"A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself."
- Oprah Winfrey
Mentoring is now more important than ever.
During times of uncertainty, mentoring becomes a critical tool
More than ever people need support but they can’t always turn to their own managers who may be consumed with solving problems and overwhelmed with keeping their organizations running. Workers may also fear that managers, who hold the key to future advancement, may view a request for help as a weakness. (HBR, Oct 2020).
Mentoring can bridge the uncertainty gap between the ‘old normal’ and the ‘new normal’ - helping those isolated to connect, continue to build their networks and advance their careers.
Mentoring gives you inside knowledge to level up
We don’t always know what needs fixing. Movie maker George Lucas noted, "Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults that we would like. It's the only way we grow."
WERKIN can help you right now
We’ve helped hundreds of organizations design, set up and run mentoring programs for their people - both big and small. From graduates to high potentials and upwards mentoring for minority groups. With high tech or no tech - we’ve done it all.
Mentoring programs
Reverse mentoring
Also called 'Upwards' mentoring or 'Inclusive' mentoring, Reverse mentoring flips the traditional model, putting the more junior person in the role of the mentor.
This can be inter-generational, tech-focused, or as a means to expand knowledge and insight from different perspectives or experiences within the organization.
Career mentoring
Career mentoring involves a senior leader or someone with considerable career experience mentoring a person who is earlier in their career and seeking development.
This can be used specifically to support under-represented groups or in more traditional scenarios such as ‘High Potential’ or Graduate programs.
Network mentoring
Network mentoring supports transitions and socialisation for groups in and across organizations. It is perfect for onboarding New Starters or supporting your Employee Network Groups.
This can be used to foster connections for employees across different lived experiences, creates an understanding of intersectionality and leads to increased innovation in teams.
Our impact
UPWARDS MENTORING
Future black leaders of Westminster empowered.
WERKIN have been running the Reverse Mentoring program for Westminster City Council for the last few years. Originally designed for their under-represented racial and ethnic employees, the program has since expanded to their LGBT+ and disabled population. Engagement data can be used to support internal and external reporting including Ethnicity Pay Gap.
CAREER MENTORING
Women smash through the leadership barriers at EY.
EY engaged WERKIN to help accelerate their female talent. WERKIN initially designed a program for EY's Women in Technology, with a focus on the EMEA and APAC regions that were specifically struggling with the progression of female talent in this area of the business. EY then chose to implement WERKIN's people and tech to facilitate this program which saw incredible cross-regional engagement and held male leaders accountable as allies to progress.
NETWORK MENTORING
Black female entrepreneurs take over Washington DC.
WERKIN designed and ran a Google sponsored program for female entrepreneurs, predominantly women of colour, based out of Washington DC. This was a peer to peer program, providing a community incubator for startups and scaleups - helping women to grow their businesses and reach new markets.
“WERKIN has the most comprehensive offering for mentorship. We did a review of similar platforms with the app functionality and WERKIN's was by far the most fully featured and the most fun to use!”
— Aerica Shimizu Banks | Patent Policy, Google | BEACON Mentoring Program