Guidelines for Mentees

1. Welcome & Purpose

Welcome to the R-Ladies Mentoring Program! 💜

This program was created to support chapter organizers in starting, reactivating, or strengthening their local communities.
As a mentee, you will be paired with an experienced organizer (your mentor) who can share advice, resources, and encouragement to help you succeed.

2. Who can be a Mentee

  • Organizers from new chapters
  • Organizers from inactive chapters
  • Any organizer seeking support

All R-Ladies organizers are welcome to apply if they believe the program could benefit their chapter. Example: new organizers stepping into the leadership of an already active chapter.

3. Your Role as a Mentee

  • Take the lead in your own growth: bring questions and set goals.
  • Be proactive: schedule meetings and prepare topics to discuss.
  • Respect time and communication agreements.
  • Keep an open mind and be willing to learn from your mentor’s experiences.

4. Before the Mentorship Starts

  • You will receive an introduction email connecting you with your mentor.
  • Please reply to confirm your interest in participating.
  • Read the attached Mentee Guidelines and the R-Ladies Code of Conduct.
  • Agree with your mentor on:
    • Preferred platform of communication (Slack, email, Zoom, etc.)
    • Frequency of meetings. We suggest choosing a realistic rhythm you can sustain over time (for example, every two weeks or once a month), keeping in mind that this is a voluntary commitment.
    • Confidentiality preferences (yes/no)

5. During the Mentorship

Use the time with your mentor to discuss practical aspects of running a chapter, such as:

  • Planning events.
  • Finding and supporting speakers.
  • Promoting your chapter.
  • Keeping your community engaged.

💡 Tips to make meetings productive:

  • Prepare a short agenda before each meeting (2–3 topics or questions).
  • Share the agenda with your mentor in advance if possible.
  • At the end of each meeting, agree on 1–2 specific tasks or next steps to complete before the next session.
  • Keep tasks small and realistic to maintain momentum.

💡 Example questions to bring to your mentor:

  • How do I promote my first meetup?
  • What are some engaging event formats?
  • How can I find new co-organizers?

6. Common Challenges

  • If communication isn’t working, try adjusting the frequency or method.
  • If you feel the match isn’t right, let the mentoring team know, as reassignments are possible.
  • Everything shared in the mentorship is confidential unless both agree otherwise.

7. Ending the Mentorship

  • The mentorship usually ends when you and your mentor feel you’ve covered the main checklist or when your chapter is active again.
  • You’ll be asked to complete a short Feedback Form to help improve the program.
  • You are welcome (but not required) to stay in touch with your mentor after the program.