The Mentee’s role is to seek guidance and constructive feedback on his/her personal, academic and professional development and goals.

• The Mentee is responsible for keeping in regular contact with Mentor and actively participates in the relationship.
• Respects the Mentor’s time.
• Builds and sustains a productive mentoring relationship.
• Sets meaningful, relevant and productive questions to direct own learning and persists until answers and outcomes are realized.
• Asks and responds to self-reflective questions to get the most from their learning.
• Talks openly with the Mentor, openly shares successes and failures.
• Shares objectives and refines them based on feedback and suggestions –  is receptive to feedback and coaching. 
• Follows through on commitments and goals

We are looking for students who

1.   Are committed and highly motivated to program
2.   Have demonstrated leadership potential
3.   Have well-developed communication skills
4.   Have the right mindset and professional attitude towards the program (e.g., Are willing to learn and contribute, attendance, punctuality)

What is Mentoring?

• Mentoring is a learning relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person who wants to learn.
• The Mentor provides advice, guidance, exposure and a context for learning.
• The Mentee is responsible for developing themself.
• Effective mentoring requires a relationship based on:
  — Trust, Commitment, Challenge and Emotional Engagement.
• Involving skills:
  — Advising, Listening, Questioning, Support and Encouragement.

Mentee

• Accelerate the development of Mentees in alignment with their life & career aspirations.
• Provide Mentees with a broader/different perspective/s.
• Increase their readiness for future life, study & career decisions by developing knowledge and skills against identified awareness, knowledge or skill gaps.
• Assistance in defining goals, strategies and outcomes.
• Builds self awareness, self-advocacy skills and confidence to navigate challenges & be successful.

• Will be during the Virtual Program Kick-off on Saturday 10 October.
• Endeavour to connect with your Co-Mentor prior to the Kick-off. 
• Your Mentee profiles will be available prior to the Kick-off, you may wish to familiarise yourself with these.
• During your first mentoring session be sure to agree a Group name, set up a WhatsApp group for communication & contract Group Ground Rules/Ways of Working.
• It is very likely that some or all of your Mentees will present as reserved/shy at the Kick-off & early mentoring sessions. 
• Don’t be surprised, frustrated or discouraged by this, don’t worry it’s not you! This is a very common experience observed throughout the program history.
• Personally check in on your intent. What do you aim to get out of the first session, what approach would you like to take in getting to know the Mentees, sharing about yourself, setting expectations etc.?

The Mentor’s role is to teach, guide and help shape the personal & professional growth and learning of the Mentee and to serve as a positive role model.

• Builds and sustains a productive mentoring relationship.
• Provides encouragement for building self awareness, self confidence and self-esteem.
• Shares information about his/her background, skills and interests.
• Supports self-determined learning; challenges, encourages and supports their Mentee to set their own objectives.
• Asks their Mentee self-reflective questions to ensure they get the most from their self-directed learning.
• Listens actively – listens to understand their Mentee’s needs before providing advice and suggestions.
• Offers Mentees constructive and meaningful advice and feedback.
• Empathizes and responds sensitively to their Mentees needs, aspirations, questions, doubts and development priorities.
• Offers feedback and insights in the form of lessons from experience.
• Believes in their Mentee and cares enough to help them learn and succeed, tells Mentee how he/she can help.
• Celebrates milestones and achievements with Mentee.

• The onus is on the Mentors to build relationships, trust & rapport with the Mentees ASAP,  encouraging them to be comfortable in sharing, being vulnerable, reflective & curious. Role model through your own open sharing, demonstration of vulnerability & importantly active listening.
• Try to select a recurring day/time for Mentoring Group meetings e.g. every third Saturday of the month at 10am.
• Remain consistent even if only 1 or 2 mentees are able to attend a given session. Meeting regularly is important for maintaining a sense of continuity & momentum throughout the program.
• While the Mentees should take the lead for scheduling/agreeing Mentoring sessions. don’t be surprised & fully expect that at that times you may need to provide your Mentees a ‘nudge’ with respect to agreeing/scheduling a time, agreeing topics etc.
• If you have any challenges at any stage of the mentoring program reach out to a member of the Steering Committee for support – whether it be challenges in Mentee attendance, availability of Co-Mentors, general advice around mentoring dynamics,  suggestions on approaches to specific topics etc. Challenges are best addressed if raised early.
• We are here to help.