Ever Wondered Which One You Actually Need?
You’re ambitious. You’ve got goals. Maybe you’re even stepping into a new leadership role or levelling up in your career. And somewhere along the way, someone suggests, “You should get a coach… or maybe a mentor?”
Cool. Great idea. But wait, what’s the difference again?
Isn’t it all kind of the same? Guidance, feedback, support? Actually… not quite.
Let’s break it down — clearly, casually, and without the fluff so you can figure out which support will move the needle for you.
Mentoring vs. Coaching. Quick Definitions That Make It Click
Mentoring = “Let Me Show You What Worked for Me”
A mentor is someone who’s been where you’re headed. They’ve walked the path. They have experience in your field. They offer wisdom, perspective, and advice based on what worked for them.
Mentorship is:
- Experience-based
- Informal or semi-formal
- Often unpaid and relationship-driven
- Rooted in sharing knowledge, not building systems
Think of a mentor like a wise older sibling in your industry — they’ve got the war stories and the shortcuts.
Coaching = Let Me Help You Figure Out What Works for You
A coach doesn’t need to have your exact career background. Their expertise isn’t your path; it’s clarifying yours.
Coaching is:
- Goal-focused
- Structured and outcome-driven
- Paid, professional, and often time-bound
- Rooted in asking powerful questions, building awareness, and creating strategy
A great coach doesn’t give you their answers, they help you refine your own.
When to Choose a Mentor
Mentoring is powerful when:
- You’re entering a new industry and want insider context
- You’re navigating something your mentor has personally overcome
- You want long-term, relationship-based guidance
- You’re looking for emotional support and shared experience, more than structure
Example:
You’re a woman entering private equity and want someone who’s faced gender barriers in the space, that’s a mentor move.
When to Choose a Coach
Coaching makes sense when:
- You’re stuck and need clarity on what to do next
- You’re in a leadership role and need to sharpen how you communicate, decide, and influence
- You’re burned out and want to reassess your trajectory
- You want a structured, confidential space to solve big-picture problems and design next steps
- You’re already successful, but you’re done winging it alone
Example:
You’re a mid-career executive questioning your next move, unsure if you should scale within your company, pivot to consulting, or renegotiate your role — that’s where coaching shines.
Here’s Where People Get Stuck
They think mentoring and coaching are interchangeable. So they ask the wrong person for the wrong kind of help and get generic advice instead of targeted support.
Or worse, they stay stuck because they don’t know what kind of support they need, so they don’t reach out at all.
Let’s fix that.
Dr. Brehm’s Perspective. And Why It Matters
Dr. Kerstin Brehm has both mentors and coaches. And she’s been both.
As a former cardiac surgeon turned global leadership coach, I mentor professionals in medicine and leadership when lived experience is key.
But as a coach, I work across industries helping high-performers build custom career strategies, realign with their values, and lead with more clarity, less exhaustion.
“You don’t always need someone who’s done what you’re doing. You need someone who can help you think differently about how you do it.”
How to Decide What You Need Right Now
Ask yourself:
- Do I want answers, or better questions?
- Do I want shared experience or strategic clarity?
- Do I want advice or frameworks to build my own path?
- Do I need accountability and structure, or support and perspective?
If you want reflection, wisdom, and emotional support → mentor.
If you want movement, structure, and tangible results → coach.
If you want both? That’s allowed too.
Final Thought: Both Are Valuable, But Only One Moves You Faster
Mentors are powerful mirrors. Coaches are catalysts. Mentors share maps. Coaches help you draw your own.
If you’re ready to stop looping on the same questions and finally take your next step with confidence:
Book a Discovery Call with Dr. Kerstin Brehm. Let’s figure out what’s next — and build a way forward that fits you.
