Eight years of asking
the right question.
Thrive with Mentoring is a global non-profit mentoring community for professional women — built on the belief that when structure replaces chance, women rise consistently.
"Eight years ago, Thrive began as a question. Today, it stands as infrastructure."
Thrive did not begin with a plan. It began with a question that refused to quiet itself: why are so many capable women still navigating their growth alone? That question led to the first cohort in Zurich in 2017. Eight years later, Thrive operates across 20+ cities, has facilitated over 1,700 one-on-one mentoring relationships, and has built one of the most trusted mentoring communities for professional women in the world.
A world where every woman lives an abundant life aligned with her values, gifts, and joys.
To accelerate a woman's transition from making a living to living her most powerful life.
Most Influential Women's Support Network, Switzerland
2022/23 Winner
The principles that guide us
Mentoring should not depend on who you happen to know. When it is structured and intentional, it works consistently — not occasionally.
A six-month commitment to one relationship changes more than a hundred casual connections. We prioritise depth, accountability, and real progress.
Mentees become mentors. Mentors become cohort leaders. Leaders bring Thrive to new cities. The community compounds — because generosity is contagious.
Every cohort carries the same programme standard. Every city carries its own community. Global infrastructure, local belonging.
Thrive is not about confidence as a feeling. It is about responsibility as a practice. Those who rise through Thrive are expected to lift others.
Governance ensures continuity. Accreditation strengthens credibility. Leadership pathways develop from within. Thrive is infrastructure, not an initiative.
The team behind Thrive
Thrive is run by a global core team and supported by a board of directors, regional leads, and hundreds of volunteer cohort leaders across 20+ cities.
Everything you need to know before joining
Can't find your answer here? Email us at hello@thrivewithmentoring.com
A mentor is a person who can support, advise, and guide you. They take the time to understand the challenges you're facing and use their experience to help you grow.
A mentor isn't:
- A therapist — while a mentor can provide valuable support across many topics, they are not a mental health professional.
- A coach — coaches are paid for time-bound teaching on specific topics. Mentoring is different.
- A magic cure — mentoring supports development goals but works best alongside other growth strategies.
Thrive collects profile information including LinkedIn, mentor strengths, and mentee needs. Based on this, cohort leaders pre-match each mentee with up to 3 possible mentors — and each mentor with up to 3 possible mentees. At the launch event, these pre-matched pairs have conversations to explore chemistry. Both parties then specify their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd preferences, and final matches are made to maximise preference choices.
No. There is no age limit. Most mentees have 5–10 years of work experience and most mentors have 15–20 years. Our evaluation criteria are based on scope and scale of impact, and where someone is in their career — not their age.
All sessions are held however the pair prefers — phone, Zoom, WhatsApp, Google Meet, or in person. Pairs typically discuss logistics in their first meeting and design a format that works best for both of them.
Mentees are typically recommended to take the initiative in scheduling calls and communicating with their mentor. Owning the agenda is part of the mentee's development journey.
No. Mentoring is personal and individualised. Each pair works on different topics from session to session depending on the mentee's needs and goals. Thrive provides optional resources — a mentoring contract, meeting review template, and other tools — as well as a mentor training video series. Cohort leaders check in with each pair regularly and offer support if needed.
Yes. Every session is private, personal, and confidential. Participants don't share the contents of their sessions unless they choose to. Pre and post-programme surveys are required to help Thrive understand programme effectiveness, but participants are never required to disclose personal details.
Pairs decide together how long and how frequently to meet. The recommended format is a live in-person or online session of 90 minutes per month. Consistency is where the real transformation happens.
Once a Thriver completes her programme she joins the alumni network. She stays on the mailing list, receives invitations to future events, gets access to workshops and trainings, and stays connected with the wider community. Many alumni return as mentors or cohort leaders in future cohorts.
Thrive is a volunteer-led organisation with a small number of paid employees. Registration fees cover staff, the website, the online community platform (Circle), event-related costs, and other operational essentials. The fees are deliberately kept low — mentors pay a reduced rate in recognition of their time. Scholarships are available for those who need them.
How we run the programme
These policies govern how Thrive operates — covering eligibility, matching, cancellation, confidentiality, and recognition. Questions? Contact us at hello@thrivewithmentoring.com
All enquiries regarding participation are responded to within one to four business days. Public relations and customer service are provided to all potential participants at all times — from first contact through the screening process and beyond, regardless of outcome. All staff handling enquiries from prospective participants must be patient, courteous, and respectful. Confidentiality for all potential participants is upheld from initial contact forward.
Mentor eligibility:
Mentee eligibility:
| Timing | Refund |
|---|---|
| 6 to 4 weeks before launch | 100% refund |
| 4 to 2 weeks before launch | 50% refund |
| Within 2 weeks of launch | No refund |
A transfer to the next cohort may be offered in cases of illness or serious unforeseen circumstances.
Cohort leaders follow established matching guidelines prior to creating any mentor–mentee pair. Suitability is assessed based on:
If a mentor is not matched, their registration fee is refunded within 7–10 working days and they are invited to the next cohort. If a mentee is not matched, Thrive attempts to find an external match or a qualified cohort leader to step in as mentor. If neither is possible, the mentee is refunded within 7–10 working days.
Cohort leaders make monthly contact with all parties in every match. Two pulse-check calls are hosted each cohort to assess match success. In cases of match difficulties, discord, or concerns, appropriate intervention is undertaken promptly. Regional leads are available to step in and support where needed.
All participants — mentors, mentees, and cohort leaders — are recognised as essential to the success of the programme. Recognition methods include:
Each step of the application and matching process is documented in the cohort master record, including registrations, profile summaries, pre-matches, and final matches. All records are confidential. Records of past participants are maintained for seven years after their participation concludes, after which they are securely destroyed. New or revised forms must be documented and approved before use.
All programme communications, records, and match details are strictly confidential. Participants, cohort leaders, and staff are expected to maintain confidentiality at all times. The content of mentoring sessions is private between mentor and mentee unless a participant chooses to share it voluntarily.