The Power of Mentorship: How Giving Time Creates Values-Driven Leaders

REPRINTED FROM UVIC TORCH MAGAZINE

When they first met, “Little Adam” was an open-hearted eight-year-old boy hungry for a male role model. His mother, Lorraine Pawlivsky-Love (BFA ’00, MEd ’05), was a UVic Fine Arts student, struggling to raise two small children alone. “Big Adam,” better known as Adam Kreek, was then 22, a UVic geography student and a member of the Vikes men’s rowing team. Somehow, despite the demands of training, studying and getting to know his future wife (Rebecca Sterritt, BA ’05 ), Kreek decided to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters. “I felt there was a hole in my life. I was leading a very focused, selfish life,” reflects Kreek, now 37. He recalls the positive-feedback-loop concept from Geography 101 with Professor Philip Dearden—you put energy in, you get more energy out. So, Kreek found himself sitting in the Big Brothers office and literally choosing Little Adam from a list of potential candidates.

“Big Adam” Kreek and “Little Adam” Love on the UVic campus. Credit to Connor Pickard.

Adam Love describes himself as having a difficult back story. When introduced to Kreek, he ran up and grabbed his hand. “Adam was so full of energy and so positive…here’s an awesome father figure 101, super-condensed.” The two got along right away and would spend time outside, go to track meets and generally horse around. The two Adams recall the time they rowed out to Darcy Island and camped overnight when Love was 15. The outdoor adventure involved a plunge into the Pacific Ocean as a morning wake-up. “My hands were just ripped to shreds,” says Love.

Maybe that’s to be expected when you paddle with an Olympian. Adam Kreek holds an Olympic gold medal in rowing for men’s eights. Love remembers getting a call from Kreek after he won the medal in 2008. It was the teen’s first call ever from Beijing—one that Kreek likes to joke was made collect. Kreek is now a father of three, a management consultant, an executive coach—and a future author, with his book (part memoir, part motivational tips) expected in September 2019. Love, now 25 and a UVic computer science student, is no longer little. In fact, both men claim to be the same height: “six-foot-four and a half.” The Adams have grown together over the years. Spending time with Love was good training for Kreek to later become a father. In turn, Love discovered what it was like to grow up with a caring male role model in his corner—one who is still there for him today.

Rhonda Brown, executive director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter for Southern Vancouver Island, says their team helped 560 kids find mentors last year. Some teens are so eager for companionship that they phone the office themselves, says Brown. Big Brothers Big Sisters requests a one year commitment with the goal that, like the Adams, the mentorship will continue longer. “We hope we’ve sparked a relationship that endures time,” she says. The organization always needs two things: volunteers and financial support—so they can do more. If you can help with either, please visit Victoria Big Brothers and Sisters or call 250-475-1117.

This story by Jenny Manzer originally appeared in the Winter 2018 UVic Torch Alumni Magazine.

https://www.uvic.ca/alumni/torch/index.php

When I first met “Little Adam,” I was a 22-year-old UVic student, training hard for my Olympic dreams. He was an energetic eight-year-old, looking for a male role model. Our connection through Big Brothers Big Sisters was the start of something bigger than either of us realized at the time.

Today, Little Adam isn’t so little. He’s now 25, six-foot-four (just like me), and a UVic computer science student. But our bond has remained strong, proving that mentorship isn’t just about one person giving—it’s a mutual exchange of growth, resilience, and values-driven achievement.

Mentorship is Leadership in Action

Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about impact. When I chose to mentor Adam, I was searching for purpose beyond my own training and academic pursuits. What I found was a positive feedback loop—the more I gave, the more I gained.

Mentorship teaches the same principles I coach executives and business leaders on today:

What Business Leaders Can Learn from Mentorship

I now work with CEOs, executives, and high-performance teams, helping them develop cultures of trust, resilience, and accountability. The best leaders are those who invest in others—not just employees, but the next generation of thinkers, doers, and changemakers.

If you want to build a high-impact organization, start by asking:

These aren’t just personal reflections—they’re key drivers of long-term business success. Companies that create mentorship cultures have higher retention, greater innovation, and stronger leadership pipelines.

The Challenge: Pay It Forward

If you’ve had a great mentor in your life, consider becoming one. Programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters are always in need of volunteers. If you don’t have the time, financial support can help organizations scale their impact.

For those leading businesses, consider implementing mentorship programs within your company. Investing in mentorship isn’t just good for individuals—it strengthens teams, enhances leadership skills, and builds a values-driven organization that thrives on long-term success.

Leadership isn’t about how much you achieve for yourself—it’s about how many people you lift along the way.

Looking to develop stronger leadership in your team? Let's talk. Learn more about my executive coaching and keynote speaking here.

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Adam Kreek is on a mission to positively impact organizational cultures and leaders who make things happen.

Kreek is an Executive Business Coach who lives in Victoria, BC, near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Seattle, Washington, USA, in the Pacific Northwest. He works with clients globally, often travelling to California in the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta, Georgia, Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. He is an Olympic Gold Medalist, a storied adventurer and a father.

He authored the bestselling business book, The Responsibility Ethic: 12 Strategies Exceptional People Use to Do the Work and Make Success Happen. 

Discover our thoughts on Values here.

Want to increase your leadership achievement? Learn more about Kreek’s coaching here.

Want to book a keynote that leaves a lasting impact? Learn more about Kreek’s live event service here.

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