The PromoKitchen Mentorship Program has helped hundreds of industry professionals receive first-hand, personal guidance on how to become better promotional product professionals.

A core part of our mission at PromoKitchen is to help other industry professionals succeed. We recognize that others helped us along the way, which is why we feel it’s important to help others as they navigate our industry. PromoKitchen Mentees and Mentors come from a wide range of backgrounds–management, sales, marketing, and owners. We are keen to help and contribute back to an industry that has been good to us throughout the years.

 
 

Our mentors help mentees grow, develop, make better decisions, and guide their careers. For the mentor, it serves as not only an opportunity to give back but also as a reciprocal learning and development experience. We are told often that both the mentor and mentee benefit from the relationship and that they grow and gain support together.

Think of the relationship between you, the mentor, and your mentee as an exchange. Yes, your role is to help your mentee grow and learn, but this is a great opportunity for you to learn as well.

What Makes A Good Mentor?

  1. Experience and Expertise: A good mentor has relevant knowledge and skills in their field.

  2. Active Listening and Empathy: They listen attentively and empathize with their mentee's experiences and concerns.

  3. Guidance, Not Dictation: They guide rather than dictate, helping mentees make informed decisions.

  4. Constructive Feedback: They provide honest and constructive feedback to support mentee growth.

  5. Accessibility and Patience: They are accessible, patient, and committed to their mentee's development over time.

Signing up is easy. We use the platform Together to pair and connect our mentors and mentees. Simply click on the link and create your account to start your PK mentorship journey!

 
 
Being a mentor has shown me that the future is amazingly bright. Everyone is struggling in some way; the greatest gift is to be able to help someone in need. I love Leonard Cohen’s quote, “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” Our job as mentors is to find the cracks and be the light.
— Danny Rosin, President and Co-Owner of Brand Fuel, on being a mentor
 
 

Our mentees may be relatively new to the promotional products industry or their role and want to receive guidance, support, and mentorship from a more experienced individual to develop their skills, knowledge, and personal or professional growth. 

Mentee Requirements

To become a mentee in the Promokitchen Mentorship Program, we require 1 year of industry experience. There are a tremendous amount of industry resources available to new promotional product professionals from organizations like PPAI and ASI. If you’re looking for more resources, you can email PKMentorship@gmail.com and ask for our PK Chef-approved list of resources.

What Makes a Good Mentee?

  1. Openness to Learning: A good mentee is eager to learn, open to new ideas, and willing to absorb knowledge and insights from their mentor.

  2. Proactive and Self-Motivated: They take initiative in seeking guidance and actively work towards their goals without relying solely on their mentor for direction.

  3. Effective Communication: Good mentees communicate their goals, challenges, and progress clearly to their mentor, enabling productive discussions and feedback.

  4. Receptivity to Feedback: They are receptive to constructive criticism and use feedback as a tool for personal and professional growth.

  5. Respect and Appreciation: A good mentee respects their mentor's time, expertise, and guidance. They express gratitude for the support and mentorship provided.

Signing up is easy. We use the platform Together to pair and connect our mentors and mentees. Simply click on the link and create your account to start your PK mentorship journey!

 
 
My mentor taught me so much, usually without even trying. She taught me to talk less and listen more (still working on this). She taught me to be an ally to clients and to challenge them on goals and their vision. She makes me want to be a better person. She has personally helped me stand when I wanted to fall. She is so much more than a mentor and I am so grateful to call her a friend.
— Johanna Gottlieb, VP Business Development at Genumark, on her mentor
 

Our Community of Mentors and Mentees