SIILK Network Mentorship Program

Mentorship Program

This mentorship program pairs students with experts from the sustainable investing industry to provide real-world experience in sustainable investing and build their professional networks. The mentorship program aims to engage students with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including students of color and low-income students; with a goal of creating a more diverse pipeline of finance professionals with a solid grasp on sustainable investing.

 

Sign Up To Be a Mentee

If you are a current graduate or undergraduate student interested in learning more about the sustainable investing field and being paired with a mentor who will provide career and/or project-based support, and you are able to dedicate one hour a month for a six-month period to engage one-on-one with an expert in the field, you are welcome to participate.

To sign-up to be a mentee, please fill out this form.

 

Sign Up To Be a Mentor

If you are a current professional at an IEN member institution, working in any area of the sustainable investing industry, and are able to dedicate one hour a month for a six-month period to engage one-on-one with a current student, you are welcome to participate. Resources on how to be most effective as a mentor will be made available at the start of the program.

To sign-up to be a mentor, please fill out this form.

 

Participant Roles & Responsibilities

Mentees are expected to:

  • Develop with their mentor a set of tangible and feasible goals to complete within the term of the mentorship (i.e. establish ESG criteria for student-managed fund, introduce impact investing unit to finance course, host half-day event on sustainable investing);
  • Schedule and attend phone or in-person meetings with their mentor once a month to update them on progress in relation to their set goals and request feedback;
  • Share the results of their mentorship with The SIILK Network and IEN more broadly through a blog post, report, case study, or other deliverable(s).

Mentors are expected to:

  • Help their mentee develop a set of tangible and feasible goals for the formal mentorship period that leverage their expertise;
  • Offer ongoing support and guidance to their mentee, both in relation to those goals and their broader career goals;
  • Connect with their mentee once a month over the term of the project;
  • Offer career advice, opportunities for informational interviews with colleagues, and access to relevant educational materials.

 

Selection, Eligibility, & Term

Participants in the program are selected and matched by IEN staff based on applications received through an annual call for mentors and mentees. Participation as a mentor or mentee is a six-month commitment, with required monthly calls to check-in on progress.

In order to apply to be a mentor, an organization must be an IEN Member. A full member list and information on membership are available.

In order to apply to be a mentee, students must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program with a demonstrated interest in sustainable investing.  

 

Benefits to Participants

Both mentors and mentees benefit from the Mentorship Program through development and enhancement of professional skill sets. Specifically,

Mentees benefit by:

  • Successfully implementing a project and developing new skills and expertise;
  • Having access to support and new perspectives throughout project development and overall career development;
  • Building their professional network.

Mentors benefit by:

  • Enhancing their leadership skills and developing a reputation as subject matter experts and leaders;
  • Deriving satisfaction from actively working toward the goal of creating a more diverse pipeline of finance professionals with a solid grasp on sustainable investing;
  • Receiving recognition from IEN as a mentor on our website and in mentorship program materials.

 

Contact

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Nicole Torrico at [email protected]

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