There is an enormous amount of material out there to help with mentoring – from detail about mentoring options, to guides and advice on how to implement effective mentoring programs and online platforms.

This article was developed as part of a set that draws on the Champions of Change Architecture Group Mentoring Toolkit with the aim of sharing knowledge and experiences within the wider architecture profession.

Industry mentoring programs

National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Mentoring Program

This service is open to all current NAWIC members, which matches up mentors and mentees by age, experience and goals. Its purpose is to extend women’s networks and give them valuable advice on industry and work-related issues.

Planning Institute of Australia

PIA runs a 10-month Women’s Leadership program, which connects mentees with an experienced mentor to help people take the next step in their career and plug into new networks. Mentees pay an upfront fee of $345, which is deductible as a professional development expense.

Guides and research

Parlour Guide to Equitable Practice – Mentoring

The Parlour Guide to Mentoring (currently being reviewed and updated) outlines the opportunities of mentoring; the benefits to practices, mentors, mentees and the wider profession; and the ways that individuals, practices and professional organisations can each contribute to promoting and supporting mentoring.

Supporting careers – mentoring or sponsorship: Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA)

WGEA unpack the differences between mentoring and sponsorship, and the effects these have on women’s career development. Topics include Sponsoring women, Gender differences in support programs and Implementing sponsorship or mentoring in the workplace.

Videos & Podcasts

Parlour Light at the end of the Tunnel, Mentoring

This online session on mentoring was held in July 2020 in the early days of COVID, with Sonia Sarangi and Alison Cleary offering insights about mentoring in conversation with Justine Clark, Naomi Stead and the highly active and engaged Parlour audience. CPD is available to purchase.

‘The power of a good mentor’
This Working Life with Lisa Leong, ABC podcast

Features Madeleine Grummet who started an organisation dedicated to mentoring the future workforce; and Maria Antwan, who opened a business in the male-dominated construction industry and found that her mentor helped her deal with criticism, build her resilience and realise her true potential.Naomi Stead and the highly active and engaged Parlour audience. CPD is available to purchase.

‘Why you need a mentor, Ep6’
The Marketing Mentors with Tasha Dal Bianco & Linda D’Amico

The podcasters talk about the connection between the use of mentors and faster career development. They outline some key stats on mentoring from the US. Around 84% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs, while 100% of Fortune 50 companies have them. When asking mentees what they think of mentoring, 97% of people say they’re valuable. 89% of those who have been mentored go on to mentor themselves. This podcast also offers lots of advice on some key questions – What does a mentor do? How does the process work? What are some of the traditional and non-traditional mentoring approaches? What’s the difference between mentoring and friendship? How do you find a mentor?

Online platforms

Mentorloop

An online mentoring platform with a team of mentoring advocates and experts based in London and Melbourne. The website has an extensive library of free mentoring resources, including ebooks on Remote mentoring and the 10 key qualities and habits of effective mentors, resources on the Business case for mentoring, How to be a great mentor and How to be a great mentee.

Guider AI

Another online mentoring platform that helps organisations connect, support and develop their people through accessible mentoring programs. Includes useful resources, such as How to start a mentoring program: A step by step guide and downloadable ebooks on Types and uses of workplace mentoring, Mentoring for diversity and inclusion and the ROI of mentoring.

Articles

“The merits of mentoring”
Michael Smith, Parlour, 2 May 2017

Michael Smith argues the case for mentoring programs, emphasising the benefits to mentor, mentee and the industry as a whole. He shares his experience of running a mentoring program in his small practice.

“How to get mentors and sponsors who can support your career”
Emerging Leaders Playbook, by Womens’ Agenda, 26 June 2018

Part two of the Emerging Leaders Playbook series offers advice on how to find mentors and sponsors throughout your career (knowing yourself and what your aspirations are is the first important step!). “Self-awareness and self-knowledge is critical”

“The complete guide to reverse mentoring”
Nicola Cronin, Guider.AI, 3 July 2020

What is reverse mentoring? Why is reverse mentoring important? What are the benefits? How do you set up a reverse mentoring program? This guide answers all these questions and more. “The process recognises that there are skills gaps and opportunities to learn on both sides of a mentoring relationship, and flipping the traditional format on its head can be very beneficial for both parties. Reverse mentoring also challenges the idea of mentoring being elitist, as it’s not about a senior person taking someone under their wing, but a formal relationship for the purpose of skill sharing and professional development.”

Next steps

For more information on mentoring programs, see What is Mentoring and Why does it Matter? and How to Create a Mentoring Program.

This article was written by Susie Ashworth as part of a set that draws on the mentoring toolkit created by the Champions of Change Architecture Group.

Stepping Up is a collaboration between Parlour, the ACA and the Champions of Change Architecture Group.