Nicole shares with us how her mentor, Steve, played a positive role in her legal career.
“I had a mentor early on who was extremely supportive of me in my early career. While I was in law school, I interned in Business Affairs at the Gersh Agency under their head of Business and Legal, Steve Kravit.
Though Steve oversaw the Department and negotiated every talent deal for the agency (which had to be hundreds each month), he spent countless hours reviewing contracts with me and doingwhatever he could to teach and professionally support my growth.
My then 23-year old self didn’t realize what a substantial investment he was making and that he didn’t have to do that (and probably didn’t have the time to either). I certainly don’t think anyone else in his position would have volunteered that kind of time for an intern.
Steve became like a surrogate father. He attended my law school graduation, and he helped me get a job several years later at a prestigious entertainment firm. I don’t see him as much these days, but we still get together for lunch once or twice a year.
Steve believed and saw potential in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself. I’ll always remember something very powerful he said back then: ‘Never forget who you are.’ I have to work to remind myself of that – nearly 20 years later. I don’t practice law anymore – having left it to pursue a career in publicity after five years in litigation, but the advice he gave and lessons he taught me, remain with me to this day.”
– Nicole, Co-Founder and CEO, Jones Social PR, Los Angeles, CA