Welcome to the Viva Mentorship Programme!
At Viva we believe that there is no greater way to learn than from experience, which is why we launched our mentorship programme.
The Viva Mentorship Programme has been launched to provide the members of Viva with an opportunity to meet with other women to learn and gain insight from the mentor’s life experience and professional knowledge.
About the Programme
First and foremost, the Mentorship Programme is open only to Viva members in good standing. Please make sure your membership is paid in full before you apply to the programme.
Every year several Viva members volunteer their time to be mentors. After a list of mentors has been created their bios will be posted online and we will open the applications for mentors. Both mentors and mentees are strongly encouraged to attend the October Speed Networking Event to get to know one another. After the application period closes, the Viva Committee will read all of the applications and pair mentors and mentees. After these pairings are approved by the mentor, the mentorship can begin.
2011 Mentorship Dates
Applications for the 2011 programme will commence in September, when we start accepting mentor applications.
We will start accepting applications for mentees in late September.
The Mentee’s Commitment
- Be respectful of the Mentor’s time. Be punctual and end meetings on time.
- Prepare well for each meeting. Ensure you have met all of your commitments that were outlined in the previous meeting.
Driver of Relationship
- Identify the skills, knowledge, and/or goals that you want to achieve and communicate them to your Mentor
- Bring up new topics that are important to you and mutually determine how they should be addressed
Development Planner
- Maintain a Mentoring plan and work with your Mentor to set up goals, developmental activities, and time frames
Continuous Learner
- Work with your Mentor to seek opportunities for learning
Teacher
- Look for opportunities to give back to your Mentor; share any information that you think might be valuable to her
The Mentor’s Commitment
- The mentor is asked to meet with the mentee at least one hour each month. Each Mentor/Mentee cycle will last for 6 months.
- We encourage our mentors not to have any more than 2 mentees at any given time.
As a mentor, their primary role is to provide guidance and support to the mentee based on her unique developmental needs.
At different points in the relationship, the Mentor will take on some or all of the following roles:
Coach/Advisor
- Give advice and guidance, share ideas, and provide feedback
- Share information on “unwritten rules for success” within environment/organization
Source of Encouragement/Support
- Act as sounding board for ideas/concerns about school/career choices; provide insights into how to pursue opportunities
- Provide support on personal issues if appropriate
Resource Person
- Provide feedback/guidance to help mentee enhance personal development and career growth
Devil’s Advocate
- When appropriate, play devil’s advocate to help mentee think through important decisions and strategies
How do I apply for a Mentor?
All Mentees are required to complete a request for Mentor Application form. This form includes personal/professional details as well as a list of objectives of why the Mentee is currently looking for a Mentor.
- The Mentee will select their top 3 choices of mentors on the application form.
- All requests for mentors will be done through the Viva website in a members-only section dedicated to the Mentorship Programme.
- Mentor contact details will not be listed on the website.
- Mentors and mentees will sign an NDA. This is to ensure confidentiality between the Mentor and mentee.