11#3 Our weekly newsletter - third edition
Dear Community,
This week, I'd like to share some thoughts about the values and principles that drive us and form the foundation of The Mentoring Club. As a global community of learners and professionals who give back to society, we have a unique opportunity to connect people from all corners of the world, across diverse walks of life, religions, genders, and more.
In a world plagued by brutal wars, authoritarian regimes, terrorism, racism, sexism, modern slavery, homophobia, antisemitism, anti-Islamism, climate change denial, and mass media spreading false news, we stand as a beacon of hope and unity.
At The Mentoring Club, we witness incredible stories of collaboration and support: Israelis speaking to Palestinians, Iranians and people from other Arab countries, Russians seeking guidance from Ukrainian experts, Muslim women mentoring men from the US or Canada, and transgender individuals teaching agility and organizational change to students in African countries. The list of these remarkable connections goes on.
One particularly inspiring story is of an Afghan woman who studied medicine until the Taliban takeover. She uses The Mentoring Club to connect with experts from around the globe, finding a way to keep going, stay hopeful, and prepare for a better future.
All of this makes us incredibly happy. While we know we are just a small community of 13,000 people (a mere 0.0002% of humanity), we believe we can make a meaningful impact. Our members hail from more than 160 countries, and through our platform, we offer mentorship and a way to speak to and learn from people worldwide. These connections can be magical and transformative.
As The Mentoring Club founders, we believe in:
Empathy and Respect: We celebrate our differences and understand the importance of listening and learning from each other.
Collaboration and Support: We strive to create a supportive environment where everyone can share their knowledge and experience.
Continuous Learning: We believe in the power of lifelong learning and encourage our community to keep growing.
Global Unity: We are committed to breaking down barriers and fostering connections that transcend borders and prejudices.
Standing Against Discrimination: We are firmly against racism, antisemitism, anti-Islamism, homophobia, and all forms of discrimination. We believe in equality and dignity for all.
Solidarity with Ukraine: We stand with Ukraine, a country fighting for its independence, freedom, and mere existence against the brutal regime in Moscow.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Together, we can make a difference, one connection at a time.
Warm regards,
Bastian and Sebastian, co-founders of 11 Mentors.
Articles to read this week
"How to Do What You Love" by Paul Graham explores the importance of finding work that you truly enjoy. Graham argues that the conventional notion of separating work from fun is flawed and encourages readers to pursue their passions. He discusses the challenges of identifying what you love, the societal pressures of prestige and money, and the importance of persistence and self-awareness in this journey. Ultimately, the article emphasizes the fulfillment that comes from aligning your work with your true interests.
Read more here.
"100 Tips for a Better Life" on LessWrong offers a comprehensive list of practical advice to enhance various aspects of daily living. The tips cover a wide range of topics, including productivity, relationships, mental health, and personal growth. Each tip is designed to provide actionable insights that can lead to incremental improvements in quality of life. From simplifying decision-making processes to fostering meaningful connections, these tips serve as a valuable guide for anyone seeking to lead a more fulfilling life.
Read more here.
"We Studied 100 Mentor-Mentee Matches — Here’s What Makes Mentorship Work" by First Round Review examines the key factors that contribute to successful mentorship relationships. The study highlights the importance of structured meetings, clear communication, and thoughtful matching based on interests and expertise. It emphasizes setting specific goals, maintaining regular check-ins, and fostering mutual learning to ensure productive and transformative mentorship experiences. The article provides actionable insights for creating effective mentorship programs that drive career growth and development.
Read more here.
"3 Steps to Prepare Your Culture for AI" by Harvard Business Review outlines essential steps for organizations to integrate AI effectively. The article emphasizes fostering a culture of curiosity, encouraging experimentation and learning from failures, and promoting continuous learning. These steps are crucial for employees to embrace AI technologies and for organizations to stay competitive in the evolving technological landscape. The focus is on building an adaptive and innovative organizational culture that leverages AI's potential.
Read more here.
Feature and Platform news
Last week, we released an enhanced mentor search feature powered by AI-driven similarity algorithms. Previously, we matched specific words in mentor profiles, but our new approach finds the best semantic matches between mentee goals and mentor offerings. This self-optimizing algorithm ensures everyone finds the perfect match on the platform.
Additionally, mentors can now define multiple session types such as Career Advice, CV Review, Ideation, and Tech Mentoring. This helps mentees understand and book the most suitable sessions for their needs.
Did you know you can suggest new features and vote on existing ones? Share your ideas here.
