportunities. His support helped her break records in a male-dominated industry and eventually launch her own successful business.
She described their weekly meetings as life-changing.

“That mentorship helped me launch Trash Logic. Rod helped me step into my power.”

Mentors You Like — and Mentors You Learn From

But mentorship doesn’t always come from people you admire.

Lenika pointed out something we often overlook:

“There were mentors I didn’t particularly like — but I learned so much from them.”

Not every mentor is warm and fuzzy. Some stretch us by challenging our thinking, even if we never form a close relationship. Sometimes, the best teachers aren’t the most pleasant — they’re the most honest.

That’s mentorship too.

Transparency as a Mentorship Tool

Robert Kennedy III added an important layer to the conversation — especially when it comes to leadership in business:

“So many of us are raised to keep money and performance private. But real mentorship requires transparency — especially around the things we’re taught to hide.”

When mentors open up about their failures, their fears, or even their finances, it creates trust. It helps others know they’re not alone. And it gives permission to try — and fail — without shame.

Final Thoughts: Who’s in Your Corner?

Mentorship isn’t always formal. It might not come with a contract or a title. Sometimes, it’s just a consistent voice, a thoughtful nudge, or someone who’s willing to say, “I’ve been there.”

Whether you’re the mentor or the mentee, the relationship can change everything.

So ask yourself:

• Who has poured into you?
• Who are you mentoring?
• And who else could you learn from, if you just asked?

Because the power of mentorship is not in the moment — it’s in the ripple effect that can last a lifetime.