Alumni Guest Blogger: Benjamin Howe - Seek Out Mentors

We are pleased to present another alumni guest blog post by Benjamin Howe (MPIA '98)!

Mr. Howe has worked as a Senior Management Analyst in the Bedford (MA) Audit Operations Division of the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) since January 2009. Since joining the VA OIG, he has worked on several audits and reviews of VA programs and operations. Prior to joining the VA OIG, he spent five years working at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the agency’s Boston Field Office. While at GAO, he focused on issues related to natural resources and the environment, including reviews of EPA’s lead in drinking water regulations and Federal efforts to address the health effects of exposure to indoor mold. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and a Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at University of Pittsburgh. He currently resides in Manchester, NH.

Seek Out Mentors

by Benjamin Howe (MPIA '98)

If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before. 

-J Loren Norris, speaker, author, mentor, and seminar leader

Mentors have been instrumental in helping me succeed in my Federal career by helping me do my job better. They have provided me with useful insights into what I needed to do to be successful. 

For example, when I moved from Washington, DC to live outside of Boston, MA, I changed agencies and professions. It was mentors that helped me learn how to do my new job. They took the time to walk me through my work to ensure I knew how it should be done to meet agency needs and professional requirements. Without their assistance, I would not have been successful at my new agency. I very much appreciate that they took the time to help me get on the right track. Since then, I have sought out the advice and assistance of other mentors. My mentors have continued to help me be successful in my career. I highly recommend you take advantage of mentoring opportunities that may come your way in your career. 

Best of luck in your career pursuits!