Mentor Me

When we triggered the thought of starting a Mentorship program, there was one big question on our mind...How different would this be from the existing people development programs? It meant creating a program that retained the core values of Learning and differentiating it from the rest at the same time. It was then that we decided to create a one on one, experiential learning platform for our minds and spruced this initiative with oodles of nurturing. “What would this program involve? How will this help minds in their career and personal front? Why another program?”  were three critical questions that needed answers.

When we moved on to conduct a Need Analysis before the program launch, we discovered that informal Mentoring was existent. This was however dispersed and diffused. The idea was to launch a focused program that targeted individual development combined with collective learning. We aspired for the program to be “aspirational” and surged forth to create a platform for “ Connect” between the mentor (the knowledge rich) and the mentee (the knowledge seeking).

Thus was born MentorMe, one more avenue for people development.

MentorMe focuses on experiential learning, is a two way learning approach and involves the mentor-mentee pair walking together beyond the formal realm at times. This program is complete, self sufficient and very mentee-led. It targets the holistic development of a mind at two levels: intellectual and emotional in both the career and personal front. This meant that the mentor had to be an individual who has walked ( and talked) the path, been there and seen it all. When we began the search for mentors, it was wonderful at a point to note that there were more mentors than mentees thus strengthening our urge to promote a mentor based learning culture. Our Mentoring Model is based on the Socialization process. We have a formal program framework that allows plenty of flexibility for the mentor-mentee to choose the type of interactions they wish to pursue.

Our MentorMe program is open to all minds across all levels. The umbrella program encompasses two sub programs- one that focuses on Behavioural Mentoring and the other targets Technical Mentoring. Both these programs intend to develop mentees in their areas of interest and beyond. The mentors, anchors, nurturers at varied levels provide the cushion for knowledge seekers and cocoon our mentees with the much needed personal care and guidance.

Our Mentorship program focuses on non-classroom led development. MentorMe has enriched mentees  by equipping them with self-reflective skills, personalized attention, igniting the passion to focus on self development. The mentor and the mentee are engaged for a specific period of time to focus in their chosen developmental areas.

Time is the biggest factor for relationships to cement and bloom. It is no different in the MentorMe program. The mentees reach out to mentors for a variety of reasons and feel reassured with the very thought that they have a mentor to look up to, share, question, debate,  discuss and learn. While most often, career related learning happens, personal development does not take a back seat.

Nearing three fourths of a year post the formal launch, the mentor-mentee relationships are well rounded. The engagement studies conducted have proved that our minds see value in this focused method of learning. The fledglings, our mentees are slowing growing wings to take on the corporate world with more confidence, self esteem and a feeling of “ I will be a mentor too someday…”

Today, our program is several minds’ strong, actively engaged in mutual learning and sharing. In the years to come, we are certain we will have a mentor-pool who can initiate, innovate and inspire many potential mentors. The process of passing on the Mentorship Torch has begun…