My little mentorship program started ~5 years ago. It started small it grew to some great heights and now it is all but dead. It limps along and those who participated who created meaningful connections, still maintain them, but at this point it is saturated and nothing more will come of it.

What Happened?

This was very much a case of death by a thousand cuts. No one thing killed has killed it outright, but that said it has very much withered on the vine. These are the most notable reasons:

1. We saturated the market. Early on I had approximately ¼ of the company in the program. There was no way to add more, as I had gathered all willing participants early on.
2. We had a massive growth spirt, not by hiring people but by acquiring companies. This meant they all came in with their own cultures, and housed in their own silos. Making it much harder to adopt new folks into the program.
3. There was a soft acceptance of the program from upper management. It would get talked about, but never in a way that gave credence to the program. Case and point I once got up in-front of the entire upper management and said explained I had the program and if you wanted to talk or ask questions I would happily do so. No one took me up on the offer.
4. It was hard to prove value, and in a world where numbers are king, most people just left he program to do the things that made them more visible.
5. Ultimately it was my fault as I couldn't keep the momentum going. It was hard for me to keep this pet project afloat with little wind in the sails.

Is it Salvageable?

No.

At this point the project is dead. We have had a semi-annual gathering on the calender since day one. The last one that happened last week had 3 people in total in it out 100+. Those who came are friends and wanted to show support more than participate in the meeting.

There will be no formal shut down, just canceled meetings. The rest will just continue until all those who participated stop meeting or move on from the company.

What can I do better next time?

I don't know.

There are many things that I'd like to say would help. From being given more time to work the project, more backing from management, or less political and pre-defined culture barriers. But I honestly have no idea if that would help. I learned unequivocally that if someone wants to be part of a mentorship they will participate, if they don't then they wont.

I could have gotten on my soap box more often, or changed things up more. Trying to get more people exposed to each other more frequently. Maybe even designed a pattern of shift you in for 6 months, shift you out for 6 months, to let you grow as a pair and then alone. You'd learn a ton from your counterpart, apply the knowledge, then do it all again.

I won't know until I can try again.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely.

The things I have learned from my mentorships will forever be carried with me where I go. I have life long friends, and life long skills. Those things can never be taken from me. I will forever appreciate the candid conversations, the frustrations, and the joys of talking with my peers.

If I get the opportunity to do it again I will. Even if it ends up being just a shadow of what I have built thus far, it'll still be worth it.