Emerging Green Leaders: virtual mentorship to help the youth fight for a greener world

The Need

The Global Mentorship Initiative addresses the need to equip emerging leaders, particularly in underrepresented fields like climate policy, with the skills, confidence, and network necessary to succeed. Many graduating students from marginalized communities face significant barriers to employment and career advancement. These challenges include a lack of professional connections, limited access to industry-specific knowledge, and reduced career confidence. GMI’s mentorship program aims to bridge these gaps and empower students to develop and implement effective climate policies and other impactful careers.

The Project We Fund

The Global Mentorship Initiative provides a 12-week virtual mentorship program that connects graduating college students from marginalized communities with career professionals. Key aspects of the project include:
– Virtual Mentorship: Pairing students with experienced mentors to enhance their professional skills and career confidence.
– Focus on Climate Policy: Expanding support to underrepresented professionals in climate policy and sustainability.
– Partnerships: Collaborating with organizations like Kenya’s KIPPRA and Lokal Labs to offer specialized mentorship and a speaker series.

The Result

GMI measures impact through various methods:
– Surveys: Students and mentors are surveyed before, immediately after, and at 6 and 12 months following the mentorship to assess program satisfaction, effectiveness, and professional progress.
– Success Metrics: In four years, GMI has supported over 7,000 students across 100 countries, including 8 refugee camps. 74% of graduates found jobs within six months of completing the program.

2025 Midterm Report

GMI’s Climate project midterm report highlights that the program directly benefited 18 students through mentorship, while indirectly affecting 180 individuals, which included mentors and community members. Participants exhibited a 100% increase in confidence regarding career-readiness skills and are into developing professional resumes and LinkedIn profiles. A significant 89% of the mentees managed to schedule job interviews during or after their mentorship, and 75% of those not currently receiving training found employment in their desired fields. The report also details completed actions such as climate leader mentorships, sustainability-focused events, and the planning for a new cohort of 50 students and mentors. 

Testimonies

“Job interviews can be intimidating. So can the whole job search process. As a student, the mere thought of interviews used to freak me out. But thanks to GMI, this journey became much less overwhelming. After 12 weeks of mentorship with Monika Barcikowska, PhD, I can confidently say I’ve grown in ways I never expected. I started with little knowledge of how to navigate job searches, but through this program, I’ve learnt how to stand out, build a strong professional network, and set SMART career goals. Beyond that, we explored professional skills development, short and long-term goal setting, and understanding the key soft and hard skills needed in my field. More importantly, I have gained a better understanding of myself-my strengths, my direction, and the steps I need to take next. A huge thank you to Monika for making every session insightful and engaging, and to the entire Global Mentorship Initiative team for making this opportunity possible. Your guidance and support have been truly invaluable. Now, I step forward with confidence, clarity, and excitement for what’s ahead!”                        -Jessica W., 21-

“Just completed my Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) journey with the incredible Ms. Prarthana Borah! Over the past two months, I had the privilege of learning from her wealth of experience in energy, sustainability, and community impact, areas we both deeply care about. Our sessions were packed with insightful discussions on personal and professional growth, all designed to help me thrive in today’s fast-paced global environment. Despite the time zone challenges, Ms. Prarthana always showed up with enthusiasm, and a warm spirit that made every session both meaningful and memorable. I’m especially grateful for the laughs and the sense of home she brought into each conversation. Thank you, Ms. Prarthana Borah, for your mentorship, time, and inspiration!” -Praise E., 21-

“I’m excited to share that I’ve successfully completed the Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) program! Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of learning from and being mentored by David Murray C.Env., FIEMA, FRGS, whose insights on sustainability, leadership, and professional growth have been truly impactful. This experience has helped me strengthen key professional skills, refine my career goals in the renewable energy space, and become more intentional about building a strong professional network. A heartfelt thank you to the amazing GMI team, Amanda Laberdee, Jennifer Uretsky, Kristen Sahl, and Ravenna Hennane, for your incredible support, coordination, and commitment to helping young professionals thrive. Special shoutout to Abdullahi Oyelakin, who shared this opportunity with me and also successfully completed the program. Your support made a difference! And to Odeh Kafati, a fellow GMI mentee and climate enthusiast from Honduras, who co-moderated the powerful panel “A Day in the Life of Senior Climate Leaders”, it’s been great connecting and learning from your global perspective. To anyone looking to grow professionally, expand their network, and learn from global industry experts, I highly recommend the GMI mentorship program. Let’s embrace continuous learning, personal development, and the pursuit of a meaningful impact!” -Akachukwu M., 27-