L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program

How do I join the program?

You can apply online to be a mentor or a mentee. Remember, if you would like to obtain a mentor through the program you must be a member of NAMIC.

Do I have to be a NAMIC Member to be a Mentor?

You do not need to be a member of NAMIC to be a mentor in the program. However, we encourage you to join because it supports great programs like this, and provides many benefits to great leaders like you! Click here to join now!

How long will it take for NAMIC to process my application?

Once you submit your application, the administrator will contact you for an initial interview within 2 weeks. You can check the status of your application online once it is completed. After the initial interview, you will be matched with a mentor at the beginning of the scheduled cycle.

Is there a fee associated with becoming a mentee?

No. There is, however, a membership fee to join NAMIC, if you are not currently a member.

Can I join NAMIC at the same time I put my application into the program?

Yes. Click here to join NAMIC now.

How much time will the program take?

In order for the program to be of maximum benefit to both mentee and mentor alike, NAMIC strongly encourages pairs to spend a minimum of two hours together each month over the nine-month program cycle.

What are the expectations of mentees?

Mentees are expected to take the initiative in driving the mentoring relationship. Although mentoring is a two-way street, the primary responsibility of maintaining contact and scheduling meetings lies with the mentee. It is also the mentee’s duty to work with the mentor to establish clear expectations and goals for the mentoring relationship. You should:

• Set clear goals and expectations
• Initiate meetings/conversations
• Develop topics to discuss
• Identify areas for development
• Honor commitment to the program

What can mentees expect from the Program?

Although this is NOT a structured program to facilitate or guarantee promotion or career change, the program provides an opportunity for mentoring pairs to work together to plan career advancement strategies.

What if I know someone I’d like to be matched with?

Mentees have their dream mentor, please indicate your suggested mentors to us on your application form of who you would like to be matched. The Committee doesn’t absolutely guarantee the match, since it has to consider the needs of the cohort and availability of perspective mentors but will do its best to accommodate you or find you the best match to meet your needs and your career goals.

What will my mentor do for me?

The mentor is a confidant and is prohibited from advocating for mentees, or offering any assistance that goes beyond the networking and advice they would offer anyone else. It is up to the mentee to take the initiative and make a success of themselves. Mentors offer information, support, feedback, contacts, and ideas – but the mentee has to take it from there. Mentors are specifically prohibited from meeting with a mentees manager or attempt to recruit the mentee to their respective company during their participation in the program. The Mentorship Program is not a mobility program structured to get you a promotion or anything else that you do not work for yourself.

How many people can participate?

We will accept a total of 100 people seeking mentor into the program per cycle.

How is the matching done?

The administrator will review all mentor and mentee applications, match what the mentor has said they can offer, and what the mentee has said they are looking for. The only rule that we try to adhere too, is that matches of pairs not be comprised of individuals from the same company, unless requested by the mentee. No match is final until the pairs have has a chance to meet and or discuss and they both complete the Mentor Program Collaboration Agreement. This will ensure that everyone starts the program with a match they feel enthusiastic about.

Can my mentee be an employee of my current company?

Yes. Only if the mentee request that their mentor is from the same company.

How do mentors benefit from the Program?

Along with the satisfaction of helping someone else achieve their career goals, mentors learn to see the world from a different perspective, become aware of their own paths and values, and often go through a reflection process similar to that of their mentee’s. As they help their mentee evaluate their career goals, mentors often find themselves doing the same as well. In the process of being a mentor, many find that it is so valuable that they seek mentors informally for themselves, or reach out to their employees in a new way.

What are the Expectations of Mentors?

Mentors are expected stay committed to the program and devote the time agreed upon with the mentee. Mentors should also be willing to listen, be a resource for career exploration and planning, and to provide the mentee with objective and positive information, contacts, and support that will help them make sound decisions. It is important the mentors follow through and respond to mentee’s inquiries. The mentors should:

• Be committed
• Be open to share their experiences
• Develop a trusting relationship
• Advise and counsel mentee
• Set clear goals and expectations
• Challenge mentee

What if I’m not comfortable with my proposed mentor/mentee?

Please tell us! The purpose of your first meeting is to see whether the two of you are compatible, and the match isn’t final until you have both approved it. The administrator will be checking in with you periodically to see how your relationship is going, and whether you are moving toward the goals you set. Tell us frankly if things aren’t working the way you had hoped. If you haven’t already talked directly with your partner, do so. Often, it will be a question of miscommunication which can be cleared up.

What training will be provided?

Though training is what we would like to provide all participants, it is something we are exploring to provide efficiently. In lieu of traditional classroom training we will provide you with a manual catered to mentor and one for mentee that will guide you through the process. Once you start the program the administrator will touch base with both mentor and mentee to inquire about the relationship and comfort level with the mentoring match and how to proceed. The Administrator will be available to both mentor and mentee as a resource as needed.

How will the Program be evaluated?

Each pair will define their own goals in a contract at the beginning of the program, and is responsible for evaluating whether they are making progress toward those goals. The administrator will provide support by checking in frequently, and offering resources when they are needed. In addition, the administrator will ask you to evaluate how the Program is working, both 30-days, at four months and again at the end.

How do you develop a Productive Mentoring Relationship?

In to benefit from the mentoring program, participants must learn to trust and depend on each other. Mentee’s and mentors must be able to work together to form a successful partnership. The following are key elements to forming a successful partnership:

• Trust
• Confidentiality
• Open communication
• Mutual respect
• Honesty

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