Unconditional Care — Warren Higley
It wasn’t hard for Warren Higley to identify the best part of his 36-year-long career in the insurance industry: Working with people looking to better themselves in their careers and lives. His true passion was not insurance, but professional and personal development and mentoring.
In his 30s, Warren also experienced what it was like to receive mentorship when he connected with a mentor for himself. He even left insurance for a while to help start a church in Portland, Oregon, where he did a lot of spiritual coaching and development for the congregation.
While he eventually returned to the insurance world, Warren says, “ Personal, spiritual, and professional growth has been a life-long pursuit for me.”
Supporting Great Life Mentoring
Since its inception in 2000, Great Life Mentoring has evolved with Warren acting as a sounding board for founder Elizabeth Higley. They enjoy discussing topics such as empathy, unconditional care, and what it looks like to be present and truly listen: Critical elements for supporting youth with mental health needs.
It’s important to provide a mentor with the tools and training they need to support a vulnerable child, and the child must understand who this person is that’s coming into their lives–someone with whom they may develop a meaningful relationship. Warren’s insights have supported Elizabeth as she developed Great Life Mentoring into what it is today: An evidence-based, award-winning, and nationally recognized mentoring model.
Youth Mentoring Program Expansion
Upon retirement in 2023, Warren joined Great Life Mentoring full-time as its first Development and Training Manager. He is happy to be doing what he loves most: Training new mentors on how to develop healthy relationships and preparing them to provide GLM’s quality of care to our community's most vulnerable youth.
As Development Manager, Warren also serves as a GLM ambassador, connecting with people and organizations to support the growth and sustainability of the organization, which expanded to serve youth in Portland, Oregon in 2024.
“The thing that is the most inspiring and rewarding for me with Great Life Mentoring is seeing the kids in the program and knowing that this organization—with its evidence-based science and the art of modeling healthy relationships—can change their lives for the better,” shares Warren. “Everything that we're doing is for the benefit of that child. That is what drives me.”
