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Belén Garijo: Did You Know The Word “mentor” Originates From Homer’s Epic Poem The Odyssey?

Belén Garijo\LinkedIn

Jul 18, 2025, 15:43

Belén Garijo: Did You Know The Word “mentor” Originates From Homer’s Epic Poem The Odyssey?

Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Did you know the word “mentor” originates from Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey?

Odysseus asked his wise and trusted friend Mentor to educate his young son Telemachus while he left to fight the Trojan War. Almost 3,000 years later, mentors are still largely considered to be older, more senior people who pass their wisdom on to the younger generation.

Yet in this modern era of work, learning never stops—and wisdom can come from anyone, regardless of age or seniority. That’s why I think it’s time to reboot the idea of who can be a “mentor.” And I’m proud that Merck Group is leading the way.

As CEO, building an inclusive, skills-powered organization has been my personal priority. As part of our high-impact culture, team members from every corner and level of our organization are encouraged to step up and serve as mentors. Our AI-enabled platform MyGrowth then gives everyone across our Group the chance to tap into this vast treasure trove of knowledge to develop their skills in areas they’re curious about.

I’m privileged to be one mentee, spending time with mentors such as Anna G., Andreas Becker and Ingrid Weizenegger.
It’s a priceless opportunity to learn from the best!

I’m equally inspired by our Weiterbildungsmentorinnen network. These training mentors often hold no formal leadership roles. Yet they volunteer to support their peers in identifying learning needs for their teams and navigating training opportunities.

By serving as trusted bridges between employees, HR, and leadership, they help to shape a culture where learning is inclusive, continuous, and embedded in how we work. They have also developed the basics of how learning can be organized in the digital world. Along the way, every mentor gains extra confidence to help advance their own skills in leadership. Their work has now been recognized nationally in Germany as a best-in-class model for participatory transformation.

I´m very proud of them and every other mentor. Thanks to you all for helping us redefine the role of mentor so that it’s no longer about hierarchy – but about trust, curiosity, and shared growth.”

More post featuring Belén Garijo on OncoDaily.