Micro-Mentoring Program
"Start Where You Are!"
The "Why You?" Initiative, Inc. background image 1
The "Why You?" Initiative, Inc. background image 2
The "Why You?" Initiative, Inc. background image 3
The "Why You?" Initiative, Inc. background image 4
The "Why You?" Initiative, Inc. background image 5
The "Why You?" Initiative, Inc. background image 6
About Us

Micro-mentoring provides targeted, short-term mentoring engagements designed to meet the evolving needs of emerging scholars across four pivotal life stages: high school, undergraduate, graduate/professional school, and early career.

Unlike conventional long-term mentoring, micro-mentoring focuses on specific goals and measurable outcomes through concise, high-impact interactions. These engagements can last from as little as few hours to a maximum of three months, offering the flexibility to support both immediate challenges and short-term growth objectives.

Through this model, participants strengthen their social-emotional competencies—including self-awareness, confidence, and personal accountability—while also advancing academic and professional development through practical, real-world skill-building.

How It Works: (1) Identify a Need: A mentee (with mentor or Director of Mentorship) recognizes a specific area for growth or support. (2) Match with a Micro-Mentor: A suitable micro-mentor is identified to address that need. (3) Define the Engagement: The micro-mentor determines the length and structure of the micro-mentoring engagement cycle—ranging from a series of single 30-minute weekly, biweekly or monthly session(s) within a 3-month term cycle. (4) Deliverable and Reflection: By the end of the micro-mentoring cycle, the mentee—guided by the micro-mentor—creates a tangible deliverable or outcome that demonstrates the progress made and the need effectively met.

Search for a mentor

by name, keyword or location

Browse all mentors

by sector / industry or experience

Kevyn Perkins
Electrical & Computer Engineering, Data Science & Analytics
Systems Engineer
 Minnesota
Jayla Shoffner
Jayla Shoffner
Public Health
Clinical Research Coordinator, aspiring physician
 Rochester, MN
Ralph Fleuranvil
 
 New York City
Antonio Daniels, Ph.D
Antonio Daniels, Ph.D
Higher Education Administration, Literature, Linguistics, Management
Co-Founder, Board Chair, & Writing Laboratory Director
 Baltimore, MD
Renaldo Blocker, Ph.D.
Renaldo Blocker, Ph.D.
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Co-Founder/Executive Director
 Rochester, MN
Sey Oloyede
Sey Oloyede
Public Health
Clinical Research Coordinator
 Minnesota