What is the mentor program?
The mentor program is a component of the NASPP's Women Leading in Equity program that connects women who work in equity compensation for one-to-one career guidance, support, and feedback.
Who can participate in the mentor program?
The mentor program is open to women who are members of the NASPP and work for an issuer company.
Is there a fee to participate in the mentor program?
Thanks to the support of Morgan Stanley, the program sponsor, the mentor program is available at no cost to eligible NASPP members.
How often are mentors and mentees expected to meet? How long are the meetings?
Each mentor/mentee pair should agree on a meeting cadence (frequency and duration) that meets the mentee's needs and is comfortable for both; there is no required meeting cadence. Most mentor/mentee pairs meet on a monthly to quarterly basis for a duration of 30 minutes to an hour.
How long does the mentoring relationship last?
Each mentor/mentee relationship has a one-year term. If the relationship is going well, mentors/mentees may choose to continue the relationship but there is no requirement to do so.
How will mentors and mentees meet?
Most mentor/mentee meetings will be held virtually, on a platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams, phone calls) that is amenable to both parties. If both mentor and mentee will be attending the NASPP Annual Conference, this is a great opportunity to meet in person.
What is the Women Leading in Equity program?
The NASPP's Women Leading in Equity program, sponsored by Morgan Stanley at Work, is a leadership development program developed to support women's advancement, empower career growth, and celebrate the first-hand stories of successful women leaders in our profession. The program combines one-to-one mentorship with leadership development through three virtual seminars and is designed to offer effective and actionable approaches to help women build skills and stand out as leaders, resolve common obstacles, and establish and leverage supportive relationships across career stages.
FOR MENTORS
How do I become a mentor?
Click here to enroll as a mentor. You will answer questions about your current role, background, and experience (if any) with mentoring.
How and when will my mentee be assigned to me?
Mentees will be able to use our search tool to find and select a mentor. Once the enrollment period has closed, we will open the mentor directory so that mentees can conduct searches and reach out to potential mentors. We will provide more information at that time.
Can I have more than one mentee?
Many mentors find they can work with multiple mentees at the same time and we allow mentors to work with up to three mentees during a program cycle. Keep in mind, however, that you will need to meet with each mentee separately. When you complete your enrollment form, you'll indicate how many mentees you want to work with. Be honest with yourself about how much bandwidth you have to take on multiple mentees. It is perfectly fine to sign up for just one mentee.
What is my role as a mentor?
Your role is to serve as a resource and guide for your mentee, to listen to her concerns, and offer input, advice, and tips. You should let your mentee take the lead in setting the agenda for your overall relationship and meetings. You are there to serve as sounding board, to offer suggestions based on your own experiences, and support your mentee so she can feel more confident taking on new challenges.
What are my commitments and obligations as a mentor?
As a mentor, you commit to do the following:
Meet regularly with your mentee.
Attend the mentor/mentee orientation.
Willingly and enthusiastically share your experience and tips for success within equity compensation.
Help your mentee to define career objectives and provide constructive feedback.
Be accessible, engaged, positive and encouraging throughout the program.
Observe and respect the confidentiality of your conversations with your mentee.
How much time will I need to invest as a Mentor?
As noted above, we recommend that you and your mentee agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship. Keep in mind that mentoring doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of your time. Most of the responsibility for preparing for your meetings will fall to your mentee.
Am I expected to answer technical tax, accounting, securities law, or other legal questions?
No, you are not expected to be a technical expert. Your role is provide career-related guidance. If your mentee has technical questions that she needs help with, you might brainstorm ideas on how she might get the answers she needs or suggest resources that she might find helpful.
FOR MENTEES
How do I become a mentee?
Click here to enroll as a mentee. You will answer questions about your background and why you are interested in finding a mentor.
How and when will my mentor be assigned to me?
You will be able to use our search tool to find and select a mentor. Once the enrollment period has closed, we will open the mentor directory so that mentees can conduct searches and reach out to potential mentors. We will provide more information at that time.
Can I have more than one mentor?
Because we often have fewer mentors than mentees, we ask mentees to limit themselves to just one mentor. If you feel the mentor you select isn't a fit; you can end the mentor relationship and select a different mentor.
What is my role as a mentee?
Your role is to direct the mentor relationship to ensure that you get what you need from it. Think about what your goals are for your career and the mentoring relationship so you can use this to drive the conversation with your mentor. (It's possible that your goal might be to figure out what your career goals are.) Some mentees have a specific goal that they want to work toward with their mentor; others use the relationship to address questions and challenges that arise on a more ad hoc basis. Either way, your mentor is going to look to you to set the agenda for each meeting and direct your conversations.
What are my commitments and obligations as a mentee?
As a mentee, you commit to do the following:
Meet regularly with your mentor.
Attend the mentor/mentee orientation.
Be prepared for your mentorship meetings and take an active role in agenda-setting to maximize your experience.
Be open and transparent with your goals, expectations, challenges, and concerns so your mentor can best offer guidance.
Be committed to personal development and both seek and be receptive to constructive feedback.
Be accessible, engaged, positive and encouraging throughout the program.
Observe and respect the confidentiality of your conversations with your mentor.
Will my mentor be able to answer technical tax, accounting, securities law, or other legal questions?
No, mentors are not expected to be a technical experts. Your mentor is there to offer support and career-related guidance. Your mentee may be able to suggest resources that would be helpful or may brainstorm ideas for how you can find the answers you need, but it isn't fair to expect your mentor to be able to answer your technical questions.