New Members
Christoph Zirkenbach
Coach (Profile)
Christoph Zirkenbach has over 15 years of experience in project management and change management as an external consultant, evolving into a dedicated trainer and coach. From day one, Christoph has been committed to supporting and consulting teams and individuals, helping them overcome action blocks and limiting beliefs to achieve both project and personal objectives while maintaining mental health. He believes that behavior in business mirrors behavior in private life, rooted in our ability to take responsibility, core beliefs, and coping strategies. Passionate about balancing management objectives with the needs of project teams and individuals, Christoph specializes in conflict handling and mediation. His mentoring topics include personal development, personal growth, conflict handling, project management, change management, organizational development, and coaching.
Matthias Isler
CTO - Entrepreneur (Profile)
With 20 years in software engineering, including a decade as a CTO, Matthias Isler has co-founded startups and achieved successful exits. He has scaled SaaS and marketplace ventures to seven-figure revenues and developed AI-powered quant finance technology. His expertise spans web and mobile applications, cloud infrastructures, AI/ML, DevOps, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. As an author of popular open-source libraries, Matthias is well-regarded in the tech scene. He specializes in technology strategy, product management, and leading remote engineering teams across services, automotive, finance, legal, and NPO industries, ensuring scalable and innovative solutions for tech ventures. His mentoring topics include entrepreneurship, software engineering and architecture, data (architecture, analytics, warehouse, intelligence), SaaS and marketplaces, digital business models, and strategy.
Ebenezer Osei
Business Development Manager, Adom Digital Solutions (Profile)
Ebenezer Osei is a seasoned Business Development Manager at Adom Digital Solutions, with over 8 years of experience driving growth and innovation. His expertise lies in identifying market opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and developing comprehensive business strategies. Ebenezer is passionate about mentoring and guiding aspiring professionals to navigate the complexities of business development, helping them achieve their career goals. He is eager to work with you to unlock your potential and transform your business ideas into successful ventures. His mentoring topics include market opportunity identification and strategic partnership building.
Kamila Reichelt
Life Coach / Anxiety & Stress / Self Confidence Mentor (Profile)
Kamila Reichelt is a life coach with a deep empathy and understanding for those struggling with anxiety, stress, and the burdens of life. Having lived in various countries across Europe, Kamila brings a broad perspective on different cultures and lifestyles. Her personal journey, marked by numerous challenges and trials, has equipped her with resilience and fortitude. Kamila's mission is to provide the support and tools needed to navigate life's complexities, helping individuals find peace, strength, and clarity. Her mentoring topics include stress management, overcoming anxiety, navigating life transitions, building emotional resilience, enhancing self-esteem and confidence, improving interpersonal relationships, and personal growth and development. She invites you to book a session and work together towards a brighter, more peaceful future.
Dmitry Tkachenok
Product Lead (Profile)
Dmitry Tkachenok is a passionate product lead with over a decade of experience in SaaS, specializing in strategic thinking and leveraging technology to solve real problems and uncover potential. His unique blend of software engineering and architectural expertise bridges the gap between business and technology, ensuring the delivery of high-impact, best-in-class customer experiences. Dmitry has a proven track record of mentoring teams, driving excellence in processes and outcomes, and enhancing quality and focus. As a startup co-founder, he has encountered both the triumphs and challenges of entrepreneurship. Dmitry is excited to help teams and individuals realize their full potential by building world-class digital products across FinTech, eCommerce, eMobility, and EdTech. His mentoring topics include product management and leadership, problem solving and critical thinking, team collaboration and development, stakeholder engagement and alignment, product discovery and delivery, entrepreneurial thinking and mindset, product and innovation strategy, self-improvement, and personal growth and development.
Alireza Amini
Founder, Indight (Profile)
Alireza Amini is an expert in startup mentoring, specializing in data-driven insights, research and analysis, business development, business strategy, and pitch deck consulting. With a proven track record of transforming complex data into clear, actionable insights, Alireza empowers startups to thrive in dynamic markets. His approach focuses on implementing flexible strategies that support rapid growth and agility. Alireza is passionate about collaborating with startup teams to turn their visions into reality. His mentoring topics include data-driven insights, market research and analysis, business development, business strategy, pitch deck consulting, growth strategies, and competitive analysis.
Alex Munteanu
Entrepreneur, Q-Line Express SRL (Profile)
Alex Munteanu brings over 15 years of diverse business experience and a deep commitment to personal development. Having navigated the complexities of modern masculinity, Alex has honed his expertise in emotional intelligence, emotional regulation, and the power of the subconscious mind. Recently, his journey has led him to explore faith and spirituality. Alex is passionate about sharing his extensive knowledge and believes that success is rooted in strong communication skills and a healthy relationship with oneself, both mentally and spiritually. His mentoring topics include masculinity, growth mindset, limiting beliefs, prosperity, business, financial freedom, relationships, love life, leadership, spirituality, and faith.
