How would one of the project managers you have had responsibility for in the past describe you as a mentor?

Remember to offer an answer that is authentic and in alignment with how a former co-worker will describe you if you plan to use that same individual as a reference. Also, select another resource such as a junior engineer or analyst in the event you have not yet had the opportunity to mentor project managers.

"I think the project managers I have coached in the past would describe me as passionate about developing a dynamic and comfortable team environment. I stress the importance of ensuring that the members of their teams feel fully supported in the work that they do. I encourage them to bring conflicts to the surface and address them as soon as possible. I inspire them to challenge their teams to work with change and to incorporate agility into all that they do. I also encourage them to reward and have fun with their teams. I stress the importance of creating a culture in which the people they work with have reasons to be excited about the work they do.

The other thing I think the project managers I mentor would say about me is that I drive home the importance of getting to know the world of their customers and developing strong relationships with them. There is a lot of value to be found in applying a deep understanding of a customer's teams, business, workflows, challenges, goals, etc. I am constantly challenging the PMs I work with to learn more and teach their teams so that they can directly incorporate what they learn into the solutions they build. Getting to know their customers well goes a long way when we need to have difficult conversations, and I regularly challenge my mentees to grow in their ability to show customer empathy and think from their perspective."