Mentoring Handbook

Mentoring Handbook

Mentoring Handbook

Mentoring Code of Conduct

Mentoring Code of Conduct

Mentoring Code of Conduct

PMI Belgium Mentoring Program

The PMI Belgium Mentoring Program is a one-to-one, goal-oriented experience that helps members turn ambition into momentum. Through the exchange of experiences, insights, and support, both mentors and mentees grow personally and professionally.

Our structured approach develops project management competencies and leadership skills while building a strong, supportive community. We foster a culture of continuous learning so participants can thrive and contribute to the profession.

Way of working

The program connects mentors and mentees based on interests, skills, and professional aspirations. In a confidential one-to-one setting, pairs explore challenges, exchange ideas, and co-create practical next steps.

For mentees

  • Gain practical insight from experienced practitioners
  • Accelerate learning and build skills to navigate complex environments

For mentors

  • Give back to the community and shape the next generation
  • Refine leadership and coaching practice

Together, pairs align clear objectives from the outset and keep a steady cadence, creating the conditions for sustained progress.

Eligibility requirements

For mentees

  • Open to PMI Belgium Chapter members in good standing
  • Curiosity, commitment, and readiness to act

For mentors

  • Experienced project professionals willing to volunteer time and uphold program standards
  • Completion of the Confidentiality Agreement and Conflict of Interest declaration before onboarding

Commitment

Pairs meet at least once a month over a six-month period. Additional meetings are welcome. If circumstances change, contact mentoring@pmi-belgium.be so the team can provide support.

Benefits

For mentees

  • Clarity on goals and practical next steps
  • Confidence, decision-making, and power skills such as communication, influence, and stakeholder engagement
  • Broader professional network and access to the chapter community
  • PDUs: mentoring conversations may qualify as Education (Informal Learning) per PMI’s CCR Handbook

For mentors

  • Strengthened leadership and coaching capability
  • Fresh perspectives through reverse-mentoring moments
  • Recognition and visibility within the PMI Belgium community
  • Expanded professional network
  • PDUs: mentoring time may qualify under Giving Back per PMI’s CCR Handbook

Registration and participation

Complete the online application using the links below. After applications close, matched pairs are notified by email with the kickoff invite.

The call for mentees is now closed.
The call for mentors is now closed.

Applications and waitlist

  • Applications on the website may be temporarily deactivated between intakes. To express interest year-round, email mentoring@pmi-belgium.be and the team will share the appropriate form.
  • After a cohort has kicked off, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Where mentor capacity allows, a mid-cohort match may be offered. Otherwise, candidates are added to the waitlist and prioritised for the next cohort.
  • Waitlisted candidates are contacted to reconfirm interest and update goals ahead of the next intake.

Cohort calendar

  • Spring cohort — Applications open: 15 January → Kickoff: 15 March → Program window: 15 March to 15 August
  • Autumn cohort — Applications open: 15 June → Kickoff: 15 September → Program window: 15 September to 15 February

Dates are recurring anchors. Specific invitation and session details are communicated to matched pairs via email.

Meet our Mentors

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to our dedicated mentors for joining the PMI Belgium Mentoring Program. Their commitment to the profession and their willingness to share their expertise and experiences are truly inspiring.

Each mentor brings a wealth of knowledge from years of hands-on experience in various sectors of project management. They have shown exceptional dedication to continuous improvement and personal growth, and they are passionate about giving back to the profession by shaping the next generation of leaders.

Through their involvement, our mentors not only provide valuable insights but also help mentees grow, develop their skills, and navigate the complexities of the industry. We thank them for their generosity in sharing their time, wisdom, and leadership, and we look forward to the positive impact they will have on our mentees and the broader project management community.

Baudouin Boreux

Baudouin Boreux

Mentor

Baudouin Boreux

Mentor

Baudouin Boreux is a senior ICT leader with extensive experience shaping, leading, and auditing complex telecom and IT programs. He also serves as a Director at the PMI Belgium Chapter. Known for delivering results while creating sustainable value for stakeholders, he brings a long-term, systems-level perspective to every engagement.

