Latest / The Career Mentor Podcast with Fexingo: Finding Mentors, Sponsors, and Career Advisors / How to Find a Mentor Through Industry Associations
Transcript
- Lucas: So Luna, we've spent a lot of episodes on finding mentors in every imaginable scenario — new grads, career changers, even after a layoff. But there's one route I don't think we've tackled yet, and honestly it might be the most underrated one out there. Luna: I'm guessing you mean industry associations? Because I've been thinking about that too. Lucas: Exactly. Professional bodies like the American Marketing Association, the Project Management Institute, the Society for Human Resource Management — those are goldmines for mentoring, but most people treat them as just a place to get a certification or attend an annual conference. Luna: Right, and then they never actually engage beyond that. But the mentoring potential is huge if you know where to look. Lucas: So let's break this down. I think there are three specific settings inside an association where mentoring naturally happens, and none of them are the big keynote sessions. First, there's the local chapter. Second, there's the committee or special interest group. And third, there's the leadership ladder itself. Luna: So start with the local chapter — because that's the easiest entry point for most people, right? Lucas: Absolutely. Local chapters are where you get the small-scale, regular interaction. Think about the American Marketing Association's local chapters. They hold monthly breakfasts, panel discussions, sometimes even workshops. And the attendance is usually capped at maybe fifty or sixty people, which means you're not just a face in a crowd. Luna: And that's where you can actually have a conversation with the speaker, not just a quick hello at the mic. Lucas: Exactly. And here's the secret sauce: volunteer to help with the event. Don't just show up and grab a name tag. Offer to help with registration, or set up chairs, or check people in. That gives you a reason to be there early, stay late, and talk to the organizers — who are often the most connected people in the room. Luna: And the organizers are usually senior in their careers, too. They've been around. Lucas: Right. The local chapter board is often made up of directors and VPs from companies in your region. So when you volunteer, you're suddenly working alongside people who could be mentors — or even sponsors — without having to formally ask them. Luna: Sponsors being the ones who actually advocate for you, not just give advice. We've talked about that before. Lucas: Exactly. And the local chapter is where you can build that relationship over time. It's not a one-off meeting. You see the same people month after month. That consistency is what lets a mentor relationship develop organically. Luna: Okay, so what about committees? Because I imagine that's a deeper level of engagement. Lucas: Yeah, committees are where the real work happens. Let's say you're in the Project Management Institute. They have committees for things like events, membership, or even a specific industry focus like construction or IT. When you join a committee, you're not just attending — you're contributing. You're working on a project with a small team, and that's where you get to demonstrate your skills. Luna: And that's also where you get feedback. Someone senior sees how you handle a task, how you communicate, your work ethic. That's the kind of thing that a mentor can guide you on. Lucas: Right. And it's a low-pressure way to be noticed. You're not asking for advice on your career, you're just doing good work. And the committee chair — who's often a senior professional — might take you under their wing. They might say, 'Hey, you did a great job on that report. Have you thought about moving into a more senior role?' Luna: That's exactly how a mentor relationship starts — with someone seeing your potential, not you asking for it. Lucas: And here's a concrete example. I know a marketing manager who joined the AMA's content committee because she wanted to improve her writing. She volunteered to write the chapter's monthly newsletter. The editor of that newsletter was a senior brand director at a major consumer goods company. Over six months, she got direct feedback on her writing, but also on how to structure a campaign. That editor eventually introduced her to someone who hired her for a senior role. Luna: See, that's the kind of story that makes you think it's worth the annual membership fee. Lucas: Which brings me to a thought that applies to you too, Luna — if today's episode has given you a fresh way to think about your own career networking, honestly, if it was worth a coffee to you, that's the link. You can support the show at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a tiny thing that keeps this podcast ad-free and helps us keep digging into topics like this. Luna: Yeah, and for the price of a latte, you're making sure we can keep having these conversations. It genuinely adds up. Lucas: So back to the third setting — the leadership ladder. Once you've been on a committee for a while, you might consider running for a board position. And that's where things get really interesting. Luna: Because that's when you're not just a participant anymore, you're actually shaping the direction of the association. Lucas: Exactly. And the board members themselves — the ones who've been in leadership roles at their companies — they're the ultimate sponsor material. If you're on the board with them, you have a front-row seat to how they think and operate. And they see you as a peer, not just a junior person. Luna: And if you're thinking about a C-suite role, that kind of visibility is priceless. Lucas: So the strategy is to climb the ladder within the association in parallel with your own career. You start as a member, then a volunteer, then a committee member, then a chair, and eventually into the board. Each level brings you closer to more senior mentors and sponsors. Luna: And that takes time, but it's also consistent. You're not waiting for a random connection to happen; you're building it deliberately. Lucas: Right. And let's talk about etiquette for a second, because a lot of people worry about how to approach someone. The key is to not ask 'will you be my mentor?' right off the bat. That's a huge ask. Instead, you focus on the work. You ask them for feedback on a project, or advice on a specific challenge you're facing at work. Luna: Yeah, like asking for a specific piece of advice is easier for them to say yes to. Lucas: And then, over time, that person becomes your mentor without it ever being formalized. And if they also start advocating for you — mentioning your name to others, recommending you for opportunities — that's the transition to sponsor. And that's the holy grail. Luna: So we've covered local chapters, committees, and leadership. What about the big national conferences? Are those helpful for mentorship? Lucas: They can be, but they're not the best for building a deep relationship. At a conference, you're one of a thousand people. It's hard to have a meaningful conversation beyond a few minutes. But that's still useful for making initial contacts — you can meet someone, exchange business cards, and then follow up later with a specific request. Luna: So the conference is more for the introduction, not the mentorship itself. Lucas: Exactly. And the follow-up is crucial. You have to send a note within 48 hours, mentioning something specific you talked about. And then, if they respond, you can suggest a follow-up call or a coffee. That's how you move from a conference handshake to a potential mentor relationship. Luna: And that's where a lot of people drop the ball — they get the contact and never follow up. So the follow-up is where you actually win. Lucas: Right. So, to tie it together: if you're not in an industry association yet, that's a really smart first step. Look up the one for your field, find the local chapter, and go to a meeting with the goal of volunteering, not just networking. And if you're already a member, think about getting on a committee. That's where the mentoring magic happens. Luna: And the beauty is, it's not just about career advancement — you're also giving back to your profession, which feels good in itself. Lucas: Absolutely. So I'd say the next time you're looking for a mentor, look past LinkedIn and think about the association you might already be a member of. There's a chance your future sponsor is sitting on the next committee you join. Luna: And who knows, maybe you'll become a mentor for someone else down the line. That's the full circle.