How to Start and Manage a Mentoring Program: A Complete Guide
August 14, 2026
Building a mentoring program that actually works is harder than it looks. Many organizations launch
Ideas for Building Mentoring Programs Members Value
Explore quick, practical reads on mentor recruitment, engagement, matching, ROI, program design, and other topics that help mentoring programs succeed.
Levers for Growth: Practical Psychology for Mentors and Leaders
August 5, 2026
What can practical psychology teach us about being better mentors and leaders? Join Pollinate Networks CEO Christy Pettit and Dr. Spencer Greenberg, co-author of The 12 Levers, for a live conversation exploring better conversations, stronger mentoring outcomes, and growth that lasts. Plus, register early for the opportunity to receive one of 30 complimentary copies of the book.
Why Connected Ecosystems Are the Future of Work
July 5, 2026
The future of work is connected. This blog explores why organizations need to move beyond silos and build intentional ecosystems that make knowledge, relationships, mentorship, and collaboration easier to access and share.
The Ripple Effects of Mentorship
May 20, 2026
Mentorship is often seen as career advice, networking, or professional growth, but its impact runs much deeper. This reflection explores how mentorship can build confidence, reduce isolation, strengthen belonging, and create ripple effects that extend across teams, organizations, and communities.
Why Mentorship Programs Fizzle Out and How to Keep Them Going
April 23, 2026
Mentorship programs rarely fail all at once. More often, they lose momentum over time when structure, support, and visibility begin to fade. This article explores the key reasons programs fizzle out and what organizations can do to keep engagement strong and relationships meaningful.
A Whole New Mind in the Age of AI: A Mentor’s Perspective
April 23, 2026
What does mentorship look like in the age of AI? This article explores Daniel H. Pink’s six essential human aptitudes and why design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning are becoming even more valuable as AI takes on more informational tasks.
Why Man’s Search for Meaning Is the Book Mentors Most Often Recommend
April 7, 2026
In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl offers a powerful framework for resilience, purpose, and inner freedom. This blog explores why mentors return to this book again and again, and how its lessons on meaning, suffering, love, and responsibility still shape the way we lead, grow, and support others today.
How to Recruit Mentors for a Successful Mentoring Program
March 26, 2026
Struggling with mentor recruitment? Learn how to recruit mentors with stronger messaging, better program design, and a practical campaign plan that increases mentor sign-ups.
10 Compelling Reasons to Become a Mentor This Year
February 19, 2026
Thinking about mentoring in your association? Discover 10 research-backed reasons to take on a mentee in 2026.
Why the KTI Assessment Matters for Mentoring Success
January 21, 2026
The KTI (Knowledge Transfer Index) is designed specifically to enhance learning collaborations, not to reveal personal secrets or make judgments about who you are. Unlike traditional personality assessments, the KTI focuses on how you prefer to learn, communicate, and work with others—practical information that makes mentoring relationships more effective from day one.
Mentoring in the Media
December 30, 2025
Mentoring in the Media: a Gen Z guide to mentor archetypes in movies, anime, and games. See how the right mentor shapes growth.
Mentoring is a Crucial Human Skill for the AI Age
December 17, 2025
Recap of Pollinate’s webinar with Monica Anderson on what AI adds to mentoring programs, mentor matching, and where human mentors remain essential.
Pollinate Networks Webinar: Humans, Machines and Mentoring.
November 13, 2025
Discover where AI came from, what different kinds of AI are out there, 10 surprising things about AI that you might not know, and when should you use a human, and when should you use AI for mentoring.
Thankful Connections: Gratitude in Mentorship
November 12, 2025
Discover how gratitude shapes mentoring relationships and organizational growth. Pollinate Networks shares real voices from mentors, mentees, and partners who are thankful for the connections that drive confidence, learning, and collaboration.
When to Use AI for Learning and When to Rely on a Human Mentor
October 15, 2025
Discover when to use AI for learning and when to rely on human mentoring. Learn how combining both creates faster, deeper growth.
How to Get Your Board Excited About Mentorship
September 9, 2025
Learn how to win board and stakeholder buy-in for your association’s mentorship program. Get practical tips, a roadmap to reduce risk, and a free presentation to help you make the case.
The Business Case for Mentoring
September 9, 2025
Discover the proven business case for mentoring. Learn how formal mentorship programs boost growth, retention, diversity, and profitability while helping organizations foster strong, lasting connections.
Braiding Wisdom: Reflections on Indigenous Mentorship with Cat Criger
August 6, 2025
Explore key insights from a conversation with Elder Cat Criger on Indigenous approaches to mentorship, experiential learning, and the importance of relationship-building in personal and organizational growth. This blog highlights how curiosity, reciprocity, and human connection shape meaningful mentoring experiences beyond traditional models or AI-driven tools.