At the core of Baudouin’s approach are systems thinking and emotional intelligence. He moves fluidly between strategy and execution—“zooming in and out” to translate complexity for both executives and technical teams, surface risks, and steer decisions under pressure in multicultural environments.

Baudouin mentors professionals stepping into high-stakes roles or navigating challenging contexts. His guidance helps mentees build resilience and adaptability, improve crisis management, and bring clarity to ambiguous situations.

As a mentor, he offers practical operating rhythms, transparent communication practices, and constructive challenge. He encourages mentees to question assumptions, craft win-win solutions, and push boundaries to achieve customer success and sustainable project outcomes.

For more on his professional journey, education, and achievements, visit Baudouin’s LinkedIn profile.

Camila Gasparin

Camila Gasparin

Mentor

Camila Gasparin

Mentor

Camila Gasparin is an Industrial Engineer based in Curitiba, Brazil, with over 10 years of experience in the automotive and healthcare sectors. At Neodent - Straumann Group, she leads strategic projects and provides mentorship to project managers across the organization, focusing on project governance, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration.

Camila’s approach to mentoring is rooted in her passion for lifelong learning and her commitment to empowering others to reach their full potential. She helps mentees navigate project management challenges, with a particular focus on PMP certification preparation, project governance, and PMO implementation.

As a mentor, Camila offers practical advice and tailored guidance to help mentees build a solid foundation in project management, improve their strategic thinking, and develop their leadership skills to drive successful outcomes.

For more on her background, including education and certifications, visit Camila's LinkedIn profile.

Fernanda Bertino Algebaile da Silva

Fernanda Bertino Algebaile da Silva

Mentor

Fernanda Bertino Algebaile da Silva

Mentor

Fernanda Bertino Algebaile da Silva is a seasoned Project Management Specialist with over 13 years of experience, holding a PMP certification, and leading high-impact initiatives across various sectors, including technology, education, marketing, and infrastructure. Her expertise spans Data Center projects, ERP implementations, and end-to-end business process transformation.

At the core of Fernanda’s approach is a deep commitment to adaptive communication. She tailors messages to match the needs of diverse stakeholders, from technical teams to C-level clients. This ability ensures that risks, solutions, and progress are clearly communicated, motivating teams to execute effectively.

Fernanda currently leads a national mentoring program in Brazil, empowering junior project managers. She helps mentees improve both their technical project delivery skills and their ability to communicate with clarity, precision, and empathy — skills essential for leadership and stakeholder engagement.

As a mentor, she offers practical insights, strategic guidance, and a collaborative environment that enables mentees to develop their confidence, refine their communication skills, and navigate the complexities of managing modern projects.

For more on her professional journey, education, and certifications, visit Fernanda's LinkedIn profile.

Lambert Swillens

Lambert Swillens

Mentor

Lambert Swillens

Mentor

Lambert Swillens is a senior Delivery & Consulting leader with 40+ years of experience, known for steering complex ICT programs and global delivery teams—primarily in Banking & Insurance—across Europe, North America, Mexico, Japan, Australia, SEA, and India. As Head of Global Delivery for a Financial Services business unit, he oversaw multi-million-euro engagements and performance across 1,000+ projects worldwide, with deep expertise in outsourcing strategy, turnaround management, and distributed delivery.

At the core of Lambert’s approach is clarity in complexity. He aligns delivery with business value, brings structure under pressure, and adapts communication to executives and engineering teams alike—fluent in Dutch, French, English, and Italian—so diverse stakeholders can move in the same direction.

