Why Mentoring Matters: Katten’s Ramana Rameswaran

I was devastated when Taco Bell announced they were taking away the glorious Mexican Pizza. Even though Kenya S. Woodruff, one of the mentors I am closest with, may not have the same affection for Taco Bell and the Mexican Pizza, telling her about my love of Taco Bell, and specifically what that dish meant to me, has opened a new way we communicate as mentor and mentee.

She and I have discussed what it meant to be a first-generation South Asian immigrant in the 1980s; the numerous articles about how Taco Bell was one of the staples of South Asian life in the U.S. and a shared experience I have with many South Asian attorneys throughout the country; and how the Mexican Pizza was one of the first things I remember my father, a student at the time, enjoying as a treat when money was tight.

I think feeling comfortable enough to tell Kenya, a partner, about what might seem trivial to some, was a clear indication in our mentoring relationship that we really can be honest, and most importantly, human, with one another. It opened the door for her to tell me more about her life as well.

For me, being a first-generation American attorney, and finding people willing to impart knowledge and advice is not just a desire, but has been crucial in understanding how to navigate the legal profession. I gravitate toward people and mentors who allow me to be myself and who are supportive and real about their experiences.

Mentors, like Kenya, have helped me learn more about client development, how to become a more effective leader, and how to become a better attorney. They have helped guide me when facing difficult situations and have helped promote me whenever possible. Past and current mentors have influenced who I am as a lawyer and as a person.

How I Met My Mentor

Kenya and I first got to know one another years before I joined Katten. We met through the ABA Health Law Section. She is one of the people I looked up to for many years.

While we were friendly, we interacted mostly in our respective leadership capacities. It was not until I came to Katten that I really interacted with her. Kenya immediately became one of the people who made me feel part of their team.

Although there are formal mentoring programs at our firm and despite being in different offices—Kenya is in Dallas and I am in Washington, D.C.—Kenya quickly became my informal mentor, the person I would call when I had a question or needed advice.

She made it clear that she would be available for anything. I think we meshed because she knew that if she gave me advice, I would take it to heart and try to put it into practice as quickly and effectively as possible.

The best mentor-mentee relationships that I have had throughout my career have been those that organically developed. It has as much to do with a mentor as it does with me.

For me, it has never been about setting up “mentoring” time with Kenya. The mentoring comes from the five to 10 minutes before or after we have discussed something substantive. It comes from the quick text message exchanges or calls when something is going on.

I am not sure if we consciously realize that this is “mentoring time.” But, because of mentors like Kenya, I find myself also naturally spending a few extra minutes with more junior members of our team chatting about questions they may have or about life in general. It quickly fosters a culture and is probably one of the biggest reasons I enjoy being at my firm.

To Find a Mentor, Be Open to Opportunity

For those looking to find a great mentor, I would say the key for me has been to be open to the opportunity, to be real about who you are and what you are hoping to achieve, to expect candid feedback, and to put yourself out there.

One of the best things I have done is to simply ask to shadow a mentor when they are doing something I want to learn more about, like discussing a difficult topic with a client or making a pitch. It is always my goal to take something away from each of these experiences, even when a mentor’s style differs from my own.

Having great mentors has made me understand the importance of paying it forward. I can only hope that someone I mentor will be as open with me as I am with great mentors like Kenya.

Finally, in case you are wondering, when Taco Bell announced the Mexican pizza was coming back, Kenya was one of the first people I texted.

Woodruff shares her thoughts on her mentoring relationship with Ramana and her ideas on what makes a good mentor in her Insight.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners.

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Ramana Rameswaran is an associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and counsels clients on major M&A transactions and joint ventures, particularly involving health care private equity transactions. He provides strategic guidance on health-care regulatory issues and assists with health-care policy analysis and advocacy.