Applications for the ILA Mentoring Programme 2025 are now closed.
Should you have any questions, and if you are interested to join the 2026 edition of the programme, please contact [email protected]
ILA Mentoring Programme 2025
The ILA Mentoring Programme is a nine-month formal journey where a cohort of aspiring Non-Executive Directors (Mentees) are matched with a group of experienced and respected Board members (Mentors). These mentors will guide and advise mentees on developing their Directors' skills and advancing their careers as Non-Executive Directors.
The programme aims to foster strong interactions and insights between participants, from which both Mentors and Mentees will benefit. It is also designed to foster diversity of thought and complementarity at the Board level and to provide both aspiring and experienced Board members with a safe space and a forum in which to challenge their practice, discover new perspectives and develop professionally.
The journey is based on an individual and specific set of goals that the participants aim to achieve at the end of the programme. Each Mentee will define their aims in relation to their current Board role(s) and/or the future of their Board career. Mentors volunteer their expertise and time to maximise their contribution to the professional development of the mentees.
Please note that this programme is dedicated to aspiring Non-Executive Directors.
The number of places in the programme is limited and some Mentors/Mentees might not be paired. This should not discourage Mentors and Mentees from applying and participating in the launch event.
The goal of this Programme and the role of the Mentors are not to provide mandates for the participants.
Eligibility
Eligible Mentees ideally hold at least one Board or committee position from any sector or industry (e.g., corporate, non-profit, government agency, private companies, etc.) and generally have less than three years of Board experience. Aspiring Directors who do not hold a Board position yet or former participants of ILA training courses such as ILA Bootcamp and So you want to be a Director? are also encouraged to apply.
Eligible Mentors should be experienced Board Directors who are members of ILA and have more than five years of Board experience.
Application process and match-making
Interested mentors and mentees who meet the criteria above will need to complete the Mentee / Mentor Expression of Interest forms (as of 14 February 2025, applications are closed).
Once the application forms have been completed, the Mentoring Task Force of the ILA Nomination & Remuneration Working Committee and the ILA Executive Committee will review the applications and confirm the acceptance to the programme for both Mentors and Mentees.
The Mentoring Task Force will analyse the Mentee's applications and propose to each 2-3 suitable Mentors based on their objectives. Mentees will have the opportunity to meet the Mentors during the launch event on 25 February 2025. They will first meet the pre-selected ones in a speed networking setting, and they will then be able to freely meet any other Mentor during the networking cocktail.
For the reason explained above, participation to the launch event is mandatory.
After the launch event, Mentees will submit their Mentor wishlist and Mentors will be asked to confirm their selected Mentee(s). Once the pairings are confirmed, the pairs will sign a mentorship agreement.
Mentors and Mentees, once paired, should mutually decide on the frequency and duration of their meetings. While we suggest a minimum of one session per month throughout the programme, each tandem is free to establish a different schedule that suits their preferences. It is important to book at least six sessions beforehand and to communicate the schedule to the ILA Mentoring Task Force.
In July and at the end of the Mentoring Programme, both Mentors and Mentees will complete a survey to evaluate their experience and confirm the number of sessions attended. The programme will be concluded with a networking event in December 2025.
Timeline of the ILA Mentoring Programme 2025
Application process
Apply to become a Mentor or Mentee. The applications are reviewed by the Mentoring task force of the ILA Nomination and Remuneration working committee and the ILA Executive Committee.
Confirmation of application
ILA confirms your acceptance to the programme. Mentees receive their invoice. Mentors and Mentees receive all participants' profiles.
(13:30-18:30)
Opening event at EY
Mentoring training...
...long networking opportunity for the participants to get to know each other. The Mentoring Task force provides pairing suggestions beforehand.
Mentor wishlist
Mentees send their Mentor wishlist (2 preferences) to ILA.
Confirmation of pairs
Mentors confirm the Mentee(s) they wish to accompany. Both mentors and Mentees receive the confirmation of their pairs.
Signature of mentorship agreements
Both Mentors and Mentees sign their mentorship agreement.
Mentoring meetings part 1
Each tandem schedules all the sessions, communicates them to ILA and meets for session #1, #2 and #3
Mid-journey check
Is everything going ok?
Mentoring meetings part 2
Each tandem meets for session #4, #5 and #6
Closing event
Reflection on the learnings...
...and celebration drinks
Benefits of the ILA Mentoring Programme
Mentoring is a very effective way to develop talent, with benefits for both parties invested in the relationship. It has existed as an informal learning method for many centuries, in work set-ups and beyond, with an experienced senior often taking on the mantle of guiding a newcomer.
Mentors can benefit from the program as they will have the opportunity to expand their network, meet aspiring Directors and discuss new governance ideas. They will be in contact with new potential talents and they will find out how other Boards are functioning. The interactions with the Mentees will also allow them to reflect on their own practices as Board members as well as on how governance has evolved over the years. The programme will also offer them the gratification of transmitting their knowledge and expertise to newly appointed professionals, thus contributing to the development of the new generation of Directors. In addition, ILA Certified Directors acting as Mentors will also be rewarded with CPD hours.
Mentees will benefit from the support of qualified and experienced Directors, based on the goals they have individually set at the beginning of the journey. The role of the programme is to offer them an opportunity to learn from highly skilled and well-respected peers on how to deal with governance challenges and how to develop the right skills for a successful career as a Non-executive Director.
Pricing of the ILA Mentoring Programme 2025
Mentees: the fee of the Mentoring Programme is €300 for ILA members and €450 for non-members.
The fee includes:
- access to the opening event (Mentoring training + Networking event)
- 6 mentoring sessions
- access to the closing networking event
Mentors : The programme is free of charge for Mentors. Mentoring is done on a voluntary basis.
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