MPIGNY Mentorship Program - 

The Power of Two

Are you interested in growing your own career and maximizing your return on investment within MPI? Then join the MPIGNY Mentorship Program – The Power of Two either as a mentor or a mentee for the July - December 2024 term.

This program is designed to benefit both mentees and mentors alike by cultivating relationships that help individuals grow their career.  As referenced in this Forbes article, mentoring relationships can “push your career to a new height” and “deliver a rewarding and potentially life-changing experience for both the mentor and the mentee.”  Effective mentoring happens when both the mentor and mentee assume responsibility for making the relationship work.

In this initiative, we will pair up a select few emerging professional members within the industry with seasoned subject matter industry experts for mutual growth and career development.

Why you should apply to the MPIGNY Mentorship Program – The Power of Two:

Benefits to the Mentee:

• Real-world insight
• Exposure to new ideas, perspectives, learning experience and resources
• Networking opportunities
• Build your network
• Receive assistance with long-term career planning and direction

Benefits to Mentor:

• Exposure to new ideas and perspectives in support of maintaining relevancy in a changing industry
• Enhancement of leadership and coaching skills
• Develop and retain talent in your organization
• Build your network
• Creating a legacy

Please complete our mentorship application if you are interested in joining the program. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2024.

Mentorship Topics (Select one per six-month term)

• Industry Experience – Techniques for problem-solving, overcoming obstacles, event execution stories, strategic thinking, career challenges and successes, industry trends
• Personal and Professional Growth – Effective communication, listening skills, interpersonal skills, organization skills, time management, self-confidence, adaptability, integrity, work ethic, emotional intelligence, understanding professional strengths and weaknesses, work/life balance
• Successful Leadership – Understand leadership qualities and how to put them into practice, leading and developing others (training, team building, facilitation, motivation, delegation), active listening skills, building strong relationships, getting stakeholder buy-in
• Networking & Sales Skills – Building rapport, breaking through the awkward barrier at events, authenticity, listening skills, focusing on others’ needs/interests, account and territory development, presentation skills, contracts, and negotiation
• Project Management – Logistics, workflow/processes vendor management, automation, technology, budgets, and financial management
• Marketing – Developing a marketing plan, marketing platforms, social media, advertising, e-mail campaigns, content creation, data analytics

Guidelines

• Term Commitment: 6 months (July - December 2024)
• Session Commitment: Minimum 6 sessions per term
• Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month
•  Attend one introductory meeting (virtually or in-person) to kick-off mentorship term
• Participate in a 60-minute session either once or twice a month with your mentee/mentor
• Participate in bi-monthly programming (MPIGNY Education Program, Networking, Annual Golf Outing, Annual Auction & Mixology, Industry Bash, exclusive mentorship program events, etc.) with fellow mentorship program participants to discuss individual interactions and learnings, share stories, and strengthen industry relationships and engagement.
• No cost to mentees or mentors other than your time

Networking is an important component of our industry, and I personally get the most out of my MPI experience through networking with the other members - whether in person or virtually. The mentoring program allows mentees to network with experienced mentors. This offers a space for two people to bond over similarities and differences, but ultimately share the same end goal - career growth. It is structured but also allows for strategic and spontaneous conversations to take place. It is a valuable part of the MPI membership, and I'd like to continue to take advantage of its offerings.

– Remy Gordon Chariton, Mentee

I have participated in the MPIGNY Power of Two Mentorship program twice and both times have found it to be an extremely valuable experience. Not only has the program allowed me to share insight from my professional experience with emerging industry colleagues, I have also gained new and fresh perspectives on my work and career path. The Power of Two creates an environment where the program members interact on an intimate level with industry colleagues in totally different stages of their careers and from very different backgrounds.  The direct feedback and insight from industry colleagues different from ourselves offers each of us valuable perspective that we would not get from our personal networks. I have enjoyed getting to know both of my mentees and consider both friends and allies as we both work through the challenges and opportunities of our careers in the Meeting & Events Industry.

– Susanna Flores, Mentor