Lambert has mentored and coached 100+ delivery professionals (Project/Program Managers, Service Managers, Client Delivery Partners) and designs training for senior project leaders. Trained in Collaborative/Co-Active Coaching, he blends practical delivery know-how with proven leadership frameworks (e.g., Covey’s 7 Habits, Situational Leadership, MBTI, Sinek’s Golden Circle, Ofman’s Core Quadrants) and applies cross-cultural lenses (Erin Meyer, Hofstede) to help leaders perform across borders.

As a mentor, he offers strategic insight, steady guidance, and a collaborative space to sharpen decision-making, stakeholder alignment, and the shift from “doing” to leading. Mentees can expect pragmatic tools, honest feedback, and momentum toward outcomes that matter.

For more on his professional journey and background, visit Lambert’s LinkedIn profile.

Pierre Jacquy

Pierre Jacquy

Mentor

Pierre Jacquy

Mentor

Pierre Jacquy is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) with over 20 years of experience across diverse industries. He has led high-impact projects for multinational companies such as Engie, Solvay, and Accenture, and his expertise encompasses engineering, program management, procurement, and business consulting.

Pierre’s mentoring style focuses on developing project teams and individuals to reach their full potential, aligning their professional growth with the organization's strategic goals. He emphasizes the importance of adaptive communication and collaborative leadership in driving successful project outcomes.

As a mentor, Pierre brings a wealth of strategic insight and real-world experience to his mentees, helping them navigate the complexities of managing large-scale projects while developing their leadership and communication skills.

For more about his background, including education and certifications, visit Pierre's LinkedIn profile.

Taiwo Popoola

Taiwo Popoola

Mentor

Taiwo Popoola

Mentor

Taiwo Popoola is a seasoned ICT professional with nearly two decades of experience, having worked with multinationals such as Ericsson, Huawei, and Nokia. His expertise spans ICT, banking, fintech, transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare industries, with a focus on leading large-scale digital transformation projects across the Middle East and Africa.

Taiwo’s mentoring approach is deeply rooted in his passion for continuous learning and helping others achieve their professional goals. He specializes in guiding mentees through PMI certifications, leadership development, and navigating the challenges of managing diverse teams across time zones.

As a mentor, Taiwo provides mentees with strategies for success, including tips for passing PMI certifications, developing leadership skills, and improving communication and presentation abilities to thrive in global and multicultural environments.

For more about his career path, education, and certifications, visit Taiwo's LinkedIn profile.

Tamara Topuridze

Tamara Topuridze

Mentor

Tamara Topuridze

Mentor

Tamara Topuridze is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), PMO-CP®, and PMI-ACP® with over 15 years of experience in sustainable development, strategic planning, and stakeholder communication. She specializes in managing complex initiatives within government and international sectors, including public-private partnership (PPP) projects focused on delivering long-term value.

Tamara's mentoring approach centers around fostering collaboration and value-driven strategy. She is passionate about empowering emerging professionals to navigate complexity with clarity and confidence, particularly in the areas of project delivery across waterfall, agile, and hybrid environments.

As a mentor, Tamara offers practical guidance on PMP certification preparation, risk management, stakeholder communication, and agile practices, helping mentees build confidence and deliver successful project outcomes.

To learn more about her background, education, and certifications, visit Tamara's LinkedIn profile.

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a PMI Belgium Chapter member?

For PMI membership, please visit: PMI Membership
For our Chapter membership benefits, please visit: Chapter Membership

What is the PMI Belgium Mentoring Program?

A structured mentoring program designed to foster professional development and create networking opportunities for both mentors and mentees.

How long is the program?

The mentor-mentee relationship will last 20 weeks (approximately 5 months). Should you wish to continue in the formal mentoring program at the end of this period, you are required to reapply.

Who is eligible to participate?

Mentors should be members in good standing of the PMI and should also have substantial years of experience in project management.

Mentees must be members in good standing of the PMI Belgium Chapter. 

How many PDU’s can I earn?

Both the Mentor and/or Mentee, if they are PMP certified, can each earn PDUs for their active participation in the Mentoring Program.

