Four Months, One Cohort, Countless Lessons

When I signed up to be the Head of Cohort for the February 2025 round of Mentor it Forward (MiF)’s mentoring program, I knew I was stepping into something meaningful. What I didn’t fully anticipate was just how much I’d take away from the experience.

Now, just moments after sending out the final certificates of completion, celebrating the incredible milestone with all participants, I’m sitting with a glass of red, taking it all in. Four months of effort, decisions, conversations, and quiet wins. A lot happened, and it’s only now, with a bit of space to breathe, that I can really appreciate the full picture.

So I thought I’d write it down. Not just to recap the process, but to share a bit of what it was like behind the scenes. The coordination, the people, the lessons, and everything in between.

Behind the Curtain — Leading the Feb 2025 Cohort

When we announced the February 2025 mentoring cohort, the response was immediate. Applications came in fast, not just in numbers, but with real enthusiasm. People were ready. Many had been waiting for the next round to open, and it showed.

Thankfully, we had a solid group of mentors already on board. Experienced, generous people who had committed their time well before the call went out. That gave us a strong foundation to build on.

Initial Steps

Once applications closed, the real work began. Reading through each submission gave us a glimpse, but a form only tells you so much. We made a clear decision early on: we wouldn’t rely on written answers alone. We needed to speak with people.

The Interview Process

So, we booked calls. Every single applicant had a one-on-one conversation. No shortcuts. We wanted to understand who they were, what they hoped to gain from the program, and where mentorship could truly make a difference for them. Some conversations were light and straightforward. Others were raw, reflective, and surprisingly honest.

That step changed everything. It brought people to life. It helped us see things that no form ever could.

Matching Mentors and Mentees

After the interviews wrapped up, our internal discussions started. We met as a team and went through each applicant. One by one. There were moments of quick agreement, and others where we went back and forth. We didn’t always see things the same way, which was a good thing; it meant we were thinking critically. Every decision was shaped by the question: Who would be the right mentor for this person, at this point in their journey?

Once we had a potential match, we reached out to the mentor, not to assign someone, but to consult. We shared the mentee’s story, our reasoning, and asked for their thoughts. Their input mattered. If they felt aligned, we moved ahead. If not, we regrouped. There was no forcing it. A good match had to feel right on both sides.

Onboarding and Support

When the match was confirmed, we onboarded the mentee. We talked them through what to expect, how to make the most of the experience, and how to approach the relationship. That was followed by a formal kick-off, a structured introduction, a gentle handover, and then the journey was theirs to own.

From that point on, we stayed close. We checked in, quietly observed how things were going, and made ourselves available if support was needed. We didn’t interfere, but we didn’t disappear either.

What became clear to me through this round, clearer than ever, was the difference that an active mentoring program makes. Not in theory, but in practice. We didn’t just run a program. We were in it, with them.

We cared about how things were going. We responded. We adjusted when needed. And we genuinely wanted to see each person walk away feeling like it made a difference.

That, to me, is what set this experience apart.

Looking back, what I take away most isn’t just how smoothly the program ran or how well the matches worked, it’s how personal it all felt. Every conversation, every decision, every small check-in along the way reminded me why we put so much care into building this. It showed me what’s possible when people come together to participate, and to genuinely support one another. And on top of it all, I also went through the experience as a mentee, learning, reflecting, and growing in ways I didn’t quite expect. But that’s a story for another blog.

One cohort closes, another begins, and I can’t wait to go through it all again.

Jaywen