Clockwise from top left:( 1) The Women’ s Leadership Forum’ s mentoring panel helped inspire the framework for Sea Island’ s program.( 2) Former ISPA Chair Ella Kent, director of spa, fitness and well-being at The Spa at Sea Island, continues to champion mentorship within the industry.( 3 – 5) While the Women’ s Leadership Forum provided the foundation for its employee mentorship initiative, Sea Island ' s program welcomes all team members from across the resort.( 6) Sea Island mentors and mentees connect during the resort’ s Reveal and Connect yacht outing— a signature kickoff designed to celebrate and spark professional growth.

GREAT SERVICE ISN’ T JUST DELIVERED— it’ s developed. Mentorship plays a powerful role in that process, fostering professional growth, strengthening retention and ensuring leadership values ripple throughout the organization. The best mentorships aren’ t one-sided; they’ re reciprocal relationships in which both mentor and mentee gain perspective, confidence and purpose.

The Society for Human Resource Management( SHRM) identifies mentorship as“ a high-impact, low-cost strategy” for boosting engagement and reducing turnover. The International Coaching Federation( ICF) adds that mentorship encourages“ transformational learning,” creating sustainable cultures of collaboration and trust.

Whether a spa formalizes its mentorship structure through a written policy and training manual or cultivates an informal, culture-driven approach, the key is intentionality. Every mentorship program— no matter its size or level of formality— should have a framework that clarifies expectations, defines outcomes and celebrates shared growth.

For spa leaders, this isn’ t just about personal development; it’ s about leadership legacy. Mentorship transforms the invisible— culture, belonging and confidence— into tangible outcomes like increased employee retention and a steady internal talent pipeline.

SEA ISLAND’ S MENTORSHIP JOURNEY:

Building growth across a resort

When the Sea Island Company identified a need for stronger professional development connections across the resort, Ella Kent, director of spa, fitness and well-being and former ISPA Chair, knew mentorship could be the bridge.

“ Mentoring is a safe place,” Kent explains.“ It’ s not done by someone who evaluates you.”

That distinction— removing hierarchy from mentorship— became the foundation for Sea Island’ s now propertywide program. What began as a pilot project within one department has evolved into a thriving culture of connection that spans every corner of the Georgia resort.

PULSE n DECEMBER 2025 / JANUARY 2026 18