Tammie Follett: The Mentor of Mentoring

Tammie Follett has always known the value of a good mentor. Early in her corporate career, Tammie asked for a mentor but ultimately had to seek out her own. 

Her tenacity and confidence– which she attributes to a very strong mother and an equally supportive father– pushed Tammie to do one of the things she does best: Network. 

Tammie selected a male mentor at work. Under his tutelage, Tammie was able to grow, but only so far. It wasn’t until TeamWomen that she found what she was looking for: A network of women supporting other women. 

In 2011, Pam Borton, head women’s basketball coach at the University of Minnesota, gave the keynote address for the Women in Business Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. 

Pam’s speech was inspiring, emotional, and ultimately the catalyst for creating TeamWomen. Her message was clear: women need to support women. 

Tammie was one of several women in attendance for Pam’s speech who would become the founding board members of TeamWomen. 

Tammie has worn many hats throughout the 12 years since TeamWomen’s inception. She was a TeamWomen Founding Board Member, served as Chair of the Leadership Conference Committee for 10 years, secured numerous sponsorships for TeamWomen events, and mentored countless women through TeamWomen’s Mentor Program. 

Mentor to many

When Tammie stepped into the role of Mentor for TeamWomen in 2012, she was able to share her infectious confidence with others. She encouraged her mentees to think outside the box, leverage their network, and learn how to make connections.

Making connections is a learned skill, Tammie said. A good mentor facilitates connections, fosters the mentee’s networking skills, and illuminates the opportunities that come from having a strong network. 

“I like to have all my mentees meet each other so they can do group activities,” Tammie said. “They all find that they have connections, with each other and their network just continues to grow. Then I’m introducing them to people at events and it just ripples.” 

The nature of TeamWomen lends itself to a robust networking atmosphere, and under Tammie’s mentoring, her mentees are able to build a core network of supportive women.

Another trademark of Tammie’s role as a mentor is the work she does to empower her mentees to be their own advocates– and no subject is off limits. 

They dive deeply into it all:  salaries; when to ask for raises; when to ask for bonuses; when to move to the next level at a job; how to negotiate, how to weigh salary, benefits, and satisfaction rate of a job against another opportunity. 

“[All my mentees] are at different levels in their careers. Some are rising, some have risen to great heights,” she said. “No matter where you’re at in your career, it’s all about learning how to leverage the connections you make and use the network you’ve built.”

Members of TeamWomen talk very openly and candidly about their circumstances and experiences, Tammie said. This transparency is the embodiment of TeamWomen’s mission: Helping women and girls rise together. 

“We’re here to help each other. There’s no competition among these women.”

Outstanding Mentor Honoree 

Last year, things came full circle when Tammie was named a TeamWomen Outstanding Mentor Honoree at the Wavemaker Awards in 2023.

Tammie told TeamWomen that one thing she loves about the award is that the nomination came from her mentees. 

“As we’re working together, they have gained confidence and now some of them are mentors working together and helping other women gain confidence,” she said. 

Tammie’s legacy as a mentor reflects the pillars of her own success: confidence, relationships, and a stellar network. 

“I’ve made so many new friends through the last 13 years,” she said. “If I need something, I know who to call. If they need something, they know who to call. It’s become a great resource for me.”

Tammie is still an active member of TeamWomen and continues to utilize her impressive network to bring in sponsors for events like the TeamWomen’s Annual Leadership Conference each spring and the WaveMaker Awards, happening this October. 

Tammie is currently the Director of Advancement for Lawyers Without Borders, the President of Books for Africa, and on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation.

Learn more about TeamWomen’s Mentor Program here. Learn more about how to become a sponsor for the WaveMaker Awards here.