Accompanying Others Along the Path: Allison Saillard's Approach to Mentorship

"I like to say that we're not here as mentors to write the map or take the steps, but to accompany and give help along the path."

Allison Saillard is based outside Philadelphia, working as Senior Manager of Business Operations for FanDuel. Her responsibilities relate to measuring and improving ways of working through process and communication. She also volunteers as VP of Programs for her local Project Management Institute, where she oversees the events calendar and creates opportunities for members to network and learn.

Through the Global Gaming Women mentorship program, she's found another way to create opportunities - this time as a mentor helping other women navigate their careers in gaming.

The Gentle Nudge

For Allison, mentorship is about giving back. "I have only come so far in my own career and personal life with support from so many people and believe that everyone who wants that experience should have the opportunity."

What she finds rewarding is seeing the women she mentors grow, even incrementally, in their confidence. Her perspective on what mentees actually need is grounded in reality rather than expectation. "A lot of us just need a gentle nudge or some reassurance versus a large sweeping change and a mentor can be there as a sounding board or just someone to hear you out."

Her understanding that transformation doesn't always require dramatic intervention shapes her approach to mentorship.

A Moment That Inspired Her

One experience particularly stands out. A mentee recently reached out to tell her that, thanks to the work they did together, they were able to have a conversation with their manager that aligned their role closer to their professional goals.

"They showed up to our meeting looking so much more confident and optimistic than in previous sessions and that really inspired me to keep going and help others."

Seeing that tangible shift in confidence reinforced why mentorship matters.

Learning to Listen

Being a mentor has helped Allison develop a skill she identifies as a historical weakness: active listening. For someone who loves to talk and share, the shift required conscious effort.

"Learning how to slow down and pay attention and not just listen to reply as a mentor has contributed in really meaningful ways to my personal life as a mom and friend and wife but also professionally as a team lead."

The skill of paying attention rather than preparing your next response turns out to be valuable far beyond mentorship conversations.

Not Writing the Map

Allison's advice to someone considering becoming a mentor for the first time addresses a common temptation: "It's easy to always want to give advice or tell someone how to act in a situation. Mentorship can be so much more fulfilling when what you're doing is helping someone find their own direction or voice."

"I like to say that we're not here as mentors to write the map or take the steps, but to accompany and give help along the path."

That distinction matters. Writing the map positions the mentor as the expert with the answers. Accompanying someone along the path recognizes that the mentee needs to find their own way, with support rather than direction.

Easing the Burden

Allison sees mentorship as an opportunity to use hard-won experience for others' benefit. "We all encountered challenges and obstacles on our own journey to career success and progress and, while those shaped us into who we are and where we landed, we have an opportunity to ease that burden for others."

"I'm sure there are a lot of people out there wondering what to do next who are in a situation similar to one we've been through and that having someone to speak with or seek advice from would be so helpful."

For her, mentorship serves a larger purpose: "Mentorship builds connections through shared lived experiences to help everyone grow together."

A Resource for Understanding Bias

For women in gaming, Allison recommends Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. Her reasoning connects directly to the industry. "There's such a big focus on data and statistics within companies and, specifically, this industry, however it's important that we continue to focus on and understand the ways in which data can be biased against various communities, including women."

Growing Together

From Philadelphia to FanDuel to the Global Gaming Women mentorship program, Allison continues creating opportunities for connection and growth. Whether she's organizing events for her PMI chapter or mentoring women in gaming, her approach remains consistent: accompany people along their path, listen deeply, and help them find their own voice.