How to use this playbook. Each template below maps to a session length and programme stage. Pick the template that fits your available time, adapt the prompts to your mentee's current goals, and use the closing actions to maintain momentum between sessions. All templates align with RISE's Goal Tracker, Learning Log, and SWOT tools.
The RISE 8-Week Programme at a Glance
Programme Timeline
| Week 1-2 |
Connect & Orient - Build rapport, agree ground rules, complete Goal Tracker (after session 2) |
| Week 3 |
2-3 Week Check-in - Reflect on progress, review SMART goals, update Goal Tracker |
| Week 4-5 |
Deep Work - Skill development, SWOT analysis, global career exploration |
| Week 5-6 |
5-6 Week Check-in - Assess whether to extend, refine goals, or begin close-out planning |
| Week 7 |
Consolidate & Plan Ahead - Review Learning Log, identify ongoing support needs |
| Week 8 |
Closing Session - Acknowledge, Prepare, Recognise, Celebrate, Review & Evaluate |
Template A
30-Minute Session
Best for: Mid-week check-ins, momentum sessions, weeks 3-6
Outcome: One clear action item per party before next session
Open & Connect
Warm up and set a focused tone. Agree the one thing you most want to get from this session.
Mentor prompt: "Since we last spoke, what's the one thing you're most proud of - and what's felt hardest?"
Focus Topic
Tackle the mentee's priority topic - a goal obstacle, a specific skill, or a decision they're wrestling with. Keep to one focused thread.
Mentor prompts: "What have you already tried?" / "What's the version of this that's within your control?" / "What would a 10% braver version of you do here?"
Close & Commit
Agree one concrete action each. Confirm the next session date. Note anything to carry forward to the Goal Tracker or Learning Log.
Closing script: "What is the one thing you'll do before we next meet? And what's mine?" Write both down before ending the call.
Session Outcomes Checklist
☐ One action item (mentee)
☐ One action item (mentor)
☐ Next session booked
☐ Goal Tracker updated if needed
Template B
45-Minute Session
Best for: Standard weekly sessions, goal-setting meetings, SWOT reviews
Outcome: Documented progress + refined SMART goal or next milestone
Check-in & Review Actions
Open with a brief wellbeing check. Review the actions committed to in the last session. Celebrate completions; surface any blockers without judgment.
Mentor prompt: "Let's start by looking at what we both committed to last time. How did it go for you?"
Goal & Progress Review
Review active SMART goals together. Assess which are on track, which need adjusting, and which have been achieved. Update or add to the Goal Tracker.
Mentor prompts: "Looking at your goals - where are you on each one?" / "Is any goal no longer relevant given where you are now?" / "What does success look like in the next two weeks?"
Deep Dive Topic
Explore one substantive topic in depth. This might be a career challenge, skill gap, SWOT analysis review, or a specific situation the mentee has brought. Share relevant experience as a mentor without overloading with advice.
Topic suggestions by week:
Wk 1-2: Career vision + values mapping | Wk 3-4: Skill gaps + SWOT
Wk 4-5: Global career readiness + networking | Wk 6-7: Personal branding + CV
Actions + Close
Agree 1-2 actions each. Update the Learning Log with session notes and any insights. Confirm the date and focus for the next session.
Closing question: "What's your biggest takeaway from today, and what's the first thing you'll do with it?"
Session Outcomes Checklist
☐ Previous actions reviewed
☐ Goal Tracker updated
☐ Learning Log entry made
☐ 1-2 new actions agreed each
☐ Next session date & topic agreed
Template C
60-Minute Session
Best for: Opening session, formal check-ins, closing session, complex goal-setting
Outcome: Full session documentation + milestone plan or closing summary
Warm-up & Wellbeing
Take time to genuinely connect before moving to business. For opening sessions, use this block to establish the ground rules and mutual expectations of the relationship. For ongoing sessions, surface anything that might affect focus today.
Session 1 prompt: "Tell me about yourself - not your CV, but the story of how you got to where you are."
Ongoing prompt: "How are you really doing? Is there anything outside work that's on your mind?"
Review & Reflect
Review previous actions, open items from the Goal Tracker, and any notes in the Learning Log. For check-in sessions (week 3 and 5-6), use this block to complete the formal check-in form together.
