Launching a Mentoring Program that Engages and Develops Employees

Thursday, September 17, 9:00 AM, Room: Columbia 3

This session provides a practical, real-world roadmap for designing and launching a mentoring program that drives employee engagement, professional growth, and organizational impact.

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Transportation & Parking Department, a structured mentoring program was developed in response to direct employee feedback expressing a desire for career development, cross-functional exposure, and stronger connections with leadership. This session walks attendees through the full lifecycle of the program, from concept to execution to evaluation. Participants will learn how to assess organizational readiness, build leadership buy-in, recruit and match mentors and mentees, and implement a structured yet flexible program model.

The session will also highlight lessons learned from launching an inaugural cohort, including strategies for engaging frontline staff, maintaining participation, and measuring success. The inaugural program resulted in strong participant engagement, meaningful mentor-mentee relationships, and increased confidence and career clarity among employees. Real participant feedback, outcomes, and practical tools will be shared to help attendees replicate this model in their own organizations.

This session is ideal for leaders, supervisors, and frontline managers seeking to strengthen employee development, improve retention, and build a culture of continuous learning.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify key steps to design and implement a mentoring program aligned with organizational goals

  • Apply strategies to engage frontline employees and leadership in mentorship initiatives

  • Evaluate mentoring program effectiveness using participant feedback and measurable outcomes

Wendy Williams (UNC Chapel Hill)

Wendy Williams is a Learning Specialist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she leads leadership development, employee engagement, and workforce initiatives within Transportation & Parking. She designs learning experiences that strengthen culture, enhance performance, and build leadership capability.

Williams launched the department’s first cross-functional mentoring program, connecting employees with leaders across the University to support growth and retention. Previously, she served as a Human Resources Business Partner and Workforce Development leader at MTA New York City Transit and MTA Bus Company, and as Global Director of DEI at The Associated Press.

With over 20 years of experience, Williams has delivered 500+ leadership programs and drives practical, people-centered solutions.