Make the Most of Your Mentor Experience

The NRF Foundation Executive Mentor Experience is for me the highlight of the NRF Foundation Student Program. The unique, small group networking experience offers an unmatched opportunity to connect and learn from others.

I’ve had the pleasure of participating in this event, meeting retail experts, gaining insights, and forging relationships. Because mentors get to visit with your table for 15 minutes, it’s important to think ahead to make the most of the interactions. Here’s how.

Take a Moment to Meet

With such limited time, it is tempting to just jump right in. Take a moment for you and the mentor to introduce yourselves. Knowing each other’s names and backgrounds is helpful, and you may find you have something in common.

Have Goals…and Be Flexible

As with any professional development or learning opportunity, you want to come into the Executive Mentor Experience with a good sense of what you want to accomplish. At the same time, the conversation at your table will flow with the group, you want to be ready to flex as the conversation moves.

For you and your tablemates to get the most of the time together with mentors, you need to listen to the conversation and add to it. The more we build the moment together, the more you’ll take away from it.

Ask Specific Questions

Ask how the mentor got started. Ask about their current role and what it took to get there. Ask about their favorite mentor. It may sound counterintuitive, but the more specific is the conversation, the more useful information you’ll gather from it. Generic advice is just that – generic. When I share about what I’ve seen and experienced, it helps you see the bigger picture more clearly.

I’m always moved by the sheer excitement and energy of students like you and the enthusiasm you bring to the NRF Foundation Executive Mentor Experience. I can’t wait to see you in NYC.