NextLink: The Nexthink Mentorship Program

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by Andrea Case
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Learn. Share. Grow.

At Nexthink, we believe in the power of learning from each other. NextLink is our new mentorship program designed to connect Nexthinkers across teams, locations, and expertise areas—helping mentors develop leadership skills and mentees gain fresh insights to grow. 

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Why Join NextLink? 

For Mentors:

  • Develop leadership and coaching skills
  • Expand your professional network
  • Strengthen your knowledge by teaching others

For Mentees:

  • Gain guidance and insights from experienced colleagues
  • Improve skills like communication, problem-solving, and leadership
  • Build meaningful connections across Nexthink 
     

Roles & Responsibilities

Mentors:  What You'll Do

  • Be a trusted advisor - Create a safe, confidential space for mentees
  • Guide, don't solve - Encourage mentees to take action, not rely on you for answers
  • Share insights - Offer experiences, feedback, and career advice
  • Dedicate time - Meet for 1 hour every 2 weeks (this can be flexible depending on what you & mentee agree to!)
  • NOT expected to:  Manage performance issues, solve daily task, or act as a direct manager

Mentees:  What's Expected

  • Be proactive - Come prepared with topics and goals
  • Own your development - Set clear objectives and take action
  • Be open to feedback - Learn from your mentor's experience
  • Follow through - Implement advice and track progress


How it Works for Mentees
 

1. Sign Up
  • Eligibility: Manager approval required 
  • Requirements: With Nexthink 6+ months 
  • Sign Up: Complete the mentee application (link here) to outline your development goals and aspirations. When you submit the application, your manager will automatically be notified for approval, so be sure to discuss it with them first.
2. Begin Matching
  • Review & Selection: Review top mentor matches via a Power BI dashboard (P&T will send you the link) to select your top mentor 
  • Confirmation: You will then receive an email from P&T confirming your mentor pairing!

    Mentor Availability Reminder: As this is a new program, there may be times when we have more mentees than mentors, leading to a temporary mentor shortage. Mentor availability is limited, but the list is updated throughout the year. If you don't find a suitable match right away, we encourage you to check back later as new mentors become available.
3. Kick Off the Mentorship
  • Introduction: Schedule an intro meeting with your mentor 
  • Agreement: Complete the Mentor-Mentee Agreement 
  • Program Duration: Runs for 3 months with bi-weekly 1-hour meetings (or as agreed upon by mentor and mentee)
4. Wrap-Up & Feedback
  • Reflection: Reflect on learnings and share success stories 
  • Feedback: Provide feedback to improve future mentorship cycles
  • Consider if you want to be a mentor!


 

How it Works for Mentors

 

1. Review Eligibility
  • Eligibility: Manager approval required 
  • Requirements: 12+ months at Nexthink, Level C4+
2. Complete Mentor Certification
  1. Self-Paced Training & Survey (1 hour): 
    • Reach out to Talent Success to setup your Coursera License.
    • Enroll in the Coursera training covering coaching, trust-building, and cultural intelligence.
    • At the same time, complete the mentorship skills (link here) survey to assess your strength and development areas. When you submit the survey, your manager will be automatically messaged for approval, so be sure to discuss it with them first.  
       
  2. Attend the Live Workshop (1.5 hours): 
    Once both the above are completed you'll receive and invitation to the live workshop. Participate in an interactive session where you'll practice real scenarios and engage in Q&A.
3. Kick Off the Mentorship
  • Receive an email from P&T confirming your mentee pairing
  • Your mentee will schedule an intro meeting with you
  • Review the Mentor-Mentee Agreement
  • Program runs for 3 months with bi-weekly 1-hour meetings (or whatever you/mentee agree to) 
4. Wrap-Up & Feedback
  • Reflect on learnings and share success stories
  • Provide feedback to improve future mentorship cycles
  • Let the Program team know if you'd like to be a mentor again!


 

Mentor Certification Details 

All mentors must complete a self-paced Coursera training.  To activate your Coursera license, reach out to Talent Success.  

After activating your license, you can then enroll in the Coursera training

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Two Step Certification: Once you've completed the Coursera training, you'll be invited to a LIVE virtual workshop to practice & apply what you learned! 

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Mentor Program Team

Questions or concerns? Email us @ NextLink@nexthink.com 

Anastasia Schaer-Gureva, People & Talent
Cyrielle Cettour-Baron, People & Talent
Gabi Tofani, People & Talent
Raul Martinez, Engineering
Andrea Case, People & Talent

Resources & Tools

Mentee and Mentor Resource Guide

Mentee and Mentor Agreement 

NextLink@nexthink.com 

Q&A

How are Mentors and mentees paired?

Both mentors and mentees will first complete a skills survey. Based on their responses, mentees will gain access to a BI-powered dashboard that recommends the top five mentors best suited to their development needs. These recommendations are based on mentors' skills strengths, as well as different locations and teams to encourage diverse perspectives. Mentees can then explore and select a mentor from their suggested matches. Our goal is to facilitate cross-functional connections, pairing individuals across divisions and regions to provide fresh insights and expand networks beyond their usual circles at Nexthink.

As a mentor, can I choose my mentee?

No, mentors won’t select their mentees. To create a mentee-driven experience, mentees will take the lead in choosing a mentor who aligns with their learning goals. This ensures that mentees are actively driving the relationship—setting the agenda, defining their objectives, and making the most of their mentoring experience—while mentors focus on providing guidance and support.

What if a mentor pairing doesn't work?

We understand that sometimes a mentorship match might not be the right fit—for example, if scheduling conflicts or time zone differences make it difficult to connect. First, we encourage both mentor and mentee to have an open conversation about any challenges and see if adjustments can be made. If the pairing still isn't working, reach out to the Program Team to explore options for reassignment.

What skills can I develop in the mentor program?

For this cross-functional initiative, we have focused development goals on "soft skills" and skills that are transferable no matter what team you're on.  Full list of development goal areas below:  

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What if I can't find a mentor who fits my needs?

Because this is a new program, there may be times when we have more mentees than mentors, leading to a temporary shortage.  Mentor availability is limited, but the list is updated throughout the year.  If you don't find a suitable match right away, we encourage you to check back later as new mentors become available.  

When I'm done being a mentor, what can I do next?

Notify NextLink@nexthink.com if you would like to be re-added to the mentor pool and be assigned another mentee!

Can I be both a mentor and a mentee?

If you're looking to both learn from someone and share your expertise, you can apply for both roles, but please recognize that this is a huge time commitment, and you should discuss this with your manager first. 

Do mentors receive training on how to be a good mentor?

Yes!  Before starting, all mentors complete a certification program, including training on coaching, trust-building, and cultural intelligence.  

What if I don't have time to meet every two weeks?

We ask mentors and mentees to commit to bi-weekly 1-hour meetings.  If your schedule changes, please communicate with your mentor/mentee and adjust accordingly.    

Is there a structured curriculum for mentorship meetings?
No, but we provide conversation templates and resources to guide discussions.  Each pairing can customize the experience based on their goals.   
Should I still register as a mentor if I am not a manager?  

Yes!  Mentoring is not only about sharing management experiences.  If you're not a manager, but you're C4/C5, etc., and you're willing to share your experiences/journey and leadership insights while guiding an individual talent, you're an excellent candidate to become a mentor.  You will then be paired with a mentee with interests matching your profile.    

How do I know if I am qualified enough as a mentor on a specific skill?
You don’t need to be an expert—just having been exposed enough to guide, explain clearly, and help others avoid common mistakes. If you can share a few experiences, offer feedback, and are open to learning alongside your mentee, you’re ready to mentor.