Tools: Goal Tracker · Learning Log · SWOT Template (all downloadable at riseglobal.co.uk/resources/for-mentors)
Substantive Work Block
The heart of the session. Choose one or two areas to explore properly. Match to the programme stage:
| Session 1-2 |
Career vision mapping · Values clarification · Aspirations & fears · Agreement of ground rules |
| Session 3-4 |
SWOT analysis · Skill gap identification · Global career research · Networking strategy |
| Session 5-6 |
CV & personal brand review · Interview preparation · Scholarship research · Industry deep-dive |
| Session 7-8 |
Consolidation · Closing review · Ongoing support planning · Recognise & celebrate achievements |
Mentor principle: Share your experience, but resist the urge to prescribe. Ask before advising: "Would it be helpful if I shared how I navigated something similar?"
Action Planning
Co-create a clear action plan. Mentee chooses 2-3 concrete actions. Mentor chooses 1 (a connection to make, a resource to send, a reflection to bring). Actions should be SMART: specific, owned, and time-bound to the next session.
Action frame: "I will [action] by 2026 so that [outcome]." - Write each one down before ending.
Close & Document
Summarise the session in one sentence each. Update the Learning Log. Confirm next meeting. If this is session 8, follow the closing framework below.
Closing prompt: "In one sentence, what did today's session give you?" - Let the mentee speak first.
Session Outcomes Checklist
☐ Previous actions reviewed
☐ Goal Tracker updated
☐ Learning Log entry made
☐ 2-3 mentee actions agreed
☐ 1 mentor action agreed
☐ Next session date & focus confirmed
☐ Programme Coordinator notified if concerns raised
Special Template: Week 8 Closing Session
All RISE mentoring relationships have a defined 8-week arc. The closing session is not an ending - it is a celebration and a launch pad. Use the RISE Acknowledge-Prepare-Recognise-Celebrate-Review framework below.
Name the transition early
Don't let the closing session arrive without preparation. Discuss it in week 7. Acknowledge that the formal relationship is ending and what that means for both of you.
Review goals and identify ongoing support
Open the Goal Tracker together. Review every goal that was set. Which were achieved? Which are still in progress? Set up any additional sources of support before the relationship officially closes.
Define and name achievements
Look back at how the mentee entered the programme versus where they stand now. Use the mentor reports and Learning Log to make the growth visible. Be specific - name the moments, not just the outcomes.
Make it meaningful
Consider nominating the mentee for the RISE Celebrate Success Awards. The graduation ceremony is a genuine moment of community recognition - encourage participation. Let the mentee feel the weight of what they've achieved.
Identify lessons and what has changed
Reflect together: What did each of you learn? What would you do differently? Review the final Goal Tracker and complete the mentor report. This data feeds RISE's ability to improve the programme for future cohorts.
Beyond the programme
Staying in contact after the 8 weeks is a personal choice by both parties - it is outside the formal terms of the RISE programme. If the mentee still needs support, direct them to the Programme Coordinator at hello@riseglobal.co.uk.
Conversation Prompt Bank
Use these prompts to open up conversations that go beyond surface-level updates. Adapt freely - the best prompts feel natural, not scripted.
Goals & Ambition
- "Where do you want to be in three years - not just professionally, but as a person?"
- "What does a successful career look like for you, on your own terms?"
- "Which of your goals excites you most? Which makes you most nervous?"
- "If you knew you couldn't fail, what would you attempt?"
Challenges & Obstacles
- "What's the real obstacle here - and what part of it is within your control?"
- "What story are you telling yourself about why this is hard?"
- "Who in your network might have faced something similar?"
- "What's the smallest possible version of this action you could take today?"
Global Career Readiness
- "What do you know about how your field works differently outside Kenya?"
- "Which international markets or sectors are you drawn to, and why?"
- "What skills or experiences do you think international employers value most?"
- "What's the gap between where you are now and being ready to apply internationally?"
Confidence & Identity
- "When do you feel most capable? What's happening in those moments?"
- "What do people who know you well say your strengths are? Do you agree?"
- "What's one thing you believe about yourself that might be holding you back?"
- "How do you want to be known in your industry in five years?"
