Mentoring Program Workshop: The First Steps
by Erick Winger

More than a year of hard work by the Mentoring Diversity Team has gone into developing the Mentoring Program for Financial Management. After the long wait, the first group of mentoring pairs took their initial steps in their venture. On May 14th, 17 pairs gathered together in the Ethnic Cultural Center to participate in the inaugural Mentoring Program Workshop. This workshop put the mentors and mentees side-by-side for eight full, exhilarating hours. They spent the day learning about the mentoring experience and, more importantly, about each other.

Ruth Johnston, master of ceremonies for the day, received eager and undivided attention from the mentors and mentees from beginning to the end of the workshop. The pairs started off by getting to know each other and sharing what brought them to where they are today. They also learned the mechanics and value of a mentoring relationship. Eric Davis, diversity consultant and adviser at UW, provided a diversity lesson which honored the diversity focus of the program. Furthering the diversity focus, Ruth guided the group through an exercise that split participants into small discussion groups according to three particular characteristics. The characteristics were: age, gender, and whether English was a first or second language. The groups heard revealing, entertaining and rarely mentioned views from each other. The true value of the workshop is the lasting effect it will have on the pairs and their growth. With the seed planted, it is now up to the participants to begin their journey.

The expectation that mentors and mentees meet a minimum of once per month was clearly established and many pairs planned to meet more frequently. Mentees began the process of establishing goals, with the help of their mentors, and discussing how to accomplish them. More importantly, they were given the tools to continue this process. Mentors were given a blueprint to effectively assist the mentees throughout their growth process.

Thus begins a journey for 34 Financial Management employees. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire before departing. The questionnaire is intended to reveal some of the attitudes, concerns, goals, and aspirations of the mentors and mentees before beginning the mentoring experience. They will again be surveyed upon completion of the program. At that time the initial and final responses can be compared. The workshop ended with a reminder that the Mentoring Diversity Team is available to assist participants throughout this process. If the success of the workshop is any indication of the end results of the program, it will be very exciting to see the progress and growth of the Mentoring Program’s first participants.

For additional information about the Mentoring Program please visit the mentoring website.