Mentoring
Connecting Professionals to Foster Career Development
The St. Louis Organization Development Network offers a mentoring program for members who would like to advance their career and develop, both personally and professionally, with the guidance of a senior level STL-ODN member.
The application period begins annually in December and runs through the following fall. The timeline for the current year as well as contact information can be found below.
Mission
How Can You Benefit?
Feedback from Mentees:
As a seasoned professional and a new consultant, I was unsure if the mentoring program was for me….I have had a wonderful experience. My mentor is a business owner/consultant and I honestly could not have asked for a better person to help me achieve my goals! I highly recommend it! – Loren, 2017
Coming into the program I did not know what to expect…. My mentor told me to focus on my impact. That is what I have spent the past 9 months doing. Focusing on my impact and what I am bringing to each interaction with my organization's leaders. It seems so small and non shifting in who I am as a professional, but the mind set shift went from passive to active and allowed my engagement to increase. – Jennifer, 2017
My time in the mentoring program was insightful on many levels. Within my triad, we discussed current professional challenges and how to respond to them. I specifically sought out the mentoring program as an opportunity for me to reflect and crystallize my professional experience to this point in my career. I feel that the time with my group allowed me to do that and deepen my own professional identity as someone working in organizational development. – Katie, 2017
Feedback from Mentors:
I had two fabulous mentees! They brought good issues directly from work to address as a team. It was very gratifying to experience the learning from pooling our combined wisdom. They took insights from our discussions and tools to immediately apply in their own context. At each meeting, we were able to celebrate their successes. – Ellen, 2017
I was just amazed at the ambition and competence of my mentees and I wondered if I was at their level at their age. They were eager to share and eager to receive feedback, showing openness and hunger for growth. I did not have any silver bullets to offer. I asked a lot of questions and, once we got to know each other a little, continued to probe in the “uncomfortable” areas. There were some aha’s and takeaways that they are still talking about today. Overall I would say it was a great experience for all three of us. I enjoyed it immensely. – Annalisa, 2017
Program Structure
Mentees
FAQ's
Q: What is the role of a mentor?
A: The role of a mentor is:
Q: What topics/issues will a mentor explore with me?
A: Examples of the types of topics a mentor may discuss are:
2021 Timeline
December 4, 2020 – January 4, 2021 |
Open Application Period |
January 4 - 7, 2021 |
Committee Selects and Matches Applicants |
January 11, 2021 |
Mentoring Pairs Announced |
January 19th, 2021 |
Program Kick-Off Meeting - a.m. |
January–December 2021 |
Program Duration |
June 3, 2020 |
Program Mid-Point Meeting - p.m. |
December 2021 |
Program End |
December 2021 |
Program Review |
Contact Aaron Adams, the Mentoring Program Coordinator, and include STL-ODN Mentoring in the subject line, for more information. If you're interested in being considered for the role of a mentor or mentee in the 2020 Mentoring Program please email aaron.adams05@gmail.com