Grow your career in support - become a mentor or mentee in Aspire, a free career mentoring program by Support Driven.

Spring 2025 Semester Dates

January 7, 2025 - Signups Open

January 31, 2025 - Signups Close

February 21, 2025 - Pairings Announced

March 1 - June 30, 2025 - Mentorship Pairings Active

Support Driven members looking to accelerate their professional development should consider participating in Aspire, Support Driven’s career mentoring program.

Mentees are paired with experienced mentors to receive one-on-one guidance and support as they grow their careers. Mentors get an opportunity to teach, coach, and share what they know with their peers.

This is a valuable growth experience, and a great way to participate actively in our growing community.

Join the Aspire Newsletter to get the latest updates!

Testimonials

  • My mentor was incredible and when I showed up to my first session having been laid off between the time of our pairing and our first meeting she pivoted quickly and we re-determined our goals together. I have been so fortunate to have met her and had her on my side through the first few months of my job search. Thank you for making that happen!

    Mentee

  • I think the biggest thing I got out of being a mentor is that it’s basically like holding up a mirror every time your mentee talks. You learn just as much as the mentee learns.

    Jenny Dempsey, Mentor

  • It's a safe space both for mentee and yourself. So you can also validate some of your hypotheses by talking with your peers or people who aim to be in a leadership role similar to yours.

    Vuk Lau, Mentor

FAQ

Q: What’s the difference between a mentor and a mentee, and which should I apply for?

It’s okay to sign up for both, even within the same season. It’s a matter of taking time to analyze what are my opportunities and what are my strengths.

You should apply to be a MENTEE if:

  • You’re considering a Support career but don’t know where to start

  • You’re a Support professional seeking guidance to grow and develop

  • You’re a manager and want guidance taking the next step

You should apply to be a MENTOR if:

  • You have transferable skills that can help someone move past junior level

  • You are passionate about helping others strengthen their skills, advance their careers, and achieve their goals

  • You are looking to grow specifically in coaching and build that strength

  • You are a senior member of a support team and want to gain experience in mentorship and coaching to help understand whether leadership is right for you

We are looking for mentors of all levels, from individual contributors to managers to VPs.

Q: If this is an application process, can I be rejected from the program?

No, although there may not immediately be a good fit for each applicant.

Q: How are you going to pair people?

We’ll be pairing mentees with mentors based on location/time zone, experience level, gender preference, and specific areas and subjects mentioned in their applications.

Q: How will we be notified?

We'll reach out to applicants via email.

Q: What if a mentor and a mentee are not a fit?

We ask that folks let us know if there's a mismatch, and we'll do our best to find another pairing. If there isn’t another match that can be made immediately, we’ll strive to pair those individuals with new matches during the next program season.

Q: What does success look like?

Mentors and mentees should work together to define what success will look like for them. We recommend the use of different tools and strategies to set goals and milestones and track progress over the course of the program.

Q: How often should we meet?

That's up to you. We recommend a minimum of 6 hours over the length of the 4-month program, though more is encouraged!