The Greycells Mentoring Program connects the next generation of changemakers with experienced international professionals who are eager to share their wisdom and support new ideas.
A Pro Bono Service – Free and flexible mentoring for both individuals and institutions.
A Global Network of Mentors – Our mentors are accomplished experts from across the world, selected for their integrity, insight, and commitment.
A Strong Track Record – We’ve successfully mentored four cohorts of the Kofi Annan Foundation Changemakers, with mentees from over XX countries.
Wide Range of Expertise – From diplomacy and development to finance, health, law, and education.
Ethical, Confidential, and Professional – We uphold best practices in mentoring, built on trust and respect.
Mutual Growth – Mentees gain skills and confidence; mentors stay connected, challenged, and inspired.
Multilingual Mentors – Support available in up to six languages.
Results that Matter – Every mentoring relationship is tracked for learning and improvement.
Conflict-Sensitive – Clear, respectful mechanisms ensure smooth collaboration.
Mentorship is more than giving advice—it’s a partnership built on mutual respect, shared learning, and the belief that experience should be passed on, not stored away. Mentoring with Greycells supports young leaders and institutions in shaping development projects, gaining leadership skills, building networks, and navigating global systems. It’s also a way for retired professionals to stay engaged and make a difference.
From June 2021 to June 2025, Greycells proudly partnered with the Kofi Annan Foundation in Geneva to mentor four cohorts of Kofi Annan Changemakers —exceptional young leaders implementing grassroots change in their communities.
Each year, up to 14 Greycells mentors accompanied 12 selected mentees through a dynamic, year-long journey that included online guidance, project coaching, and an in-person week in Geneva. The results speak for themselves:
“Cooperation with my mentor has been one of the most valuable experiences in my professional journey… The guidance I received was not just theoretical, but experience-based, making it practical, useful, and highly effective.”
My mentor connected me to people, institutions, and opportunities I didn’t know existed. This led to new partnerships, academic opportunities, and lasting friendships.”
“Thanks to mentorship support, I secured funding from major grants to expand sustainable food programs in schools and rural communities.”
Mentoring relationships often continued beyond the formal program—and still do.
Please click on the image to access information about the 2021 cohort.
Please click on the image to access information about the 2022 cohort.
Please click on the image to access information about the 2023 cohort.
Please click on the image to access information about the 2024 cohort.
We welcome collaboration with institutions, universities, and civil society groups who wish to provide mentoring to their students, fellows, or young professionals. Contact us to explore how we can co-design a mentoring track that fits your goals.
Greycells offers Mentors Masterclass, to share best practices, develop case studies, and discuss interactive tools for effective mentoring. The first Mentors Masterclass took place on July 21 2025.n Geneva. Given its success, the event will be replicated soon. STAY TUNED!
The Mentorship Program is a flagship initiative of Greycells (GC) – It reflects the Association’s commitment...
The Master Class marks the official launch of the GC Mentoring Program (MP) 2025/26. The event is based on the new policy...
The Mentorship Program is a flagship initiative of Greycells (GC) – It reflects the Association’s commitment to share the wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated by its members.Mentorship is more than a pro-bono service—it is a mission. Through this program, GC members support individuals and institutions engaged in knowledge sharing, analytical capacity, framed dialogues and sustainable development.
GC mentors are committed and capable advisors. They are retired officials and/or active companions in the learning journey with mentees; they offeri guidance drawn from years of international engagement, cross-cultural understanding, and public service.
Mutual Respect: Mentorship is built on trust, confidentiality, and listening.
Voluntarism: All mentors serve in a voluntary capacity.
Collegiality: Mentorship is a peer-based relationship.
Flexibility: The format adapts to the needs of mentees and mentors.
Commitment: Mentorship must be intentional and limited in time.
Analytical thinking:Mentees will develop a set of skills including the ability to assess and analyze specific ecosystems.
Mentors: All mentors are GC members. Mentorship is a driver for membership growth and active participation.
Mentees: Mentees are identified through partner organizations, educational programs, or specific initiatives.
Matching: The matching is based on language, skills, experience, field of interest, and location.
Mentoring formats may vary in duration:
Short-term engagement: One-time sessions, event-linked mentoring, brief exchanges or ad hoc mentorships.
Long-term engagement: Regular meetings over several weeks or months. Regardless of duration, GC mentoring reflects the same values and expectations.
| Mentor | Mentee |
|---|---|
| Prepare and commit to agreed terms | Be responsive and open to feedback |
| Share knowledge and insight | Set goals and communicate expectations |
| Respect confidentiality | Respect time and availability |
| Provide feedback | Complete evaluation if requested |
For each program, GC may set up an ad hoc Mentorship Committee to oversee:
All mentoring activities use standardized GC branding and receive appropriate recognition in external communications and agreements.
Conflict Resolution Most issues can be resolved informally, but the following steps are available:
Review and Feedback While no formal evaluation framework is required, the Committee may invite mentors and mentees to share insights or feedback to improve the program. Monitoring and evaluation are encouraged where feasible.
Annex 1: Process Overview
Annex 2: Mentor Role Description
Annex 3: Draft MoU with Partner Organizations
Annex 4: Feedback Form Template
Date: 21 July 2025
Format: Hybrid
Duration: 2.00 hours
Facilitators: Giovanni Di Cola (GDC) (Lead Facilitator), Cécile Molinier (CM) (Co-Facilitator)
Organizer: Greycells (GC)
The Master Class marked the official launch of the GC Mentoring Program (MP) 2025/26.
The event was based on the new policy adopted by GC in March 2025 and the cohort of mentors who joined the Association in June 2025.
It was designed as a dynamic, participatory exchange among experienced mentors all of whom are professionals in their respective field of expertise (sustainability, skills development, and leadership).
The class introduced the core principles and structure of the GC Mentoring Program, provided space for personal and professional introductions, and fostered initial dialogue among participants. The session was the first formal opportunity for each mentor to connect with the broader community of the GC 2025/26 Cohort.
The Master Class was the starting point of the participants’ mentoring journey and a celebration of their commitment to leadership and sustainability. A very successful event, it will be replicated in future.
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