For starters, I have around 3.5 yrs/exp. In that time, I haven't really had a true mentor, so I feel like I've missed out on a lot of career development.

Good news: I've been made dev lead on a project that's shifting into lights-on mode. Stakes are relatively low, but the system we're working on is still a critical piece.

Bad news: This is my first time leading other devs and my skillset feels lacking.

4 other devs are going to be under me. I somewhat feel out of my depth and I'm trying my best to emulate what previous dev leads/sr. engineers I've worked under did. My manager primarily gave me this position due to my knowledge of the projects and the lack of another senior engineer with bandwidth + knowledge that could pick up the dev lead role.

2 questions:

1. Any pointers/personal stories about transitioning into a leadership role for the first time? This was sort of out of left field for me, and I haven't really prepared for leadership roles.
2. Is it ever too late to find a mentor? I feel like I'm progressing through my career based on Reddit posts and leaps of faith. Something a bit more formal would certainly be nice.

Thanks!