Learning the value of mentors

Born in Guatemala, Jorge Revolorio came to the U.S. with his family when he was two years old. He later learned English in school with the help of a translator.

“It was a whole new world," he says, explaining that he and his family first joined his grandparents in their home. But Jorge has come a long way, recently buying his own house and, over the past four years, working his way up to a management position as Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager at 1901 Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos.

“My dad got teary, remembering where we started and seeing where I am now." After school, Jorge earned his degree then landed an internship with a program aiming to provide expanded career opportunities to Hispanic/Latino populations. He says that, from his experience, hiring programs with defined diversity goals are helpful.

“I'm so grateful for that first internship, and now I want to help as many other people as I can," he says. “If I see potential in you, I'll do everything in my power to help you up, especially because there's so much potential in our communities and getting diverse employees involved in mentoring is a huge step."

Jorge connected with his longtime mentor, Ivonne, during his internship. She knew the market and understood how to help Jorge with the mechanics of growing his career. Together, they'd do mock interviews, and she took time to explain nuances in the field.

“It felt too good to be true. She gave some great advice like to be open and honest about where I could grow," Jorge says. So, when he didn't know certain lingo at work, Jorge would simply ask—even in front of others.

“I've learned to be proactive and just ask questions without worrying if I'll look silly," he says. “I'm happy that I can admit when I don't know things." Letting his curiosity and honesty fuel his ambition has been the hallmark of his career growth. When Jorge felt he'd done poorly in a job interview, for instance, he realized from his talks with Ivonne that he should open up.

“At the end of my interview at 1901 Group, I told them that I knew I hadn't done too well during it but promised to do better and to learn," he explains. “I also sent a follow-up email—Ivonne's suggestion—to thank them for their consideration. Later, I found out that doing these things was the reason I got the job."

His firsthand experience with how much mentors can make a difference now drives Jorge to mentor people as well.

“Ivonne helped me so much in my career. She taught me what it means to be a mentor, and now I've been able to hire and help people thanks to her example." Not only is mentorship part of Jorge's developing management style, but also leadership. Jorge first thought his promotion to manager meant he'd be mostly leading meetings and doing extra oversight tasks like approving timesheets. He soon realized that there was more to it than that.

“I had to learn how to lead," he says. In true Jorge style, he dove into learning, getting books on management and leadership. “I wanted to really be there for people, and I'm proud of how I've been able to help my team out." He recently got an opportunity to put his leadership skills to the test when 1901 Group merged with Leidos.

“When mergers happen, you expect big changes, so my team was a bit wary at first," he says. Understanding the importance of transparency, Jorge got to work. He communicated regularly with his managers at 1901 Group and Leidos to get as much accurate information as quickly as possible about what would and wouldn't change.

“With their skills and this job market, our guys could leave tomorrow if they wanted to, and we wanted to retain our team. Thankfully, I got good information quickly and was able to communicate with them to calm their fears," he says, explaining that his team remained happy and intact throughout the merger and after its completion.

“I love what I do as a security analyst and manager. It feels like a cool hobby to me—not a job I have to go to every day," Jorge says. Before his current role, he'd bounce from job to job every few months or so. “But once I landed here, I felt like a part of a small family. The way they treated me kept me around, and I still feel that connection even after 1901 Group joined Leidos."

At Leidos, we aim to foster a welcoming workplace in which employees from many backgrounds can come together, building upon their varied perspectives. By developing an atmosphere in which diversity is valued, our teams improve their performance, and our organization delivers more innovation and better results.