Mentorship Program

WiGFi Mentorship Program is a lightly structured program that pairs participants for one-to-one mentorships. The program also offers tools and learning materials, training for the mentors, peer support and networking opportunities.

We in Games Finland Mentorship Program

The next round of WIGFi Mentorship will start in August 2023

WiGFi Mentorship Program is a lightly structured program that pairs participants for one-to-one mentorships. The program also offers tools and learning materials, training for the mentors, peer support and networking opportunities.

All members of We in Games Finland can seek mentorship through the program. Mentorships are a great way to learn and grow at any stage of your career, be it starting up or leveling up!

Each year we’re also looking for volunteer game industry mentors, both from the WiGFi community and beyond. We welcome seasoned mentors and empower and train first time mentors to start their mentoring path. If you’re looking for a way to give back in the industry and learn new things, mentoring is a great way to do that!

Welcome to participate in the We in Games Mentorship Program!

Image with text: “I've participated in the mentorship program twice and it's been an amazing experience! My first round was about self-esteem, stress and time management, and the second one was more about programmer's life, finding a new job and getting to know yourself as a professional. I definitely recommend participating especially to new starters in the industry as it's always hard at the beginning. I've definitely learned about the industry, about myself and about my work way more than I expected!" - Valerija Nikulina

The next round of Mentorship Program will start in August 2023. The program schedule and sign-up information will be shared to social channels and the WiGFi Newsletter during summer 2023.

Image with text: “I really enjoyed WiGFi's Mentoring Program as a mentor. They did a wonderful job with the pairing, at least in my case, and I've had many interesting conversations with my mentee. I do believe we've both gained a lot from the experience.” – Emma Varjo

What is the Mentorship Program?

The We in Games Finland Mentorship Program aims to support our members’ professional development by offering a lightly structured Mentorship program, organised once a year.

For mentees

Mentorships are one-to-one conversations between mentor and mentee. Mentors can offer guidance, support, perspective and direction, and mentorships are a powerful method in any stage of one’s career, for example when

  • You’re a student, recent graduate or career switcher, looking for your first game industry job and building your professional skill set
  • You’re working in the industry in junior or mid-level, looking to level up your career or gain a better understanding of your strengths and development areas
  • You’re working at a more senior level, looking to widen your responsibilities
  • You’re at professional crossroads, looking for guidance on taking the next steps.
  • You’re an entrepreneurial spirit looking to start your own company and getting advice from someone who’s been through the same challenges that you will soon face.

In the beginning of the mentorship, all mentees will define a focus or a goal with the organisers’ help. Mentees will then be paired with a volunteer mentor who works in the game industry or ecosystem. We try to find mentors for as many mentees as we can, but a mentor is unfortunately not guaranteed.

For mentors

Acting as a mentor is an excellent way to learn, grow, network and give back. It can help with developing one’s people or communication skills, or even help gain a better understanding of their own aspirations and the value of their own skills.
You can start mentoring when you work in the games industry and have experiences and knowledge to share.

Volunteer mentors support and empower the mentees to work towards their goals during 4 mentorship sessions. In the sessions, a mentor will drive the conversation, give advice and answer the mentee’s questions, or ask questions and empower the mentee to find the answers to their questions from within themselves.

If you’re someone who’s about to take the mentor’s role for the first time in their career, we offer training, materials, encouragement and support to get you started!

Image with text: “Mentoring is one of the most rewarding experiences. I take away as much as the mentee if not more. And seeing my mentee’s success gives me an enormous sense of pride” – Diana Kalenova

FAQ

HOW OFTEN IS THE PROGRAM ORGANIZED?
We currently organise the program once a year.

WHERE IS THE PROGRAM ORGANIZED?
The program is currently organised as virtual, so it can be attended by everyone. Any potential live meet-ups will be organised in Helsinki.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?
The 2023 Mentorship round will start in August. When the next round is open for sign-ups the link is distributed in our Facebook group, a WiGFi newsletter and other SoMe channels, so do follow those.

WHO CAN JOIN AS A MENTEE?
Mentorship opportunity is available for all official members of We in Games Finland ry.
You can apply to become a member at weingames.fi/membership.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
The program is free. Participating mentees do have to be official members of We in Games Finland to participate. The membership fee is 10 euros a year.