Top 6 Mentoring Best Practices for Industry Associations
August 6, 2025
Discover the Top 6 Mentoring Best Practices that elevate member engagement and deliver exceptional professional experiences for industry associations. Backed by 17 years of research and proven results, these strategies turn mentoring into a powerful member retention and growth engine.
Human Centred Design and its Role in Transforming Mentoring Programs
June 24, 2025
Explore how human centred design transforms mentoring programs by prioritizing empathy, inclusion, and real human needs. Learn why starting with people, and not processes, creates more effective, equitable, and meaningful mentoring experiences.
How Mentorship Helps Build Emotional Intelligence
June 24, 2025
Discover how real-world guidance transforms self-awareness, communication, and leadership skills—plus, see the measurable impact on promotions and earning potential.
Indigenous Mentorship Models
June 23, 2025
Join us for a powerful conversation exploring how Indigenous knowledge systems—rooted in storytelling, relationships, and lived experience—can inform modern leadership development and mentoring practices.
Dylan’s Distractions: A Mentor’s Guide to Helping Mentees Manage Digital Overwhelm in the Workplace
June 20, 2025
In today’s hyperconnected workplace, distraction isn’t just a productivity problem, it’s a neurological challenge. Read about Dylan’s story, a case study in modern workplace distraction.
Mentoring in the Age of AI: 5 Things AI Can’t Do
May 27, 2025
Discover why human connection, empathy, and wisdom make mentoring irreplaceable. Mentoring in the Age of AI: 5 things AI Can’t Do.
Your Mentee Has ADHD – Lessons From the Field
May 26, 2025
Empower your mentorship with practical tips for supporting adults with ADHD. Discover how structure, openness, and celebrating progress can help neurodiverse mentees thrive in work and life.
Managing Through Complexity: Why Mentoring Matters
April 23, 2025
Discover how mentorship fosters clarity, collaboration, and critical thinking, driving employee engagement and resilience through complexity.
Adapting to Disruption: Navigating the Future of Learning in the Digital Age
March 10, 2025
Pollinate Networks explores the future of learning amid disruption, emphasizing AI-human collaboration. A webinar with experts highlighted challenges in L&D investment, knowledge transfer, and AI’s role in mentorship. Organizations must blend AI efficiency with human guidance to foster adaptability, resilience, and critical thinking for future workforce success.
The Key to Agile and Resilient Organizational Culture in 2025: Knowledge Collaboration
January 28, 2025
In 2025, agile and resilient organizations thrive on knowledge collaboration. From mentoring and onboarding to innovation circles, fostering strong connections drives growth and adaptability. By blending human expertise with AI insights, companies can unlock their full potential and stay competitive. Learn how to build a culture of collaboration today!
What Engages Gen Z in the Workplace?
December 18, 2024
Generation Z is reshaping workplace expectations, prioritizing work-life balance, inclusive cultures, purposeful work, and mentorship. At Pollinate, we surveyed Gen Z to uncover the most engaging factors that attract us to a job.
Collaborative Learning: The most critical part of a talent strategy.
November 13, 2024
Chris Evans shares how mentorship fuels success, resilience, and connection, making them essential in any talent strategy.
Want to Get Smarter? Be a Mentor.
October 9, 2024
Mentoring isn’t just about imparting wisdom, it’s a process that makes the mentor smarter and more emotionally intelligent.
Fresh Perspectives: Mentorship Programs That Support Associations
October 8, 2024
Register for our November webinar!
Pollinate’s Top 7 Mentoring Best Practices
September 3, 2024
We’ve got years of experience in proven best practices that create impactful mentoring relationships. These tips are your roadmap to success!
The Pollinate Optirithm
July 10, 2024
This article is a transcript summary from an interview with Pollinate Networks Inc. Co-founder and CTO, Giovanni Salas in June of 2024. In this interview, Giovanni describes the Pollinate Optirithm, what it is, and how his passion for researching the topic of knowledge sharing led him to the desire to develop this type of tool.
WEBINAR: Mentorship Program Best Practices
June 26, 2024
Join us on July 18, 2024 as we welcome Lisa Fain, CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence in a discussion about mentorship program best practices.
The Two Most Critical Success Factors for Mentoring Programs
June 19, 2024
If you’re supporting mentorships or networked learning these days, there are two things that will keep you on track more than anything else.
Mentoring is Mission Critical
May 21, 2024
Mentoring is a powerful tool that can change the world, one relationship at a time. Whether it’s improving educational outcomes, fostering career development, enhancing social and emotional well-being, reducing risky behaviours, promoting equity, or driving community and economic benefits, the evidence is clear: mentoring works.
