CPHR Manitoba’s Professional Mentorship Program (PMP) is open to members only.
The program runs from September - April each year. Applications are accepted beginning in June each year. Notice of when the application period will open will be communicated on this page and in the weekly HRmatters newsletter.
The goal of the program is to provide mutual benefit to both Mentors and Mentees, fostering an environment of mutual trust and respect. The relationship should be viewed as a partnership, where both parties openly and freely exchange ideas, discuss challenges and explore potential solutions.
Mentorship Program participants will be invited to participate in regular virtual discussions with other program participants.
Participants will be asked to evaluate their pairing half-way through the program. Should participants feel they are ill-matched or have reached a natural end to the relationship they were initially set up in, they will have the opportunity to be re-matched, should a suitable mentee/mentor be available.
CPHR Manitoba's Role
Mentors and mentees will be paired up by CPHR Manitoba prior to the commencement of the program in September. Pairings will be made based on the information provided in your application.
CPHR Manitoba's role includes assisting participants should they experience difficulties communicating with their mentee/mentor. It is each participants' professional obligation to make every effort possible to meet with their mentee/mentor on a regular basis as mutually agreed upon at the outset of the program. CPHR Manitoba should be contacted as a last resort when experiencing an issue with one's mentee/mentor.
An online orientation session will be facilitated by CPHR Manitoba prior to the commencement of the program in September.
CPHR Manitoba will provide a number of resources at the outset of the program to assist pairs in establishing their relationship.
A mentee is an active partner who guides the mentoring relationship, receiving advice, coaching, assistance and feedback from a more experienced professional, resulting in the enhancement of the mentee's professional career and personal growth.
What is a Mentor?
Throughout the years, the term mentor has come to mean more experienced person who helps guide, support, and counsel a less experienced person through the world of work. Mentors share their experience and expertise with a mentee to assist them in their career development and personal growth. A mentor can be a role model, coach, sounding board, voice of reason, emotional support, counsellor, and a trusted resource. The role of a mentor may differ depending on the goals of the mentee.
Qualities of a Mentee
In order to be successful, mentees must meet the following criteria:
Be willing to be guided and have a desire to learn
Have a positive attitude and open mind
Have clear goals established and be internally motivated to learn
Qualities of a Mentor
Willing to invest in the development of your mentee
Set clear boundaries, identifying any areas of confidentiality at the outset of the relationship that may pose a problem
Facilitate the establishment of goals - encouraging the mentee to determine what those goals should be
Mentor, coach and guide the mentee, providing helpful coaching and constructive feedback
Provide friendly, professional support
Create a comfortable learning environment
Challenge the mentee
Career Development Stream
This stream is geared towards students, recent graduates and new HR professionals who are in the early stages of their career in HR. One mentor will work with a small group of mentees throughout the duration of the program. Groups will meet once per month.
One-on-One Mentoring Stream
In this stream, mentees will be matched with an experienced CPHR Manitoba member based on mutual goals and experience in the HR field.
Mentee benefits may include:
Meet a professional role model(s)
Expand your network
Learn from someone with experience in the Human Resources profession
Explore potential career paths, career goals, and advancement strategies
Obtain a realistic understanding of what a career in HR entails
Enhance your goal setting skillset and work towards achieving them
Begin personal development in the areas of social, personal, and professional skills
Mentee benefits may include:
Meet a professional role model(s)
Expand your network
Learn from someone with experience in the Human Resources profession
Prepare for career growth and career transition
Gain insight into developing corporate strategy and meeting difficult challenges
Increase your confidence to deal with challenges and take on new tasks and roles
Enhance your goal setting skillset and work towards achieving them
Begin personal development in the areas of social, personal, and professional skills
Mentor Rewards:
The benefits of a mentoring relationship are not limited to the mentee. A mentor may benefit in many unexpected ways:
Learn something new: You will learn from your mentee. They may have skills and knowledge that you don't possess and experience in a new industry. The mentor/mentee relationship may stir your creative juices and give you a fresh perspective on your own career.
Personal Growth: Reflect on your own career, summarize your journey, and formulate your views on success in business.
Develop leadership skills: Further develop your leadership skills by providing feedback and coaching.
Personal satisfaction: Being a mentor provides a level of personal satisfaction that is priceless. It affords you the privilege of giving back or just giving of yourself for no reason at all.
Pride: It encourages you to share your knowledge and take pride in being a subject matter expert.
Re-energize: Spend time with the mentees who are full of passion and energy and gain a fresh outside perspective, while reflecting on the path you have taken to get to where you are today.
