Engage in Mentoring

Before you get started, take a moment to update your CAI member profile. A complete and accurate profile helps ensure strong mentor/mentee matches and sets the foundation for meaningful connections.

Here’s what to do:

• Confirm your contact information
• Upload a current professional photo
• Expand your bio to highlight your background
• Add your education and career history

Whether you're looking to share your experience or gain insights from a seasoned professional, CAI’s Mentor Match is designed to help community association leaders like you connect, grow, and succeed.

By enrolling as a mentor or mentee, you agree to the program’s guidelines and are committing to an enriching and collaborative experience.

Want to mentor or be mentored? Maybe both?

Start here:

• Enroll as a Mentee
• Enroll as Mentor

During enrollment, you’ll be asked to select your preferences in areas like:

• Goals of mentorship
• Areas of expertise
• Years of experience
• Job role or level
• Preferred language
• And more

These details help us match you with someone who fits your needs and aspirations.

Now that your profile is complete, it’s time to make a connection! CAI’s Mentor Match platform makes it easy for members to discover and connect with mentors or mentees who align with their goals and professional interests.

Here’s how it works:

Mentees can search the mentor directory to find and reach out to mentors, or mentors can also connect with potential mentees! The process is flexible and designed to foster meaningful, member-driven relationships.

You can refine your search by selecting criteria that matter most to you, or simply browse all available mentors/mentees by clicking “Search” at the bottom of the directory without applying filters.

Search by criteria such as:

• Community association experience
• Job level or role
• Areas of expertise (e.g., governance, legal, financial, maintenance)
• Topics of interest
• Preferred language

Take full advantage of Mentor Match features:

• Track your mentoring relationships
• Join mentorship discussion forums
• Access helpful mentorship resources

Whether you’re looking to grow or give back, this is your opportunity to build lasting professional connections in the CAI community.

Congratulations, you are now ready to start your mentorship journey! Whether you’ve done one search or several, it’s time to take the next step and make a connection.

If you're not sure how to begin, remember: you can simply click "Search" at the bottom of the Mentor Match directory without selecting any filters to view all available participants.

Once you’ve found someone you’re interested in connecting with, click their name to view their profile. Take a look at their background, interests, and experience. Think it’s a good fit? Look just below their profile image for the mentor/mentee request button. Clicking it will allow you to send a connection request.

Not the right match? No problem. Just hit the Back to Search Results link and continue exploring.

Both mentors and mentees can initiate a connection. Once a request is accepted, it’s time to schedule your initial discovery call: a brief, introductory conversation to align expectations and kick off the relationship.

Before that first meeting, be sure to review the:

• Mentor Expectations Guide
• Mentee Expectations Guide

From there, set a time and date that works for both of you—whether it's a quick coffee chat, a phone call, or a virtual meeting.

Your next professional connection starts here!

Now that you’ve connected, it’s time for your first conversation. During your initial meeting, take the opportunity to introduce yourself, share your background, and discuss what you hope to gain from the mentorship experience.

It’s important to align on the purpose of the mentoring relationship and determine whether it feels like the right fit for both of you. To help guide the conversation, feel free to use these suggested conversation starters.

If either party feels the match isn’t ideal, that’s okay. We encourage honest, respectful dialogue. Should the relationship not continue, you can always return to Step 2: Find a Mentor or Mentee to explore other connections within the CAI community.

Once you’ve both confirmed that the mentorship is a good fit, it’s time to create a plan together.

This should include:

• Setting goals for the mentee’s development
• Establishing a meeting schedule, including frequency, format (virtual or in-person), and communication preferences
• Scheduling a final meeting to review progress, reflect on accomplishments, and discuss possible next steps: Goal Setting Worksheet

Remember, meaningful mentorships take time to grow—and every relationship is unique.

If, over time, either party feels the match isn’t working, it’s okay to step away. We encourage respectful, open communication in these situations. The mentee can simply return to Step 2 to search for a new match.

For guidance on how to navigate this process professionally, see Tips for Ending a Mentoring Relationship.

If the mentorship needs to be ended due to misconduct or concerns, please contact us directly at caiservices@caionline.org so we can provide support.

With your plan in place, continue meeting on the agreed schedule for the duration of your mentoring relationship. Use each meeting as a check-in point—review progress, revisit your goals, and adjust them if needed to stay on track.

If either of you needs to reschedule a meeting, communicate as early as possible to maintain trust and momentum.

To help make your meetings productive and meaningful, explore mentoring best practices, including:

• How to set and track goals effectively
• Tips for being a great mentor or mentee
• Additional tools and resources to support your mentorship experience

Your ongoing commitment to the process is what makes Mentor Match a valuable part of the CAI member community.

As your mentoring engagement comes to a close, take time together to reflect on the experience. This final step is essential to learning, growth, and shaping the future mentoring connections.

Use this time to ask:

• Were the mentee's goals achieved?
• Did the mentor provide the guidance and support needed?
• Should the relationship be extended, or is it time to explore a new match for continued growth?
• Did both parties fulfill the expectations outlined at the beginning of the engagement?

Honest reflection helps both mentors and mentees gain clarity, celebrate progress, and consider next steps.

We value your feedback and are always looking to improve Mentor Match. After completing your assessment, please take a moment to complete the Mentor Match Satisfaction Survey.

As your mentoring engagement concludes, it’s time to decide the next step. You can choose to either renew the existing mentoring relationship for continued growth or end the engagement. If the mentee feels it’s time to explore new perspectives, they may choose to make a new match with another mentor.