Unlocking the True ROI of Training and Mentoring
April 16, 2024
Measuring the true ROI of training and mentoring goes beyond simplistic metrics and requires a nuanced understanding of their impact on individuals and organizations. While it may be challenging to quantify the full extent of their benefits, investing in these initiatives yields long-term dividends in the form of increased engagement, retention, and promotability.
Measuring Mentoring Programs: What NOT to Do!
March 21, 2024
We have lived and learned. Here are some things we know we need to avoid when putting metrics in place for your mentoring program.
Roles for Goals – Making Learning Stick with Mentoring
February 22, 2024
Here is a list of potential developmental relationships a person can cultivate to integrate new learning. Construct a development network that will help you reach your professional goals by inviting the right people around you to fill these roles.
10 Ways Mentoring Can Help You Manage Change
January 24, 2024
10 ways mentorship programs can play a valuable role in supporting business continuity and resilience within an organization.
Register for our February Webinar!
January 24, 2024
How do you keep your head on when things get tough? A fascinating story from farming, to agri-tourism to food production and some strategies for building resilience in the midst of challenges.
Boost Your Retention, Increase Engagement
November 29, 2023
Tips for Creating a Thriving Mentoring and Collaboration Program In the dynamic realm of tech-enabled
5 Steps to Reinvigorate Your Mentoring Program
October 30, 2023
Reinvigorate Your Mentoring Program Mentoring programs, like everything, have a shelf life. They can get
Register for our November Webinar!
October 26, 2023
Pollinate Networks Webinar: Trauma Informed Mentorship What does being “trauma informed” mean and how does
Building Healthy Organizational Culture
September 25, 2023
The Crucial Role of Mentor Certification In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, the value of
Impacting Industries Through Collaboration and Mentoring
August 24, 2023
What change do you want to see in the world? What’s important to you? How
Mentoring Programs in Hybrid Workplaces
July 19, 2023
Exploring the Diverse Landscape of Mentoring Programs in the Hybrid Workplace In my February 2023
Emerging Trends in Talent Development
June 21, 2023
The chips begin to fall in this new economy Let me get the obvious statement
Embracing Connections in a Hybrid Workplace
May 24, 2023
Embracing Connections: Chara’s Journey to Building a Strong Hybrid Work Environment Meet Chara. In a
When Mentees Win
May 24, 2023
An Interview with Kristine Beese: Untangle Money At Pollinate, we believe in celebrating success and
The State of Hybrid Work
May 24, 2023
Like it or Not – Workplaces Will be Hybrid Forever To call the COVID-19 pandemic
May 2023 Webinar Announcement
April 26, 2023
Effective Leadership and Mentorship Strategies for Hybrid Workplaces Is your organization remote or currently operating
Mentoring and Leadership in Agriculture and Food
April 24, 2023
Building Mentor Leaders – A Fresh Perspective I’ve been moving about from one mentorship network
From Meerkats to Mentors
March 22, 2023
From Meerkats to Mentors: A Journey of Knowledge Sharing “Knowledge is like a baobab
Mentoring in the Workplace
February 16, 2023
Navigating the Path to Success in 2023 A workplace mentoring program is a structured and
Mentoring and Sponsorship as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategies
January 10, 2023
The call to diversify leadership in every type of organization has never been more amplified
WEBINAR: Mentoring and Sponsorship – Part of Your Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy
November 28, 2022
Join Pollinate CEO Christy Pettit and Pollinate partner Nathalie Davis of NLD Coaching and Consulting,
Increase Your Mentor Quotient: Get Certified
November 28, 2022
Healthy organizations increasingly understand that a workplace mentorship program is an extremely effective way to
CFC Media Lab Announces New Cohort of Women-Led/Owned Companies for Fifth Wave Labs
November 8, 2022
We are thrilled to announce that Pollinate Networks Inc. has been selected to participate in
The Magic of the Match: The Origin Story of Cross-Pollinate AI
October 20, 2022
I remember when I realized how important the match is when it comes to finding
The Rise of the Mentee: Keys to Positive Culture
September 13, 2022
Scan the business section of any major media outlet today, and it won’t take long
Mentoring Done Right
August 9, 2022
Mentoring is “having a moment” in 2022, as online searches for that term immediately reveal.
