Mentoring in the WHPC Community
WHPC is once again kicking off a mentoring cohort, starting January 23, 2026 (see our mentoring page for more details). As always, we are in need of mentors to help strengthen our community and provide guidance to those facing challenges. If you are looking for a way to invest in the HPC community, help retain talented people, and grow your own perspective along the way, WHPC mentoring is a powerful place to start.
The following article is adapted from a conversation with Scott Callaghan of the Statewide California Earthquake Center. Scott is a frequent mentor for WHPC, both in our global cohorts and our conference speaker programs.
Inside a WHPC Mentoring Cohort
The WHPC mentoring program provides a simple structure that makes it easy for mentors to get involved. Each cohort kicks off with the matching of mentors and mentees (applications processed on a rolling basis [LINK]). Participants are then invited to attend a kickoff meeting, which sets expectations and outlines the program. After the kickoff, mentors and mentees schedule one-on-one meetings, typically 1-2 times per month. The overall cohort runs for 4 to 6 months, with a fixed end date. Organizing the cohort around a defined timeframe gives both mentor and mentee clear expectations for the relationship and a natural point to pause, reflect, and decide whether to continue informally.
Mentoring with a WHPC cohort is a unique opportunity to give back. Working with a mentee over the span of several months allows for building a deep relationship that can be difficult to form during shorter mentoring programs. Mentees are not limited to a single conversation; they can come back with updates, questions, and reflections as their lives evolve. Our program allows enough time for meaningful change.
Deciding to be a Mentor
Mentoring is not a casual, “drop in when you feel like it” commitment. While everyone has the capability to be an outstanding mentor, it’s best to make sure you are ready to fully commit for a particular cohort. You should ask yourself:
- Do I have the time?
Mentoring is not just a one off conversation. The WHPC program suggests meeting every 2 to 4 weeks over a 4 to 6 month period. That might mean helping with conference prep, talking through career decisions, or just being a consistent sounding board. If this is your first time in the mentor role, we suggest you limit yourself to one mentee to get a feel for the time commitment. If you have more experience and time to contribute, two mentees could be appropriate. The goal, as always, is to make sure that you can show up fully for each person. - Do I have the emotional bandwidth right now?
Effective mentoring is not only about scheduling; it is about emotional presence. Mentees often need a space where they can be vulnerable, where they can say things like: “Here are some things in my life that are not going the way I want them to.” A good mentor helps create that environment. Ask yourself if you are in a place where you can hear difficult things, respond thoughtfully, and invest in building a real relationship. An intentional “yes” is the groundwork to a successful experience, for both mentor and mentee.
Mentoring in Action
Building Trust During the First Meeting
The goal of a mentoring relationship is to build connection and help the mentee clarify their goals for the next 6 to 12 months. The first meeting is vital for building trust and establishing this relationship.
First, we recommend that you start with a human introduction, not just focused on your job. Include non-work details, such as family, hobbies, and personal interests. This is more than small talk; it signals that conversations can go beyond work and include topics such as balance, stress, and life transitions.
The first meeting should also begin to establish goals, and most mentees have signed up with a general sense that they want something to change. Some open-ended questions can help refine the objectives of these meetings.
- What do you want that is different in your life in the next 6 months to 1 year?
- Are you facing a career change, like moving from being a student to a full time role, or looking for advancement?
- What are you doing now that is helping, and what is getting in the way?
- What parts of your life are you finding particularly challenging?
Once a theme is identified, the mentoring relationship has a direction. Whether it’s career change, growing in a role, work-life balance, imposter syndrome, or something else entirely, try to identify at least one action item or conversation thread to pick up on next time.
Ongoing Meetings
During the first few months, it can be useful to keep some notes from each conversation. Reviewing these before a meeting can help you reconnect quickly with the mentee’s context and progress. It is also helpful to set some clear action items for your mentee, whenever possible. If someone is seeking mentoring, they probably want something to change. Concrete action items create external accountability and a framework for progress. Make sure to follow up with any items in the next conversation.
Beyond conversation and reflection, mentors can offer help in specific ways, such as:
- Flagging relevant conferences or fellowship opportunities
- Facilitating introductions to people in their network
- Reviewing CVs, bios, or materials for talks
- Sending useful links or resources
But be careful not to overpromise. It is a mentor’s role to guide a mentee, not to complete tasks on their behalf.
After a few months of meetings, they typically start to feel more natural, and the conversations may need less structure. Hopefully, at this point, the mentee has started to see concrete progress, which builds trust and momentum.
Ending Well, And Sometimes Continuing
When the formal cohort ends, it is best to have a direct conversation. Be clear about your personal limitations (if you have time to continue meeting, or not). Let your mentee know the best way to follow up or keep in touch. Each relationship is different; while some mentees may continue to connect, others close the relationship at the end of the cohort, with a clear sense of completion. Both outcomes are valid; the key is simply to acknowledge the transition.
The Joy of Mentoring
Mentoring is not a one way contribution. Mentors can benefit in ways that are both professional and personal.
Understanding the diversity of HPC professionals
HPC is a diverse field, often bridging tech, scientific research, academia, and more. Often, mentees may be earlier in their career than yourself. This can provide prospective on the challenges new entrants to HPC face today or how students and early career professionals are thinking about their futures. It can also illuminate emerging technologies and tools that others have already put into practice.
Mentoring is a way to support the future HPC workforce. Some mentees are actively questioning whether HPC is a good fit for them. Having someone to talk to can make the difference between staying and leaving. You can be a powerful voice for someone struggling, letting them know that there are people who want them to stay and succeed. HPC can be a place where they belong and thrive.
Personal connection and shared success
Watching a mentee succeed can be so exciting, especially if you’ve been able to contribute in some way. Watching change happen in others is uniquely rewarding and energizing. Seeing this growth or a new job is also an exciting way to gain perspective on your own career and path. Through being a WHPC mentor, you are able to contribute to an HPC community where work-life balance and shared experiences are part of the conversation, not afterthoughts.
Thinking About Becoming a WHPC Mentor?
Confirm that you have:
- A realistic sense of your time and emotional bandwidth
- A willingness to listen and create a space where someone can be honest
- Openness to ask good questions and help mentees articulate their goals
- A commitment to show up consistently over a few months
The WHPC mentoring program provides the structure, the matching, and the framework. Mentors bring the humanity, the curiosity, and the practical support that turn that framework into lasting impact.
Ready to take the leap? You can sign up for our next cohort today!