Mentoring
About Mentoring
The Melbourne Chapter Mentoring Program is a free benefit available to PMI Melbourne Chapter members.
The PMI Mentoring Program provides an opportunity for mentees to enhance their professional skills and to enjoy working collaboratively with a supportive mentor to achieve their goals. It is also an opportunity for mentors to give back to the profession and to share their experience and knowledge with less experienced project managers.
How does it work?
Our mentoring year kicks off in February with a “mentoring speed dating” session where prospective mentors and mentees meet. Matching of mentors and mentees is performed based on individual preferences and overlaps in needs and capabilities. The program provides facilitates further matches at other times, subject to the availability of mentors.
Program participants connect at a Mid-Year Mentoring event and in November, we celebrate the year’s successes with mentors and mentees presenting on their shared journeys.
To join the PMI Melbourne Chapter Mentoring program, you need to be a PMI Melbourne Chapter member and have access to the PMI Melbourne Chapter website.
Mentors and mentees can continue their mentoring relationship beyond this year by mutual agreement.
Mentees can only have one program mentor.
Mentors can have multiple mentees but must meet with them separately. A member can be a mentor and mentee at the same time, e.g. be mentored by another mentor and provide mentoring to a more junior/less experienced member.
Benefits of PMI Melbourne Chapter Mentoring Program
Mentoring is based on encouragement, constructive comments, openness, mutual trust, respect and willingness to learn and share. It is also a serious commitment for mentors who give their time to mentees.
Mentoring has become an increasingly popular method of developing professional skills and knowledge. Benefits of mentoring include:
1. Opportunity for mentees to enhance project management and people skills.
2. Opportunity for both mentors and mentees to learn about project management approaches in other companies, industries, countries.
3. An accountability framework for engaging with professional goals.
4. PDUs can be claimed by mentors and mentees.
5. Just in time support: Mentees receive information and support when they need it.
6. Relevance: work issues can be discussed and progressed.
7. Satisfaction for mentors when they see mentees achieving their goals.
8. Issues discussed during mentoring meetings are strictly confidential.
Hear from our mentors and mentees
As a mentor in the PMI Melbourne Chapter Mentoring Program, I have the privilege of listening and supporting my mentees as they strike out, whether to change jobs or climb the career ladder. It’s very exciting and rewarding – I get to learn and reflect about my journey also.
My first Melbourne Chapter mentor encouraged me to write white papers that established me as a project management leader outside of my discipline. My second mentor guided me in negotiating a $15,000 higher salary and applying for a board position.
The PMI Melbourne mentoring program is very purposeful and rewarding. I learnt a lot about IT project management from my mentee.
My PM career has been incredibly interesting, valuable and varied – I felt the strong desire to give something back to this vital profession, especially after taking the PMP certification in July 2020. I get satisfaction out of building a new relationship and discovering new shared learnings – I really enjoy watching people develop.
I have been underestimating the value of “external” mentor for 15 years!
Diversity of thought and experience.
Takeaways: from theoretical to tangible short-term actions.
A valuable opportunity.
Become a Mentor/Mentee
Ready to become a Mentor/Mentee?
To join PMI Melbourne Chapter Mentoring program please apply via the new Mentoring application called Mentorink shared with Adelaide PMI Chapter:
You will need to register, confirm your email address (you will receive an email to confirm), and then submit your application as either mentor or mentee.
From the list of 3 programs please select Melbourne Mentoring program.
You will get:
- questions about your interests
- personality test
- Most importantly: questions related to your mentoring goals, project management experience and PMI membership.
“How to” videos available on Mentorink website (1-2 minutes)
To ensure that your application is verified and approved, please send an email to: mentoring@melbourne.pmi.org.au
Meet our Mentors
Andrew Godfrey
Gerard Gan
Helen Snitkovsky
Ignacio Inchausti
Jeferson Souza
Jenny Wilkins
Kay Shafi-Roden
Kedaar Kale
Keen Chan
Lyn Windsor
Nitin Verma
Ramesh Kulandaivel
Richard Chibuogwu
Ronald Haupt
Rosa Bruno
Victor Zhu
Vikki Kapoor
Mentoring FAQs
How are Mentors and Mentees matched?
During the Kick-off Event, mentees are given a unique opportunity to meet mentors in a virtual speed dating session and to provide their preferences. Mentee preferences cannot always be met due to mentors’ availability.
Outside of the Kick-off Event, prospective mentors and mentees need to reach out to mentoring@melbourne.pmi.org.au, so that a match can be suggested on the basis of mentor and mentee profiles.
How many Mentees can a Mentor work with?
Mentors can elect to have one or more mentees; however each mentoring session needs to be one on one.
How many Mentors a Mentee can have?
A mentee can have one mentor during each Mentoring Year, to ensure that all mentees get an opportunity to have a mentor.
Can you be both a mentor and a mentee?
Yes.
How often should Mentors and Mentees meet?
A general guideline is to meet at least once a month – some mentors and mentees meet fortnightly for one hour. Mentors and mentees can each claim 1 PDU per 1 hour mentoring session.
Where and how should Mentors and Mentees meet?
Mentoring meetings can be held online or in person according to the partners’ preference.
How long is a Mentoring partnership for?
This program will continue from the Kick-off in February to End of Mentoring Year in late November.
Can a Mentor and Mentee stay partnered for the next year?
Yes, if both the Mentor and Mentee agree.
What happens if the Mentoring partnership is not working?
If one party feels that the partnership is not working, it is preferred to discuss the issues with the other person first. Has there been a misunderstanding or a difference in expectations? Can the issue be resolved? If the issue is not resolved between the mentor and mentee, please contact the PMI Melbourne Mentoring Program Manager at: mentoring@melbourne.pmi.org.au. If a change of mentor or mentee is required, it will be organised by Mentoring Program Manager. Learn from what occurred in this partnership and consider how this misunderstanding could be avoided in the future.
What support is provided for Mentors and Mentees?
Chapter Sponsor and Mentoring Team provide relevant presentations during the mentoring events and are always available to answer your queries.
How do I claim my PDUs?
Login to https://ccrs.pmi.org with your membership details. In the Report PDUs section, enter the PDUs under Informal Learning, allocating 1 PDU per hour.
Have more questions about Mentoring or interested in getting involved with Mentoring?
Feel free to contact us at: mentoring@melbourne.pmi.org.au
