A few months ago I was invited to attend a focus group at the new offices of Dave Wilkin’s brain child, Ten Thousand Coffees, a digital mentoring portal.
The portal allows business leaders to create an online profile that can be browsed by young people seeking advice. It’s up to the mentor to agree to the meeting.
According to Wilkin, formal mentorship programs are complicated and expensive machines to operate in organizations.
“I’ve been in dozens of meeting rooms where business leaders have asked me how to set-up mentorship programs” said Wilkin, a 30 Under 30 alumnus. “There’s no disputing the importance of ‘mentorship’ for the next generation, but it’s more about dissecting the ‘how’ than the ‘why’”.
Wilkin said the simplicity of the commitment makes it appealing for both parties to feel comfortable meeting.
“I’m a big fan of Ten Thousand Coffees, I love how it is democratizing networking” said Alister Adams, VP of digital at Publicis . “I find it valuable to hear how the youth of today are thinking and acting, and it’s rewarding to feel like I am helping them even in the smallest of ways.”
In some cases these meetings lead to opportunities. As Wilkin described it: “Mentorship isn’t a program, it’s an outcome.”
It’s not surprising to hear the platform could be a great source of potential hires. “I have met with a number of interesting and passionate young people,” said Howard Kerbal, vice-president, sales/marketing/sponsorship at TIFF. “For me the real value in this platform is what can happen after the coffee conversation.”
As always, mentorship is a two-way street. There must be mutual value to both parties. Over a coffee with Dave I asked him for 5 tips for getting the most out of your next coffee meeting.
Know who you’re talking to
When deciding who you want to have a conversation with, make sure you have a good understanding of who the person is and the conversations they are looking to have. Research them, their company and industry. Having a strong understanding of the news and issues surrounding their business is a great way to ensure you’ll provide a mutually beneficial conversation.
Add value to get value
The next generation is more educated and tech savvy than any other generation currently in the workforce. We frequently hear from industry professionals about how excited they are to have the opportunity to learn something new from this generation. Showing someone that you have put thought into the type of value you can add to the conversation can go a long way.
Know what you want
As important as it is to have a good understanding of who the person you’re meeting with is, it is equally important to have a good understanding of what you are looking to get out of the conversation. Are you looking for insights on their industry? Someone to review your portfolio? Advice on the next steps to take in your career? Knowing your goals and objectives of the conversation will allow you to ask the right questions. This kind of planning will help you maximize the value of the conversation.
Opportunity ≠ Jobs
Opportunity can mean a number of things, from conversations, experiences, new networks and yes, it can even mean jobs. However, when going into a coffee chat do not think of it as an interview. Don’t bring your resume and do not ask for a job. This is an opportunity for you to expand your network and have a meaningful conversation with someone you otherwise would not have met. If you come prepared for your conversation and show value to create mutual benefit, you will be on this person’s radar if an opportunity comes up.
Don’t fall short on the follow through
Make sure you send a follow up message after your chat not only to thank the person for their time, but also follow-up on any outcomes that came from the meeting. This will also help to remind the person you met with of any follow up that they’ve offered, such as connecting you with their colleagues or on social media platforms.
Craig Lund is president of Marketing Talent Inc. and co-chair of the American Marketing Association Toronto Chapter’s Mentor Exchange program.