Mentorship Programs and Connections: Mentoring Solves Your Leadership Problems
July 7, 2022
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a signpost located at a fork in the road directs
Mentorship Programs and Connections: The Future of Work
June 6, 2022
The future of work is here, and connection is priority #1 As workers move away
Guelph-based Pollinate Networks Inc. secures major investments to scale up
May 31, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2022 GUELPH — BDC Tech Lending Group has recently provided
Mentoring for Confronting Realities and Calibrating the Future
May 2, 2022
“Boosting productivity sometimes needs a complete overhaul of vision, a new way to create success,
Five Steps to Minimize Chaos and Increase Business Productivity
April 7, 2022
The world of work is always going through transformation, and the last few years have been
Five Aspects of Collaboration Styles that Boost Team Productivity
March 13, 2022
Understanding collaboration style helps us bridge gaps in how people see the world for
Maintaining Productivity Through the Riptide of COVID
February 1, 2022
“The power we discover inside ourselves as we survive a life-threatening experience can be
Mentorship for return-to-the-office productivity
December 1, 2021
Mentoring fosters fairness, goodwill and healthy new norms at work Preparing employees to return to
Adaptability in the Workplace
October 26, 2021
Cross-pollinate talents and personalities for an adaptable workplace Work and workspaces are certainly interesting “places”
Focus on Results, Not Process, for Hybrid Work Success
September 21, 2021
With the COVID-19 pandemic entering a fourth wave and the future uncertain, people want certainty
Mentorship definitions, benefits and best practices
August 18, 2021
A strong mentorship program is critical to the success of any organization, especially in challenging
Undocumented Realities Mentor Training
August 11, 2021
While African-Americans account for ~13% of the total U.S. population, they account for less than
Getting the job done: Team building for a results-oriented work environment
July 12, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up the workplace, and nothing at work will ever be
Ecosystem engagement for resilience in a changing world
June 2, 2021
The pandemic caught many of us in the swirl of pushing to be more lean
How to cross-pollinate workplace culture in a virtual environment
April 23, 2021
Christy Pettit The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the workplace upside down. Many people who did
The secret to high-performance teams in a post-pandemic world
March 23, 2021
Agile teams with the right mix of members are the key to productivity and exceptional
The future of work is here and connection is priority #1
February 17, 2021
Remote work is here to stay and demand is expected to grow for even more
2021: We intend to make a difference
January 14, 2021
Setting an intent for your work and life can provide both a compass and a
Where will virtual work go next? WFH trends for 2021
December 20, 2020
Some of the common pain points that teams experience with virtual work are reminiscent of
Refine the struggle: How to minimize chaos through change
December 3, 2020
The world of work is going through its most profound change in decades, which is
Using “Yes, and” to confront reality and calibrate for the future
November 2, 2020
Christy Pettit In these challenging pandemic times, we need a new vision, a new way
Hitting the wall (and how to find a ladder over)
October 7, 2020
I hit the wall so hard a few weeks ago I left a Christy-shaped dent.
3 Reasons Diversity Programs Fail (and 1 Strategy That Works)
September 15, 2020
Organizations around the world are striving to make gains on diversity and inclusion, their actions
4 Questions Every Effective Leader is Asking Right Now
September 1, 2020
It isn’t unusual to slosh around in a fair bit of data at the beginning
Pace is the New “Place”: Building a Better Virtual Team, Part 2
August 11, 2020
Virtual teams are here for the long term, even as some jurisdictions gradually reopen workplaces
Effective leadership for virtual team-building: Why tone is like karma
July 7, 2020
The tone we use in communicating with others is like karma. Or at least like
Unconscious Bias in the Workplace: Managing Differences Through Mentoring
June 12, 2020
A powerful part of the mentoring process is learning with – and from – someone
5 Tips to Facilitate a Virtual Meeting Like a Boss
June 9, 2020
Like everyone in the COVID-era, you’ve likely joined a virtual meeting (on Zoom or otherwise)
Mentoring best practices for the virtual workplace
May 4, 2020
Mentoring is among the most powerful and effective ways to circulate knowledge throughout an organization.
5 Steps to Adapt & Focus on What Matters Most in the “New Normal”
April 27, 2020
Across the globe, communities have been coming to terms with what it means to be
7 Ways to Pollinate Agility & Effectiveness
April 16, 2020
Is virtual teamwork getting you down? Are you struggling with motivation? A better understanding of
PLT Canada Launches My Green Mentor Program, Delivered by Pollinate Networks
April 8, 2020
Young people pursuing green careers are benefitting from the advice and guidance of mentors in
In for the Long Haul: Understanding collaboration style helps accelerate team productivity and effectiveness in a hybrid work world.
April 7, 2020
We’re in for the long haul to restore all-round health, folks. The coronavirus pandemic isn’t
Resources for Resilience and a Return to Effectiveness
March 30, 2020
In a crisis, priorities shift day-to-day. With organizations worldwide grappling with plunging productivity due to
The Case for Virtual Mentoring
March 26, 2020
Virtual mentoring can be a vitally important means of human connection, growth and learning as
Crisis Management: The Value of Patience and Perseverance
March 19, 2020
Pollinate is doing our bit to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Today, I’m focusing on patience
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