The NexGen Rising Stars Mentor Program connects emerging professionals with experienced members of the EDmarket Board of Directors and dedicated Council volunteers to support meaningful growth, guidance, and leadership development. Each pairing is thoughtfully created to help Rising Stars gain valuable insights, set purposeful goals, and explore new opportunities.
Built on trust, open communication, and flexibility, the program encourages regular check-ins, constructive feedback, and a shared commitment to confidentiality. To help us stay connected to mentor and mentee needs, we’ll use brief surveys for feedback during the mentorship year. Our aim is to ensure every mentor–protégé partnership thrives while providing ongoing support and celebrating achievements along the way.
Together, we’re fostering the next generation of leaders in the education marketplace.
Mentorship Assignment Period: January 2026 – December 2026
Check-In Survey: Distributed at the 3-month mark to both mentor and mentee to assess progress and alignment.
Purpose: Support meaningful growth, goal-setting, and leadership development through structured mentorship.
Each NexGen Rising Star will be paired, to the best of our ability, with an EDmarket Board member or Council volunteer who will provide mentorship to enhance the NexGen experience.
Confidentiality is essential to a successful mentoring relationship. Mentors and protégés should feel comfortable sharing sensitive information without fear of judgment or disclosure.
Mentors should encourage protégés to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, and provide guidance and support to help them achieve their objectives.
Establish regular check-ins between mentors and protégés. Use this time to discuss progress, challenges, and opportunities for growth through open and honest communication.
Both mentors and protégés are encouraged to provide constructive feedback to each other. Reflection on the mentoring relationship helps identify areas for improvement and supports continuous learning.
Each mentoring relationship is unique. Flexibility is essential to accommodate diverse needs and preferences, allowing you to tailor interactions based on schedules and communication styles.
Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of both mentors and protégés. Recognition helps motivate participants to stay engaged and contribute to the success of the mentorship relationship.
EDmarket is committed to offering ongoing support to mentors and protégés throughout the program. Please address any challenges or concerns with EDmarket staff so we can provide resources or guidance as needed. Surveys will be used to help stay connected to mentor and mentee needs.
