Charmain Bogue
How to Build a Mentoring Program That Produces Results
Charmain Bogue | Washington, D.C.
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Why Most Mentoring Programs Don't Work Matching is treated as the program: once pairs are connected, the program is done No structure for what conversations happen or how often No accountability for outcomes on either side
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What Good Matching Actually Requires Match on what the mentee needs to learn, not on similarity of background Diverse pairs are more developmental than similar ones, but require more intentional structure Both parties should have some say in the match before it's finalized
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The Structure That Pairs Need A shared understanding of the goal: what is this mentee trying to develop or decide? A meeting cadence both parties can realistically sustain A simple framework for what to bring to each conversation
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What Mentors Need That Programs Rarely Provide Training on what coaching vs. advice looks like in practice Space to raise concerns about the match without the whole program finding out Recognition that knowing when to step back is a skill, not a failure
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Making Mentorship Work for Women Returning to the Workforce The re-entry gap creates specific confidence and network challenges Mentors who have navigated career transitions themselves are more useful than those who haven't Connecting practical skill-building with realistic expectation-setting
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Measuring Whether It's Working Don't measure inputs (meetings held); measure outcomes (decisions made, skills built) Ask mentees what changed, not whether they're satisfied with the program Track where mentees are six months after the program ends, not just at completion
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The Transition Mentors Often Avoid When the mentoring relationship has done its job, the mentor should step back Healthy endings: the mentee brings new problems the mentor can't anticipate Transition to peer networks is the natural next stage; programs can facilitate it
Former mentees who are strong should become mentors within two to three years. The best mentoring cultures are ones where giving back becomes the norm.
Charmain Bogue | Washington, D.C. | charmainconsulting.com