Mentorship Program
Congratulations to our Early Career Mentorship Cohort for completing such an impactful achievement! Our gratitude goes to mentees for their commitment and our volunteers - mentors and the Program Team for connecting the community and creating a space where HR professionals can continue growing and serving together.
Still interested in participating in a Mentorship Program? You are in luck! We have an opportunity for you to apply for our Mid-Career Mentorship program that starts in September 2026! If you’re 5-10 years into your career and ready to explore that strategic next step, or you’re a seasoned mentor who’d like to contribute, read on!"
Mid-Career HR Mentorship Program:
The Mid-Career HR Mentorship Program supports HR professionals who are ready to elevate their strategic impact and expand their leadership capabilities. Designed for individuals with over 5 years of HR experience, this program enables you to shift from a strong operator to a strategic partner. Participants will focus on the skills that matter most at this stage of their career: business acumen, executive presence, influence, and the ability to connect HR strategy to business outcomes.
Program Details:
We’ll discuss DEIB & Ethics, AI Integration, developing your Leadership Brand, the SHRM BASK framework, and Networking throughout the program and how they show up in day-to-day work as you work with senior decision-makers.
The program kicks off with an in-person orientation followed by your first mentor/mentee 1-on-1. The sessions will then progress in the following order:
Timeline:
Additional Details:
Mandatory* attendance
Capstone presentations due in final session
Program fee $99 for LWHRA Mentees | $199 for non-LWHRA mentees
Mentors must** be LWHRA members
In-person events are held in Bellevue from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
*Participants may have 1 excused absence
**Small fee may apply if membership is not possible for mentor applicants
Who Should Apply
HR professionals with over 5 years of experience
Individuals seeking to shift from strong operator to strategic partner and broaden their business acumen
Mentor Requirements
Minimum 10 years of HR experience as well as the requirements listed below under “Who can be a Mentor?”
Apply Now!
Fill out our mentee or mentor application form below to apply. Have your resume and LinkedIn handle ready. Thank you for your interest in joining the LWHRA Mentorship Program!
Who Can Be a Mentor?
The mentorship program is a tremendously rewarding opportunity for those who are interested in giving back to the local HR community. You will contribute to the growth and development of the next generation of HR professionals. To help support the mentorship program’s objectives, a mentor should:
Have a diverse background in HR; ideally, at least five years of experience is needed to mentor the Early Career Mentorship Program and ten years of experience is needed for the Mid-Career Mentorship Program.
Be committed to the success and development of their mentee and be willing to devote the necessary time and effort to support their mentee. This includes being available to meet with your mentee every two weeks during the 3-month program.
Demonstrate deep respect for individuals from a variety of backgrounds and a strong commitment to developing ethical professional relationships.
Understand that this is a volunteer opportunity; as such, there is no compensation for this role.
Be a current SHRM member with LWHRA designated as your primary chapter.
On the other hand, the program is not designed to support mentors that:
Do not have a breadth of experience across the HR function. While mentors may be specialized at this stage of their career, there will likely be a greater breadth of need from mentees. There may not be opportunities to pair you with a mentee explicitly interested in your area of expertise.
Have specific criteria that may limit the number or type of mentees they are interested in partnering with.
Are seeking to utilize the program for personal objectives that conflict with the mentor role, i.e., utilizing the program to promote a product or develop business connections.
Early Career HR Mentorship Program:
Start March 18th, End - June 10th
This program provides foundational support, skill-building, and insight into navigating the HR field. You will love this program if you’re looking for direction in your HR career and interested in diving into topics like basic introduction to employment law and compliance, employee relations, compensation, DEI, talent acquisition, and other HR topics the mentee group is interested in learning about.
Who Should Apply (Mentee Requirements)
HR professionals with 0–2 years of experience, or looking to explore or expand your breadth of experience in other areas of HR
Individuals transitioning into HR from another field
Students or recent graduates beginning their HR careers
Program Structure & Important Dates
Cost for Mentees: $25 due before the program starts
Deadline: January 31, 2026. Applications open December 15, 2025.
3-month program: March 18, 2026 – June 10, 2026.
Group meetings every 2 weeks on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, split 50% in-person in downtown Bellevue and 50% virtual
Group Meetings dates are: March 4, March 18, April 1, April 15, April 29, May 13, May 27. Please ensure you are available to attend all group meetings before applying.
Mentor–mentee pairs meet every 2 weeks between group sessions
Mentor Requirements
Minimum 5 years of HR experience as well as the requirements listed below under “Who can be a Mentor?”