Mentoring Program
The Innovationsledarna Mentoring Program aims to strengthen the practice of innovation management by providing an easy structure to the empowerment of young professionals by matching them with experienced innovation leaders. To the mentors, the experience of engaging in the innovation success of others can be a very rewarding learning experience!
The program runs from February to December 2025 and is composed of a minimum of 4 meetings between mentor/mentee pair.
All members can apply to the annual Innovationsledarna Mentoring Program.
Applications for the mentoring program 2025
Application period: October 3 2024 – December 20 2024
Who can apply? Members (with paid fees for the relevant year)
Program start: February 2025
Program duration: February 2025 to December 2025
Application: >> Application form
Do you have any questions? Contact us at mentoring@innovationsledarna.se
Mentoring program structure
Preliminary schedule for 2025:
-Formal kick off in February 2025
-Four individual meetings during the year
-One mid-term meeting in May 2025
-Program closure event in December 2025
-Mid- and end- of program survey in May 2025 and January 2026.
It is the mentee’s responsibility to arrange and book the individual meetings with the mentor as well as drive the agenda.
Matching process
Matching is done by program organizers with mentee’s interests and priorities in mind. After the application period is closed all mentees will receive a list of potential mentors. You will have an opportunity to give us feedback on your priorities for the matching process. While we try our best to find a matching mentor or mentee for everybody, we can’t guarantee that. Shall we have more mentees than mentors, we will assign mentors on the first-come, first-served basis.
Meet some of our amazing mentors from previous programs
What our mentors and mentees say about the program
“Participating in the mentoring program gives a unique opportunity to speak with more experienced mentors in a profession that is still emerging. It's amazing to be able to get feedback and guidance from a person that already faced the same challenges as I encounter at my work."
- Bartosz Libner, Innovation Management | Machine Learning | Software Development at Knowit.
“I find it very rewarding and also inspiring to participate in the mentoring program. The fact that it's sometimes difficult to know who is the mentor and who is the mentee is an evidence of how it contributes to insights and development for both parties."
- Eva Stattin, Business Sustainable Developer at IVL, Swedish Environmental Research Institute and a Mentor 2019.
”A vital goal in innovation management is to fail fast and learn fast! In this community, we openly share experiences and best practices with each other on a personal level. We discuss real problems, which you often pay expensive consultants to solve.”
- Irfan Khalid, Head of Innovation at Cybercom and a Mentor 2018.
”I think the mentoring program is a great way to meet more experienced innovation managers that can provide valuable knowledge, experiences and contacts. I´m grateful for the support I got from Donnie and would recommend anyone to use the opportunity to participate in the program.”
-Nina Bozic Yams, Innovation Management researcher and project leader, RISE SICS Västerås. IL Mentee.
”Invaluable! My mentor helped me to grow both as an innovation management professional and as a leader”.
-Helena Malmberg, Innovation Manager at Scania. IL Mentee.
"The match between mentor and menthee has been spot on for me both times when I joined. My mentor has helped me build on my inner drive and explore my leadership skills, which has been incredibly valuable and an inspiring journey."
-Pernilla Ahlberg, Innovationscoach at Solid Engineer. Mentee 2018 and 2020.
“Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be.”
Guidelines for participants
In mentoring, the relationship between mentor and mentees is of vast importance. It is characterized by a high degree of trust and mutual regard. The mentor helps the mentee realize his or her own potential, aiding the mentee in becoming what he or she aspires to be.
Mentor’s role differs from a role of a coach, consultant, trainer, manager or friend.
Here are some guidelines that could help you to get the most out of your mentor-mentee relationship
Care about the relationship and develop it
Clarify the aims and objectives of the mentoring
Active listening – a mentorship relationship works best when both are curious about each other. Mentorship relationship at its worst, when both parties talk about themselves without actively listening to each other.
Be open and honest. In short, be the mentor or mentee you wish you had yourself!