Doug sits down with Artis Stevens, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, to talk about scaling mentorship well beyond one-on-one matches — including the momentum behind a $122.5 million gift from MacKenzie Scott. Artis frames mentorship as something coded into human behavior, arguing it works best when it's intentional and reciprocal rather than one-directional.
They trace BBBS's 120-year history as an early alternative to the juvenile justice system and its growth into a network spanning more than 5,000 communities today. Artis also pushes back on common misconceptions about what being a "Big" actually requires, walking through how matches are made and why the early stages of a mentorship can feel awkward before they turn into lasting relationships.
The conversation closes on mentorship inside the workplace, and how a structured program can open doors for employees who might not otherwise have a clear path up the corporate ladder.