Improve productivity: Managerial productivity increased by 88% when mentoring was involved verses an only 24% increase with training alone. Source: ASTD.
Expand your professional network.
CPD Hours
CPHR members are eligible to claim 10 hours per year of CPD hours for participating in the program. The official Mentoring Log provided by CPHR Manitoba must be utilized to log hours.
Note: It is the participant's responsibility to maintain these records. Logs are only required to be submitted in the event that you are selected for audit of your CPD hours.
Expectations
Commit to meeting with your group on a monthly basis throughout the duration of the program
Sign a Mentoring Agreement with your mentor confirming commitment to the program
Develop written goals at the beginning of the program
Track interaction for the duration of the program using the provided Mentoring Log
Act in a respectful and professional manner at all times
Complete a survey at the end of the program
Expectations
Commit to a minimum of 10 hours to interacting with your mentor throughout the duration of the program
Sign a Mentoring Agreement with your mentor confirming commitment to the program, frequency/methods of communication and confidentiality
Meet and/or communicate on a regular basis throughout the program
Work with your mentor to develop written goals at the beginning of the relationship
Track interaction for the duration of the program using the provided Mentoring Log
Act in a respectful and professional manner at all times
Complete a survey at the end of the program
Expectations
Commit to a minimum of 10 hours to interacting with your mentee throughout the duration of the program
Sign a Mentoring Agreement with your mentee confirming commitment to the program, frequency/methods of communication and confidentiality
Meet and/or communicate on a regular basis throughout the program
Assist your mentee in developing written goals at the beginning of the relationship
Be accessible and respond to mentee in a timely manner
Encouraged to lead a monthly discussion with other program participants
Complete a survey at the end of the program
Who should apply?
students currently enrolled in an HR program of study
recent HR graduates
new HR professionals
Who should apply?
HR professionals seeking to further develop their Leadership skills
HR professional seeking to advance their careers
HR professionals seeking to gain knowledge in a specific area of the profession
Who should apply?
Experienced HR professionals seeking to share their knowledge with new HR professionals
Senior HR professionals seeking to guide an HR Professional aspiring to develop their Leadership skills or advance their career
There is a $100 fee for Mentees
The deadline to register for the 2025-2026 program is August 8, 2025
There is no fee for Mentors
Interested in joining the program, but want more information?
Join us at one of our upcoming information sessions to get more information about the program, hear from previous participants (both mentees and mentors) and ask questions!
What previous participants had to say about the program:
“I’ve worked in HR for over 25 years and know first-hand that there are a lot of things that HR has to contend with that you will not learn about in school, including navigating leaders who don't understand how HR adds value, being held responsible for executing decisions someone else has made, or being the only department in the organization who has no one to go to about their own performance and development needs. As a result, HR professionals can feel frustration and loneliness, or suffer confidence and self belief issues. Here, the CPHR mentorship program fills an important void. Certainly, we will offer mentorship and advice on specific HR topics or initiatives, but the mentor-mentee relationship also provides access to someone who understands the struggle, and creates space for HR professionals to seek out development, feedback and guidance on some of these tricky professional and personal matters. Working with my mentees reinforces for me that this profession is not for the faint of heart, and I have found it very gratifying and personally enriching to learn what other HR professionals are struggling with and to be able to help others on their journey.”
"I was paired up with a mentor who understood my career goals and was very much willing to put in the time to help me out achieve them."
"My experience was just excellent. My mentor took the time to get to know and she really understood me. She was able to provide me solid advice and also just listen when it was needed. She has helped me to regain my confidence and is my trusted colleague."
"The mentorship program gives me opportunity to relate with a senior colleague in HR profession and to know my expectations while working as HR Practitioner."
“I was exposed to a new way of thinking and made a connection within the HR community.”
"I found being a mentor to be a very rewarding experience."
"I am reaffirmed of my commitment to continue mentoring others and supporting the development and collective body of knowledge within the HR community."
"I have gained as much, if not more, from the young, up-and-coming HR professional that I mentored as they have from me."
“I found the experience very satisfying. In many ways it was invigorating to explain and mentor someone who was at the beginning of their HR career and was driven to succeed as well as evolve. It was beneficial for me to be involved as a mentor and it helped spark a new appreciation for what I do and what I have achieved in my own career.”
If you have any questions or would like more information about this program, please contact Emilah Laing at emilah@cphrmb.caor 204-954-8371.
CPHR Manitoba is located on Treaty 1 territory, the home and traditional lands of the Annishinabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree), Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. Our clean drinking water comes from Shoal
Lake 40 First Nation in Treaty 3 territory.
