Problem Statement: To realize one’s dream, you often need advice of people who have gone through it already or bring a fresh perspective on a topic you have been grinding for a while. This role of advisor and mentor is most important during teenage and early adulthood however not everyone is lucky enough to have siblings, friends or parents who can or have time to help.

Target Group: Teens and young adults in Zurich who need career advice and coaching.

Proposed Solution:  The Zurich Hub ran a Mentorship Program and Initiative. The idea was to put Shapers in touch with young people who want to bounce ideas and get advice on anything from studies, career to personal life.

Hub Activities: Each mentee shared a topic on which he or she wanted advice and was matched with a Shaper who was willing to spend time discussing that. From there on, the frequency of meeting, location and the rest was defined between the mentee and the Shaper.

Short & Long-Term Goals/Results: The big advantage of this project was the modularity it offers to Shapers. Someone with limited time could get involved on a light-touch basis and have one mentee that he or she helps. On the other hand, someone with more time could have several mentees or focus on mentees in a specific area or with specific needs. Through this project, Shapers had a punctual but regular impact on the mentees and hence on the local community. Additionally, this was an easy way for Shapers to fully exploit the diversity of our backgrounds and knowledge and share it with the next generation.

Available Metrics: 

·        26 mentors signed up and participated

·        10 mentees registered and received mentorship

Collaborators: Various academic institutions and local schools