It was clear from the very first meeting that this would not be a compulsory program, but a genuine exchange. Despite many new faces, an open atmosphere quickly developed – there was laughter, discussion, and listening.

“Getting to know the other mentees and mentors was a great start to the mentoring program. The many conversations and workshops at the kick-off event quickly created an atmosphere of trust, both with the other mentees and with the mentors. I'm looking forward to the upcoming exchange with my mentor and also to learning about the careers of the other mentees.” Mentee Svenja

The participants addressed fundamental questions: What is mentoring actually? How does trust develop? What are the expectations on both sides – and where is it necessary to speak plainly?

Group sessions, workshop elements, and small-group discussions focused on self-reflection, communication, understanding roles, and designing a successful mentoring process. It became clear that mentoring is not a one-way street. Many mentors emphasized how much they themselves gain from the conversations — new perspectives, fresh questions, and honest impressions of the current lives of young people.

The mentees were also impressed by the open approach and willingness to share personal experiences – not only about careers, but also about detours, doubts, and decisions that were not always easy.

“I found it really exciting to hear about different career paths from a perspective that you don't usually get to hear about.” Mentee Lea

Particularly exciting was the visit by Lukas Porz, DGM Prize for Young Talent winner and start-up founder, who talked about his career path.

A real highlight – besides the view from the Skyline Room – was the genuine appreciation that permeated the entire weekend. Anyone who thought mentoring was purely career coaching was proven wrong: this was about meeting people on equal footing.

The weekend was organized by the Mentoring Working Group of the DGM Young Talent Committee. A big thank you goes to Christian Baron and Michéle Scholl and the entire Mentoring Working Group team for the preparation and moderation – hybrid, well-structured, and implemented with passion.

The mentoring program will now be running for a year. The next application phase will start in the fall – for anyone who wants to be part of it next time: keep your eyes open.