Conversations starters: Discussing various topics with seasoned professionals

You understand the benefits of reaching out to a mentor; nevertheless, when it’s time to take action, you’re unsure of how to make first contact with someone on Élo. To make your life easier, we’ve put together a few examples of conversation starters.

Feel free to adapt these to your goals and needs! Also, you’re welcome to try out our message generator to start a conversation that aligns perfectly with your situation.

1) Approaching a mentor for general advice

"Hello Mr. Kalunda,

I am looking for a professional mentor to support me on my many upcoming challenges (team management, strategic planning, etc.) as well as to expand my professional horizons. I’m intrigued by your profile and would like your advice on various topics!"

2) Seeking advice from a younger mentor (reverse mentoring)

"Hello Mrs. Russo,

I see that you work in human resources for a large company and thus, are familiar with common issues as they relate to retaining younger employees (often, it seems as though they have difficulty finding their footing in a large organization). I empathise with what young people are feeling but am unsure how to get my company to adapt to their needs...

Indeed, it's not easy to change the structure of a big organisation with offices all across Canada. In short, I thought I would ask a younger colleague for their advice :).

Regards,
Kathy, a baby boomer in the twilight of her career. "