PEER PARTNERSHIPS & MENTORSHIPS

Why the IA FORUM Peer Partnerships & Mentorships Program Exists

The IA FORUM Peer Partnerships & Mentorships program have been designed to give members something rarely available in their everyday work lives - a structured, confidential, and tangible opportunity to think, learn, and problem-solve with peers outside their organization that truly understand their day-to-day work world.

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The Programs’ Architecture

Unlike passive learning and traditional networking, the programs are designed to deliver:

• Real, meaningful, strategic, and long-lasting business relationships with peers whose roles and challenges truly align with each other
• Candid, judgment-free conversations that spark clarity
• Collaborative problem-solving grounded in shared curiosity and real experiences
• A trusted alliance to think strategically about challenges, solutions, and decisions

Program Criteria & Completion Recognition

• Every member may participate in the Peer Partnerships & Mentorships program, or both - up to four (4) per year
• Anyone can be a mentee, even if they’re a senior-level executive
• Members are partnered together based upon the information they have shared in their Program Surveys
• Whether working with a peer or a more senior-level member, every Program Round will offer a personalized, goal-aligned growth experience
• After each Program Round, the participants will receive a visually appealing “Certificate” they can very proudly display in their office, and/or via LinkedIn as a post

Program Benefits

The Peer Partnerships and Mentorships program will undoubtedly provide members with:

• A private sounding board to discuss shared objectives, challenges, and solutions
• Practical and actionable insights to enhance their technology, program management, and leadership acumen
• Ongoing job and career clarity, support, and momentum
• Trusted, meaningful, and enhanced long-term professional relationships

Peer Partnerships:

1:1 Peer Insights Sharing, Collaboration & Benchmarking

The IA FORUM Peer Partnerships program is designed to connect members with peers that operate at similar levels of leadership, organizational scope, and strategic responsibility. Each 3-month Peer Partnership Program Round will pair two (2) members whose roles, challenges, and focus areas complement each other - ensuring that every partnership is relevant and valuable.

Partners will determine how they want to spend their time together, giving them the freedom to shape discussions around the topics that matter most to them. This may include leadership challenges, transformation programs, operating models, team structure, vendor strategy, career progression, or key decisions they are preparing to make. These conversations will provide members with a rare opportunity to speak openly with someone who “gets it” and can offer perspective from outside their organization.

Partners are highly encouraged to meet weekly or bi-weekly for 30 - 60 minutes per meeting. Over the course of each Peer Partnership Program Round, members will gain clarity, uncover new ideas, strengthen their leadership thinking, and make faster, better-informed business decisions.

Mentorships:

Personalized Skills Development & Strategic Guidance

The IA FORUM Mentorships program is designed to connect members with senior-level executives that bring deeper experience, broader organizational perspective, and proven expertise across technology, transformation, and professional development. Furthermore, anyone can be a mentee, even if they’re a senior-level executive. Each 3-month Mentorship Program Round will pair one (1) senior-level executive member with a mentee whose goals, challenges, and career priorities would benefit from the mentor’s insight - ensuring that every mentorship is relevant, constructive, and purpose-driven.

Mentors and mentees will determine how they want to spend their time together, giving them the flexibility to shape discussions around the topics that matter most to the mentee. This may include skill development, leadership readiness, navigating organizational dynamics, preparing for new responsibilities, adopting emerging technologies, or gaining clarity around long-term career direction. The engagement may also include optional project-based exercises or assignments identified by the mentor, designed to help the mentee apply concepts in practice, build capability, and accelerate meaningful growth.

Mentors and mentees are highly encouraged to meet weekly or bi-weekly for 30 - 60 minutes per meeting. Over the course of each Mentorship Program Round, mentees will gain clarity, develop new capabilities, strengthen their confidence, and make faster, better-informed business decisions. Mentors will also benefit from the opportunity to support the IA FORUM’s accomplished professionals and rising stars - sharing their experience, expertise, and perspective through purposeful engagement, while meaningfully “giving back” to the industry at large.

Program Schedule

• Program Round 1: January 15 - March 15, 2026
• Program Round 2: April 15 - June 15, 2026
• Program Round 3: July 15 - September 15, 2026
• Program Round 4: October 15 - December 15, 2026