You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out - Mentorship Lessons from FUTURE NOW 2025

At first, I didn’t say much. I was way out of my depth. Sitting at the table, surrounded by professionals with decades of experience and peers who seemed more confident, I felt like the youngest person there—because I was. But as I listened, I realized I didn’t necessarily have to speak to learn.

The FUTURE NOW 2025 Conference allocated dedicated time for speed mentoring sessions, where mentors rotated between tables for 25-minute conversations. Mentors shared about a moment of doubt, a bold decision, or a job they thought would be temporary that turned into a career. I heard from someone who started in software and ended up in sales, another who entered the workforce during the 2008 financial crisis, and one who left law to work in business development.

Their stories made this clear: none of their careers followed a perfect plan. They were shaped by risks, restarts, and trusting their gut. Still, each had eventually found their way. 

Josh Johnson, writer, stand-up comedian, and Correspondent on "The Daily Show"

That message was echoed in the keynote conversation with The Daily Show’s Josh Johnson. The writer and stand-up comedian spoke about redefining success, not as a title or paycheck, but as the impact you make, the values you carry, and the personal goals you set. 

The same idea came up in nearly every conversation I had. Mentors and speakers alike encouraged us to look past job titles and focus on what really matters: the people, the stories, and the work that brings it all together. As cheesy as it sounds, it reminded me why I’m drawn to this industry in the first place.

Of course, there were moments when I felt like I was playing catch-up. I heard job titles and thought, “I have no idea what that means.” But the mentors were so welcoming that I just asked them about it. Every answer opened up something new. 

On the first day of the conference, Makeda Mays-Green from Paramount+ described her role as the SVP of Digital and Cultural Insights at Nickelodeon in a way that made me think, That’s a real job? I want to learn everything about it. I walked away from those conversations realizing there were so many roles I’d never imagined—but that somehow combined all of my interests in research, data analysis, and psychology.

What I appreciated most was how honest the mentors were. They didn’t sugarcoat the hard parts or pretend they had it all figured out. Instead, they spoke candidly about the risks, failures, and lessons that shaped them, along with the relationships they built along the way. It wasn’t about being perfect; it was about being curious, showing up, and staying true to yourself. I left feeling more grounded and less alone in my uncertainty.

The biggest shift for me was moving from intimidation to curiosity—from feeling like I didn’t belong to realizing that no one has it all figured out, and that’s okay. The mentors weren’t there to impress us.  They were there to guide us, reassure us, and remind us that we’re allowed to keep growing.

Walking into the speed mentoring session, I felt anxious and intimidated by the caliber of the people in the room. Walking out, I just felt inspired. Not because I had a clear path, but because I understood it’s okay not to.

And if everyone else is figuring it out as they go, maybe I can, too.