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER AS A MENTOR?
Our only requirements for mentors are that you work or have worked in the game industry or games eco system and can volunteer your time with a mentee for a number of mentorship sessions. You don’t have to be an official member of We in Games Finland ry to volunteer your time with us.

I’M QUITE BUSY, BUT STILL INTERESTED TO VOLUNTEER AS A MENTOR. HOW MUCH TIME ARE MENTORS EXPECTED TO DEDICATE TO THE MENTORSHIP?
Mentoring is a valuable way to invest your time, and we’re trying to build the program so it is possible to mentor even if you have a busy life! The minimum time dedication from all mentors is 4 mentorship sessions, usually running between 45-60 minutes per session. You can also offer your time for one-time mentoring only if committing to 4 sessions with one mentee doesn’t suit your situation.

In addition to the one-to-one sessions, mentors have the option to participate in one 2-hour Mentor Training, and any workshops or hangouts that may be organised during the program.

HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD MENTEES DEDICATE?
Mentees will dedicate time for the mentorship sessions, but also for working towards their goals between the sessions. All mentees will set mentorship goals with the organisers’ help prior to being paired with a mentor.

A mentor will support and empower you to fulfil your potential, but you are the person who ultimately does the work. The benefits of mentorship depend on the amount of time you are able to dedicate to thinking, learning, researching, experimenting or working between the sessions. If it feels difficult to do that, or you feel stuck, don’t worry, it happens to everyone! The mentors receive training and materials to help get mentees unstuck.

HOW ARE THE PROGRAMME’S PARTICIPANTS CHOSEN?
Everyone who registers for the Program will receive an invitation to the kick-off event. After the kick-off event, organisers will go through everyone who registered and make the mentor-mentee matches.

Each mentor will be paired with one mentee, or if the mentor chooses, two mentees. The number of participants on each round depends entirely on the number of registrations and the number of matches we are able to make. If there are mentees who are left without a mentor, we will attempt to recruit a mentor from the WiGFi community, but a mentor is not guaranteed.

HOW ARE MENTORS AND MENTEES PAIRED?
Mentor-mentee pairings are done after the kick-off event by the Mentorship Program organisers. We review and match mentors with mentees based on preferences, skills, expectations and mentee’s goals. To make the matches, we will use the information from three sources:

  1. The answers from the Sign-up form
  2. The goals mentees set in the mentees’ Goal Setting Workshop
  3. Mentor/mentee wish list form, an optional form for the Kick-off event participants

HOW DOES THE ONE-TO-ONE MENTORSHIP WORK?
After organisers have made the mentor-mentee matches, introduction emails are sent to the matched participants. The mentor and mentee will take it from there. In the first session, pairs are expected to figure out the rules and boundaries of their mentorship by filling out the Mentorship Agreement and discussing the prompts presented in it.

Participants will gain access to Mentorship resources. Resources for mentees include self-assessment materials, worksheets, and a mentorship session checklist. Materials for mentors include question cheat sheet, discussion prompts and goal setting materials. The resources can be used as supporting materials to structure the mentorship if desired.

The sessions are confidential between the parties, and the organisers won’t ask of any reports or summaries of the session topics. The organisers may occasionally send out surveys asking about the mentorship experience and learnings, but won’t inquire any details about the mentorship topics themselves.

If there’s any breach of trust, Mentorship Agreement or the WiGFi Code of Conduct, please contact mentorship@weingames.fi.

WHAT IF I’VE BEEN MATCHED WITH A MENTOR OR MENTEE, BUT I DON’T LIKE THE MATCHING?
It can happen. Just contact us and we’ll figure something out!

WRAPPING UP THE MENTORSHIP
The one-to-one mentorships happen organically. We try to organise a wrap up of reunion meeting for all participants at the end of the year.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAMME?
You can follow the We in Gamed Finland Facebook page for news and updates.

For direct inquiries, please send an email to mentorship@weingames.fi.

MENTORSHIP TEAM
The Program is lead by community volunteer Salla Hiiskoski, with the help of WiGFi Board Members.