Mentorship Program

ASCEND is Seattle SHRM’s premier mentorship program for HR professionals. Now in its third year, ASCEND 2026 pairs HR professionals with experienced mentors to foster growth, build skills, and strengthen the local HR community.

A Fall 2026 cohort begins in September, and applications are now open! Scroll down to apply.

How To Join

APPLY TO BE A MENTEE

$40 (Seattle SHRM Members) | $70 (Non-Members)

APPLY TO BE A MENTOR

Program Overview

ASCEND 2026 is a three month mentorship program designed for HR professionals at all career stages. Participants are thoughtfully matched with a mentor or mentee to foster growth, exchange knowledge, and tackle real career challenges.

The Fall cohort begins in September and runs through December. Mentor and mentee pairs connect twice each month, for a total of six structured sessions. Participants receive tools and resources to guide conversations, establish goals, develop action plans, and track progress throughout the program.

The cohort also includes a kickoff experience, professional assessment, professional development book, and an expert led learning session. The program concludes with a closing celebration in December and a digital completion badge participants can showcase on LinkedIn and their resume.

Program Highlights

Structured Mentorship: Bimonthly 1:1 connections with your mentor or mentee—six sessions over three months—built around a shared growth-focused curriculum.
Twice Monthly 1:1 Connections: Structured accountability and learning check-ins between mentor meetings. Each touchpoint follows an agenda template and includes exercises covering key professional topics like Leadership and Communication.
Personalized Professional Assessment: Mentees gain clarity on their strengths and growth areas; mentors sharpen their coaching approach.
Expert-Led Learning Session: Engage with a Partner Advisor—an experienced HR leader affiliated with the program—on emerging trends shaping the profession.
Professional Development Book: Mentees receive a professional development book selected to support skill-building throughout the program.
Digital Completion Badge: Celebrate your achievement and highlight your growth on LinkedIn and your resume.

What You Gain

Mentees

Targeted Guidance

Gain clear, personalized direction on your career path from seasoned mentors.

Practical Solutions

Explore shared experiences, strategies, and best practices to address current challenges.

Personal Growth

Build confidence, sharpen your communication skills, and boost your overall professional presence.

Mentors

Leadership Development

Hone your coaching, listening, and feedback skills while guiding an emerging or transitioning HR professional.

Fresh Perspectives

Gain new insights from your mentee’s experiences and challenges, keeping you up-to-date with evolving trends.

Community Impact

Contribute to the growth and success of developing HR professionals, strengthening the HR community.

Who Can Be A Mentee/Mentor

Each mentee should expect to commit 3-4 hours per month over the 3-month course to get the most value. Each mentor should expect to commit at least 2-3 hours per month.

We look forward to welcoming new participants into the program and continuing to foster the growth of HR professionals in our community. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Volunteering

ASCEND and Seattle SHRM programming is made possible by volunteers. Whether you’re passionate about program operations, communications, design, or event support, there’s a place for you on the team. Volunteers gain hands-on experience, expand their professional network, and play a direct role in shaping the future of HR in Seattle. Interested? Please contact [email protected].

Mentorship Program

How To Join

Program Overview

Program Highlights

What You Gain

Who Can Be A Mentee/Mentor

Volunteering

Connect with our Seattle HR Network

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