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On Thursday, October 3rd, the ASCE OC Younger Member Forum (YMF) Mentorship Committee kicked off the 2024 - 2025 Mentorship Program with the Speed Mentoring Event at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) office in Orange, California. This event marked the start of the highly anticipated return of the mentorship program, which welcomed 44 participants—22 mentors and 22 protégés—coming together for a dynamic networking experience.
Group Photo of the 2024-2025 Protégés and Mentors
The event began with an introduction from the OC YMF Mentorship Chairs, who welcomed attendees and set the stage for the evening’s activities. The ASCE OC President and President-Elect also addressed the group, outlining the goals and logistics of the speed mentoring process, and emphasized the program's role in fostering professional growth and career development.
Protégés participated in 5-minute "speed interview" style rotations with each mentor. These quick, focused conversations allowed participants to dive into their personal and professional goals, discuss challenges in the field, and gain valuable advice from a mix of experienced mentors.
Mentors and protégés participating in rotating interviews
After the speed mentoring rounds, both protégés and mentors were asked to complete a survey, where they could select their top three choices for potential mentor-mentee pairings. The results are carefully reviewed to match participants based on their needs, goals, and expertise. The final pairings will be revealed in a separate virtual mentorship reveal event, where participants will officially meet their mentors for the upcoming program year.
Overall, the event was a tremendous success, with strong engagement and positive feedback from mentors and protégés. This speed mentoring event set the stage for an exciting year ahead, and we look forward to the ongoing success of the 2024-2025 Mentorship Program.
About the Author:
Bhanu Karuturi is a Civil Engineer at Mott MacDonald. She received her BS in Civil Engineering (CE) from India in 2020 and MS in Construction Engineering & Management (CEM) at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 2022. She is currently a member of the ASCE OC YMF Mentorship Program Mentorship Committee. She recently moved to Southern California and is excited to be involved in the ASCE community. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring new coffee spots, running, and staying active outdoors. Bhanu can be contacted via bhanupriya.karuturi@mottmac.com or LinkedIn.
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