The Exchange is a mentoring program designed to create opportunities for two-way learning between a mentor and mentee.

APPLY FOR THE 2025 COHORT

October 28, 2024 through November 29, 2024

About The Exchange

WHAT IS THE EXCHANGE?

The Exchange is a year-long program that pairs experienced professionals (mentor), with a another member of the AWWEE community who is seeking support and advice (mentee).

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR?

Mentors serve as invaluable resources, guiding their partners through the journey of learning and growth. They share rich insights and advice, drawing from their wealth of industry knowledge and professional development expertise.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE MENTEE?

Conversely, early-career professionals, or mentees, bring fresh perspectives to the table. They shed light on current trends and embody the attitudes and values of the next generation of industry leaders. This dynamic exchange creates a powerful partnership, where both mentors and mentees benefit, fostering innovation and growth in their respective fields.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF MENTORS?

  • Understand their partner’s desired outcomes and prepare for meetings accordingly.

  • Help their partner establish goals.

  • Challenge their partner to think and analyze options.

  • Act as a resource by sharing their experiences, knowledge, and wisdom with their partner.

  • Offer advice to guide their partner in reaching their professional and personal goals.

  • Provide constructive and meaningful feedback.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF MENTEES?

  • Make the initial contact with their partner and schedule all meetings.

  • Identify overall outcomes they hope to attain with the support of her partner.

  • Prepare and provide an agenda to their mentor in advance of each meeting.

  • Follow through on commitments and goals set during meetings.

  • Be receptive to feedback and coaching from their partner.

  • Take advantage of the opportunities and advice presented by their partner.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO PARTICIPATE?

  • Be a current AWWEE member and maintain active AWWEE membership for the duration of the program. Not a member? Join here.

  • Have a desire to learn and share your knowledge with a partner.

  • Have ambition to succeed.

  • Be committed to establishing and working toward goals with a partner.

  • Be willing to commit time and energy to the partnership.

  • Mentors should have 5 or more years of experience.

  • Anyone can apply to participate as a mentee. We have paired everyone from recent graduates seeking support to transition into the workforce to seasoned professionals looking to move into a consulting role before full retirement.

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Application Process

  • Be an active AWWEE member. Join AWWEE.

  • Apply online by 5 p.m. PST on November 29, 2024.

  • Program organizers will review every application and match as many applicants as possible based on areas of interest and expertise, desired outcomes, and location.

  • All applicants, including those we are unable to match, will be notified by 5 p.m. PST on December 20, 2024.

Resources

  • Program FAQs

  • The majority of the application is multiple-choice. There are a handful of questions for write-in responses. You may want to prepare your responses to those questions in advance by downloading the questions here.

2025 Cohort Dates

October 28 – November 29, 2024
Applications accepted

No later than December 20, 2024
Notifications to selected participants with partner information

January 1, 2025
Program start date

December 31, 2025
Program end date