FGPM Mentorship Program Training

Strategic purpose: 

To create an environment that encourages open communication between an established mentor and a first generation professional mentee, to result in meaningful exchange of information, advice, and feedback, with the goal of personal and professional success.

Training

For Mentors:

“Be the role model you wish you had.”

Expectations

  • Consistent, meaningful engagement with at least one (1) but not more than three (3) first generation professional mentees

  • Consider and work within the mentee’s current professional skillset to discover new and/or hone existing tools

  • Provide sufficient, honest, and respectful feedback in the manner it will be best received, according to the mentee

  • Assist mentee in the creation of goals and actionable timeline for achievement 

  • If a mentor finds themselves unwilling or unable to continue the mentorship due to incompatibility, timing, or other conflict, the mentor will give notice to FGPM to either discontinue or pause the relationship

Obligations

  • At least one (1) 30-minute meeting with (per) mentee(s) each fiscal quarter. FGPM fiscal year follows the annual calendar.

    • The time and method of meeting will be mutually decided between the pairs

  • Timely submission of feedback to FGPM

  • Adherence to Expectations and good faith participation in program, including extending reasonable grace and understanding with regard to mentee goals and progress

  • Mentors are NOT required to connect mentees with their existing networks

  • Mentors are NOT required to make purchases or donations from, or on behalf of, mentee’s professional or personal endeavors

Suggested tactics

  • Topic suggestions found on FGPM website

  • Goal setting resources found on website

  • Sharing of expertise and paths-to-success with compare and contrast to mentee’s background and goals, to understand achievable action items

For Mentees:

“Growth through shared foundations.. Success through trust.”

Expectations

  • One mentor per mentee 

  • Commitment to and active participation in the mentorship, including consistent attendance at scheduled meetings

  • Openness to new perspectives, with the understanding that the mentors have valuable experience and insight into professional possibilities and opportunities 

  • Respectul and contemplative reception of feedback

  • Provide candid feedback to mentor advice, including both successes/gratitude and failures/evaluation of advice or tactics suggested.

    • Mentees are expected to take advice of mentors in good faith and implement suggestions as appropriate, in the mentee’s sole discretion

Obligations

  • At least one (1) meeting with mentor per quarter

  • Timely submission of feedback to FGPM

Suggested tactics

  • Giving and receiving feedback resources on FGPM website

  • Goal planning resources on website

For Both:

Mutual respect of the time, expertise, and perspective of the other party

Adherence to Expectations and Obligations

Mentorship Conversation Starters

For use by either Mentor or Mentee in discussing important concepts for the professional responsibilities of your industry, profession, or track.

Feel free to use these as thought starters or starting points for a more extensive deep dive

Describe a time when a project was successful? How did you define success for that project? How would you define success on a different project or for a different client?

What is your reaction to success or failure?

What do you wish would have gone better? How did you plan differently in the future or otherwise shift your thought process to improve for the future? What types of projects do you gravitate toward?


What are your most used skillsets?

How does passion inform your profession?

What are your favorite types of projects?

Who are your current role models? Why? What characteristics in a leader are important to you?

What licenses are required or beneficial in your industry? What certifications or continuous learning may benefit me in the future?

Conversely, why would they not benefit me?

What do you do for fun? How are other professionals spending their time? What are their personal priorities?

Which professional resources do you lean on for education and guidance? Where might I look to when I have questions?

Are there professional organizations I should consider joining?

What are the networking opportunities or expectations of this profession or industry?

How do you manage stress? What are some tips or shortcuts that make a busy schedule easier to manage? What does balance look like to you?

Are there programs or shortcuts that provide value to your digital presence?

How do you navigate multiple projects within a finite amount of availability?"