TiE Silicon Valley recently hosted “Finding Great Mentors & Building Your Tribe,” an engaging 90-minute workshop featuring Soundarya Balasubramani, two-time author, entrepreneur, and community builder, and Rajesh Setty, serial entrepreneur, author, and teacher at Founder Institute.
What made the session particularly meaningful was hearing Soundarya’s journey and the role Rajesh played as a mentor throughout it. Their conversation offered a powerful, firsthand example of what a meaningful mentor-mentee relationship can look like over time.
The Mentor Who Sees What You Don’t See Yet
One of the most memorable parts of the conversation was Soundarya sharing how she would often ask Rajesh a simple but profound question:
“What do you see in me that I don’t see in myself?”
Rajesh’s answer was always the same: “In two years, you’ll know.”
Two years passed. Soundarya continued working, learning, and building, but she still didn’t quite understand what Rajesh saw in her. So, she asked him again.
Rajesh jokingly gave her the same answer: “In another two years, you’ll know.”
Today, Soundarya says she finally understands.
The story is a powerful reminder that a great mentor doesn’t always give you an immediate answer. Sometimes, they see a potential in you that you are not yet ready to recognize yourself. Their role is not necessarily to tell you exactly what you will become, but to help you keep moving until you discover it for yourself.
The Power of a “To-Think” List
Rajesh also shared an interesting personal practice that stood out during the session.
Most people maintain a to-do list. Rajesh maintains a “to-think list.”
When someone comes to him with a question or asks for his perspective, he doesn’t necessarily try to provide an answer immediately. Instead, he puts the question on his to-think list.
For example, if someone asks him whether a particular company is worth investing in, he may add that question to his list and spend time thinking about it.
Every day, Rajesh sets aside approximately 90 minutes for meditation and reflection, using that time to work through the questions on his to-think list and develop thoughtful perspectives and solutions.
It is a simple practice, but a powerful one: not every important question needs an immediate answer. Some questions deserve time, reflection, and deliberate thinking.
What Makes a Great Mentor?
The conversation between Soundarya and Rajesh demonstrated that mentorship is not simply about giving advice.
It is about seeing potential before someone sees it in themselves, asking the right questions, creating space for reflection, and staying invested in someone’s journey over time.
Soundarya’s experience with Rajesh is a great example of how the right mentor can become an important part of someone’s personal and professional trajectory—not by telling them exactly where they will end up, but by helping them discover it themselves.
The session also reinforced an important message for anyone looking to build their own network:
Don’t approach relationships with only what you can get from them. Think about what you can contribute, how you can be useful, and how you can build trust over time.
Sometimes, the most meaningful professional relationships are the ones that begin long before either person knows exactly where they will lead.
TiE Silicon Valley is proud to create spaces where founders, entrepreneurs, and professionals can learn from experiences like these and build relationships that extend well beyond a single session.
