Supporting Big Dreams: PowHERful Mentor Lisa Setyon
“When I learned about PowHERful Foundation’s mentorship program during the 2022 Gracies Leadership Awards, I immediately expressed my interest in getting involved to support young women with big dreams.”
Lisa Setyon, a trilingual French-raised journalist, knows the value of mentorship. Currently pursuing a second master’s degree in Data Science and Journalism at Stanford University, she speaks from experience, “I benefited from great mentors. And I have always strived to give back and help support others in any way I can, whether by going to schools where I grew up and providing guidance to girls who didn’t think they could succeed because of their backgrounds, skin color or race; or by offering tennis lessons and advice to other women at my childhood club, or simply by advising my younger cousins. I have always felt a great fulfillment in supporting the journeys and growth of people of all backgrounds.”
PowHERful paired Lisa with Naina, a young woman studying accounting at the University of Connecticut. “I recognized so much of myself in Naina,” Lisa says. “We meshed easily from the start, and our exchanges have been natural and fun. She shared a lot with me: what brought her to PowHERful, what her plans were, and what she was hoping for in a mentor. Her goals have become my goals, and I feel personally invested in her success.” Lisa continues, “I’m thrilled with the experience so far. Naina is not only sweet and funny, she’s ambitious. Talking with her has definitely brought me more perspective. While being a mentor is a way for me to support Naina, it’s already been an important development and learning experience for me as well.”
Lisa sees mentoring as more than providing advice, “it’s about helping with skill development, improving decision-making, and fostering new perspectives on life and career opportunities.” Her own education, career and life experience is a rich background from which to draw.
Prior to joining Stanford, Lisa worked for two years as a field producer for France’s National News Network in their Washington, D.C. bureau. “I oversaw the production of US based news stories and worked with correspondents to find story ideas, set up interviews, gather video content and collect information. I also freelanced for various news outlets in France for two years.”
“What I observed was a glaring lack of diversity. There was not much of a difference between a French or American newsroom: each time I was often the only black woman in a predominantly white setting. As I started helping reporters on various stories, I noticed how, for some, this lack of diversity played a huge part in the way the stories were told. We desperately need more points of view in seeing and covering different aspects of an issue. I see my journalism career as a testament to championing that challenge.
About mentoring Naina for PowHERful, she speaks with unrestrained enthusiasm. “It’s an honor,” she says. “I hope to be able to play a small part in helping Naina reach her objectives. I’m super inspired by her ambition, and I aspire to provide her with as much support and guidance as possible as she continues her education and embarks on her professional journey. I hope that my mentorship will help Naina pursue her dreams, and help her find that she can do anything she sets her mind to.”