Alumni Mentorship Programme

• Alumni and students register for the programme in October: after which point we pair mentors and mentees based on experience, shared interests, and goals. We then ask that our alumni commit to meeting the students at least three times over the course of the academic year, either in person or over Zoom/Skype/phone call as is convenient.
• Before participants are matched, everyone is invited to take part in a brief online Q&A session, in which the programme leader will run through the programme and answer any of your questions.
• During these meetings, students are encouraged to ask the alumni questions about their career and professional insights. Alumni are encouraged to the best of their ability, provide feedback and encouragement, and provide relevant advice and insights based on their own knowledge.
• A full break-down of the programme can be found online.
  

The mentoring programme is set up to support our students: to enable them to access in-depth personal experience into the workplace that they might not always be able to obtain. Many of our students are already looking towards next professional steps after graduation, and the support of our alumni not only encourages them in these next steps, but also helps them work out career goals and gives practical insight into applications and development.

Although primarily set up for students, many of our alumni mentors have found that the programme is beneficial for them as well: not only as a CV-boosting exercise, but as a way of connecting with the next generation of policy professionals and analysing their own career aspirations.

There will be regular check-ins from the course convenor throughout the year, including a brief online Q&A session at the beginning of the Autumn Term. If anyone is experiencing difficulties with the programme, we ask that in the first instance you let the course convenor know.

Of course! Find out more about the programmes' benefits from past mentors and mentees below:

“I am immensely grateful for guidance I received from my mentor, Mallory. Our sessions have been incredibly insightful, helping me build confidence and navigate the complexities of starting a professional career in the UK. Mallory’s advice and support have been invaluable, providing me with practical tips and a clearer vision for my future career path. I now feel more prepared and optimistic about pursuing my professional goals.” – Bakhtiyar M Salmanov, MPA student participant.

"I encourage all alumni to become mentors! Engaging with students as they start to think about life after LSE has given me the opportunity to reflect on my own career path. Discussing goals and exploring career options inevitably led me to reflect on my own professional trajectory since leaving the SPP: why had I attended LSE? What was I hoping to achieve afterwards? Is my career path faithful to the values that had driven me to the MPA? Taking the time to reflect on these questions during our mentoring conversations was immensely rewarding." – Coralie Harouni, alumni mentor (MPA, 2021)

“David Rinnert, my SPP mentor, played an instrumental role in navigating my professional development. Through his mentorship, I gained valuable guidance that enhanced my professional growth. His insightful suggestions and constructive feedback helped me to refine my professional development strategies. David also facilitated networking opportunities by connecting me with relevant professionals, which expanded my professional network and opened up new avenues for career advancement. His support and dedication were pivotal in my journey, making my experience in the SPP mentorship programme both productive and enriching. Inspired by the benefits I have gained, I am eager to give back and provide similar mentorship support to others in the SPP mentorship programme in future.” – Md Sariful Islam, MPP student participant.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the SPP Mentorship Programme! It was great getting to know Priyal and supporting her in thinking through life post-SPP. At the same time, the programme was a wonderful way to keep updated on the SPP and what was top of mind for students today. I recommend future alumni participate in the programme to support and learn from SPP students.” – Maya Daver-Massion, alumni mentor (MPA, 2022)