Mentors – PMI certification holders may claim 1 PDU per hour of uncompensated mentoring under Giving Back → Share Knowledge (mentoring). The maximum number of “Giving Back” PDUs you can claim depends on your certification. Our program typically involves ~8–12 hours of 1:1 sessions. Keep a simple log (date, duration, topic); we can provide a participation letter if PMI audits your claim.

Mentees – PMI certification holders may claim 1 PDU per hour of eligible mentoring discussions as Education → Informal Learning. Education PDUs follow PMI’s Talent Triangle rules; there’s no separate cap beyond your certification’s overall cycle requirements. Keep brief notes and dates for your records.

What counts as 1 hour?
1 PDU = 1 hour of structured mentoring discussion (in person, video, or phone). PMI allows fractional reporting (e.g., 0.25, 0.5).

For details and to submit PDUs, please consult PMI’s CCR Handbook and report via CCRS (pmi.org).

How are Mentor / Mentee pairs matched?

Mentor and mentee pairs are carefully selected based on a range of factors, including shared interests, skills, professional goals, experience, industry, and mentoring preferences. We ensure that both parties are aligned to maximize the effectiveness of the relationship, ensuring mutual growth and success.

Are mentoring sessions conducted in a confidential manner?

Information shared between participants within the context of a formal mentoring relationship is considered highly confidential and should not be shared outside the relationship without the express permission of the other partner.

How can I sign up?

If you are eligible, please complete the online application forms for either mentors or mentees, and we will reach out to you. 

Apply as a Mentee
What if both parties agree to extend the mentoring partnership?

That decision is entirely between you and your mentoring partner.

Should I be accepted into the Mentoring Program, am I guaranteed a pairing?

While chances are good that you may find a partner whom you can work with, the ‘perfect’ pairing cannot be guaranteed, and matching depends on the number of applications received. Should this turn out to be the case, we will gladly place you on the waiting list for the following intake.

What happens in the case of a mismatch?

A pairing between a Mentor and a Mentee may sometimes be unworkable or unsatisfactory for one or both participants. If this occurs within the first four weeks (one month) of the program, either participant, or both, can request a different pairing.

The Mentoring team will handle the request and work to resolve the situation without assigning blame to either party. If a new match is not available during that intake, the Mentor or Mentee will be placed on a waitlist for the next intake.

I applied as a Mentee or Mentor for the Mentoring Program. When will I get a notification about my acceptance?

Accepted participants will be notified 2 weeks prior to the Kickoff Session.

What if the match isn’t working?

After completing at least two sessions, a mentee may request one rematch per cohort. Re-matching is subject to mentor capacity and best-fit alignment. If a suitable mentor isn’t available, the mentee can join the waitlist or defer to the next cohort.

Can I apply after the cohort has started?

Yes. After kickoff, the online form may be closed. Interested candidates can email mentoring@pmi-belgium.be to request the mentee application form. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If mentor capacity allows and there is a suitable fit, a mid-cohort match may be offered; otherwise, the application is placed on the waitlist for the next cohort.

What about costs incurred with regards to the mentoring relationship?

Participants accept full responsibility for all costs incurred as part of the formal relationship, including, but not limited to, telephone calls, internet data, travel, meals, and other related expenses.

I am working on obtaining my PMP designation, can I claim mentoring as part of the required 35 contact hours of Project Management education towards my PMP qualifications?

No. Unfortunately, mentoring programs do not qualify for the 35 contact hours requirement. The contact hours portion of the PMP application is specifically focused on structured learning programs addressing specific PM knowledge areas in a classroom setting.

What happens if I can't meet the minimum meeting requirement?

Please reach out to mentoring@pmi-belgium.be if you are unable to meet the minimum commitment, and we’ll work with you to address any concerns.

When is the next intake?

Applications for both mentors and mentees open 15 January (Spring cohort, kickoff 15 March) and 15 June (Autumn cohort, kickoff 15 September).

Any questions?

Should you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch.

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