Mentoring

City rooftops with text that reads: young alumni mentoring groups, click to learn more and apply
Woman presenting with text that reads: next level mentoring groups, click to learn more and apply

We define mentoring as a purposeful and personal relationship in which a more experienced person (mentor) provides guidance, feedback, and wisdom to facilitate the growth and development of a less experienced person (mentee). Whether you’re hoping to find a mentor or to be a good mentor, we have opportunities for you to get involved and resources to support your mentoring relationship(s) below.

You should also consider if you are in need of a mentor, or for someone to play a different role based on your needs. This chart – showcasing the differences between a mentor, coach, sponsor, accountability partner, wise counselor, and networking contact – can help you identify gaps in your network and in your relationships that you’d like to fill.

Mentoring Groups

We started this program in DC and NYC in Fall 2013 – and every year since, they’ve been a hit! Every other month, a group of 8-10 alumni in each city come together for facilitated conversation and meaningful connection about life and work.

Young Alumni Mentoring Groups: In 2019-20, we are running mentoring groups in Boston, New York, Washington, DC and online. These groups are open to Class of 2016-2019 Wake Forest undergraduates. Visit this page on our website to learn more information and apply to join a group!

Next Level Mentor Groups: In 2019-20, we are running mentoring groups in Boston, New York, Washington DC, and online. These groups are open to Class of 2009-2015 Wake Forest undergraduates. Visit this page on our website to learn more information and apply to join a group!

Alumni Mentoring Skills Workshop

In collaboration with WAKECommunity and Affinity Group leaders, we offer mentoring skills workshops about the roles and strategies effective mentors and mentees use in creating supportive developmental relationships for personal and professional growth.

We offer a three-part series into the nuts and bolts of effective mentoring! In the first workshop, we discuss the basic skills of mentoring relationships. In the second workshop, we discover what it means to lead and manage from a place of mentorship. In the third workshop, we unpack the importance of having a network of wise counselors and mentors that provide guidance and feedback for your personal and professional decisions.

Let us know if you are interested in learning more about these workshops! We love being able to bring these mentoring skills to alumni in different locations. Reach out to Megan Bosworth at bosworme@nullwfu.edu and we can begin a conversation!

How to Find a Mentor

Some questions to ask yourself, before you ask someone to be your mentor: Why do you want them to be your mentor? What are you willing to do, as part of the mentoring relationship? What are your expectations for the mentoring relationship? Be as specific as possible. Only after you have specific answers to these questions should you approach them and ask if they are willing to engage in a formal mentoring relationship with you.

Looking for more information? Check out this guide on Tips for How to Find a Mentor.

Develop Your Mentoring Skill Set

If you are involved in a mentoring relationship, you should have a clear idea of why you’re in the relationship and what you would like to get out of it. Whether you are a mentee or mentor, we hope that your experience will allow you to grow, learn, and develop in several specific ways. Check out these Mentoring Learning Outcomes for mentees and mentors, which outline skill sets that you should work to develop during your mentoring relationship, along with strategies for how to achieve each learning goal.

Still looking for more tools and resources to support your growth as a mentor and/or mentee? Click here!

Alumni Personal & Career Development Center

Located in the Office of Personal & Career Development
Reynolda Hall, Room 230
PO Box 7427
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
Front Office 336.758.5902

Our mission is to educate Wake Forest alumni on how to successfully navigate their personal and professional lives after college. We provide knowledge, tools, resources, and opportunities for connection for our alumni as they work, build their lives, and make decisions about what comes next.

Assistant Vice President: Allison McWilliams, PhD
Phone 336.758.3741

Associate Director: Lauren Beam, MS, NCC
Phone 336.758.3078

Assistant Director: Megan Bosworth
Phone 336.758.4278