Calling All Mentors

By Meredith Blake Amoroso

In late 2014, I participated in a mentor program with Pittsburgh’s Ellevate chapter, a global women’s professional network. The experience was truly inspirational and motivated me to be a better manager, better leader, better professional and better human in so many ways. At the culmination of the program, I immediately told myself I wanted to institute a similar, more industry-focused initiative with the organization most near and dear to my heart, PRSA Pittsburgh.

Now is that time.

We’re working with the immensely talented students at the Waynesburg PRSSA Chapter to initiate a student-professional mentor pilot program this winter and we need your help. We’re looking for enthusiastic PR professionals in and around the Pittsburgh area, of all ages and career stages, who would be willing to act as mentors to PRSSA students from Waynesburg University. These individuals will task of shaping young minds and sharing industry insights and advice seriously and have an affinity to further developing our local PR community.

Here’s what you need to know for now:

• It’s a serious, but not overly time-consuming commitment. 
• You will be strategically matched based on shared interests, goals and career paths in an effort to optimize the mentor/mentee relationship. 
• We’ll be hosting a “mixer” in December to introduce you to other mentors and mentees. After that, we’ll ask that you commit a minimum of one day/month to connecting with your mentee, either in person or via phone. 
• You’ll be given a guideline, but will work with your partner mentee to establish your own goals and what you hope to achieve from your time together.
• The program will last the duration of a Waynesburg semester, approximately January through May. 

We are currently in need of 8-10 mentors for this pilot program and ask that you seriously consider participation. To express interest, ask questions or outright volunteer, please contact me, Meredith Amoroso, at meredithblakepr@gmail.com right away. I’ll be sure to answer any questions you may have as we continue to develop this program.

As someone who has been on both sides of various mentor programs, I can tell you that it’s not just the mentee that benefits from the relationship. I’ve come out stronger and smarter as a mentor as well and our goal for this program is to do the same for you. We need your help. Will you let us help you in return?

Thank you in advance for your interest and participation and here’s to new adventures with PRSA Pittsburgh.

Meredith Blake has been an active PRSA Pittsburgh member for the past 10 years and a board member for the past five, most recently serving as immediate past-president from her 2015 term. By day, she operates as a Senior PR & Communications Manager for Philips in its Sleep & Respiratory Care business group. She has been in the PR field in Pittsburgh for the past 11 years and enjoys every twist and turn that comes with career choice. To follow along with her professional insights and general stream of consciousness, follow her on Twitter @BurghBlake.