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The Cultivate Mentorship Program provides coaching and mentorship for Black professionals.

FAQ

Last updated - January 18, 2023

Cultivate Mentorship Program FAQ

  • 1. What is the CULTIVATE Mentorship Program?
    The CULTIVATE Mentorship Program pairs Black professionals, Black-identified individuals under 29 years old who reside in Canada, with executives in the tech business sector. The program also allows us to give each mentor the ability to concretely help build more robust career development pathways for Black professionals wishing to access the tech industry.
  • 2. Who can be a mentor?
    • Mentors for the CULTIVATE mentorship program should be seasoned professionals who are Directors, Vice Presidents, Presidents or any other C-suite executive.  
    • Any professional background who believes they have value to offer to Black professionals entering the tech field or business field. 
    • If you think your skills, knowledge and experience could be a valuable asset to Black professionals looking for guidance in their chosen field, please apply to become a mentor.
  • 3. Who can be a mentee?
    The CULTIVATE mentorship program is open to:
    • Those who reside in Canada and self-identify as Black and  are between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. 
    • The minimum time commitment for the CULTIVATE mentorship program is six months with a possibility of continuing the mentorship relationship if both parties agree.
  • 4. What are the benefits of CULTIVATE Mentorship Program for mentees?
    As a mentee of the CULTIVATE Mentorship Program, you'll have the opportunity to: 
    • Unlock new skillsets
    • Gain invaluable professional insight
    • Building opportunities to network with professionals
    • Develop hard and soft skills
  • 5. What are the benefits of CULTIVATE Mentorship Program for mentors?
    As a mentor of the CULTIVATE Mentorship Program, you'll have the opportunity to: 
    • Give back to your community and help shape the future
    • Develop your leadership skills 
    • Expand your professional network
    • Gain a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment
  • 6. What are some qualities of a good mentor?
    To be a good mentor, we are looking for the most passionate and motivated game-changers out there who want to make an impact and help create a better tomorrow. As a mentor all that's required is the desire to lead by example, impart wisdom through teaching others, strong communication capabilities then mentorship could be the perfect avenue for you!
  • 7. Where can I apply to find a mentor?
    As part of your mentee application, please include a cover letter and updated résumé in PDF format. You can apply to find a mentor in the CULTIVATE Mentorship Program here.
  • 8. Where can I apply to become a mentor?
    You can apply to become a mentor in the CULTIVATE Mentorship Program here.
  • 9. What happens after I apply as a mentee ?
    Once you've submitted your profile and application, our team will put the wheels in motion. We'll review what's been sent and pair participants with mentors whose skillsets align. By combing through profiles and carefully examining professional bios, industry knowledge, and areas of expertise, we can help identify perfect mentor matches to maximize your mentorship experience.
  • 10. When does the program start?
    The CULTIVATE Mentorship Program starts in May of every year and runs till October.
  • 11. Why is the program needed?
    For Black professionals looking to break into tech, the CULTIVATE Mentorship Program is a crucial tool for success. It provides invaluable resources and connection-building opportunities that can open up doors in an industry where minorities remain underrepresented. Get ahead of the game - join this inspiring program today!
  • 12. How does it work for mentors?
    When you sign up and are approved to become a CULTIVATE mentor, you’ll be placed in individual or group mentoring sessions depending on mentee availability and your preference.  Mentors will be working with up to four mentees in either individual or group mentoring sessions. The CULTIVATE Mentorship Program is a six-month initiative, however, if the mentorship relationship is strong and both parties wish to continue mentoring, we encourage you to do so.
  • 13. What is required for mentors?
    The minimum requirement for mentors is that you meet with your mentee(s) for monthly, one hour sessions, for six months.
  • 14. How does it work for mentees?
    When you sign up for the CULTIVATE Mentorship Program, you’ll either be placed in individual or in group mentoring sessions. Your group will meet with a mentor for monthly, hour-long sessions over the course of six months.
  • 15. How do I retrieve my Obsidi member referral link to submit it as part of my CULTIVATE mentor or mentee application form?
    1. Create your obsidi.com member profile.
    2. Fill out all the required fields within your member profile.
    3. Upload your resume to your Obsidi member profile to ensure your account is 100% complete.
    4. Retrieve your Obsidi member referral link and enter it into the mentee or mentor application form on the website
    Please note: All mentees or mentors who do not have a complete Obsidi member profile cannot participate in the program.
  • 16. Do I need a complete member profile on obsidi.com to be eligible to receive a mentor or volunteer as a mentor as part of the CULTIVATE Mentorship Program?
    Yes, absolutely. The CULTIVATE Mentorship Program is accessible to Obsidi members only.
  • 17. What should I do before fulfilling the CULTIVATE mentee or mentor application request form?
    1. Create your obsidi.com member profile.
    2. Fill out all the required fields within your member profile.
    3. Upload your resume to your Obsidi member profile to ensure your account is 100% complete.
    4. Retrieve your Obsidi member referral link and enter it into the mentee or mentor application form on the website
    Please note: All mentees or mentors who do not have a complete member profile will not be eligible to participate in the program.
  • 18. Why do I need to upload my resume on my Obsidi member profile?
    Your resume will be used to partner you up with the right pairing.

Become A Member using Social accounts 

  1. Click become a member
  2. Select your preferred social network (LinkedIn, Google or Slack)
  3. Input your credentials for the selected social network and sign in
  4. Accept permissions to share data
  5. Input your first name, last name, and select the appropriate answer to ‘Are you a member of the black community?’ and click save
  6. Click link to complete profile

Become A member using Email

  1. Click become a member

  2. Click the Mailbox icon

  3. Input your email address, password and confirm password

  4. Click the send code button. A confirmation code will then be sent to your email

  5. Access your email and copy the confirmation code. Note: the code expires within 90 seconds, if the code expires, click the resend code link

  6. Input the confirmation code and click Become a Member

  7. Input your first name, last name, and select the appropriate answer to ‘Are you a member of the black community?’ and click save

  8. Click the link to complete your profile

Member Login using Social account

  1. Access Obsidi
  2. Click member login button
  3. Select social login
  4. Input your credentials and click login

Member Login using Email

  1. Access Obsidi
  2. Click member login button
  3. Select mailbox icon
  4. Input your credentials and click login

 

First time becoming a member? 

Yes - click on the link to complete your profile on the welcome modal

No - click on the pencil icon on the name card on the tea spot page or profile page

To update your profile image, first name, last name, gender, age range, country, province/ state & city

Click on the pencil icon on the name section, and make the updates/changes

Made changes?

  • If yes, click the update button to save changes
  • If no, click cancel 

To make changes to your headline, company name, experience level, years of experience, industry, area of expertise & website url

Click on the pencil icon on the Job section, and make the updates/changes

Made changes?

  • Yes, click update button to save changes
  • No, click cancel

To add your reason for joining

Click on the pencil icon on the main goal section and select a reason for joining

Selected a reason?

  • Yes, click update button
  • No, click cancel button

You can upload an image from your profile

  1. Click on the pencil icon on the name card on the tea spot page or profile page
  2. Click on the pencil icon on the name section
  3. Click upload image
  4. Select image
  5. Click open
  6. Click update button

NB: Upload limit for image is 5mb and file type is png, jpeg or jpg

You can remove you profile image from your profile

  1. Click on the pencil icon on the name card on the tea spot page or profile page
  2. Click on the pencil icon on the name section
  3. Click remove image
  4. Click update button

Resumes can be added through your profile

  1. Click on the pencil icon on the name card on tea spot page or profile page
  2. Click on the pencil icon on the Job section, scroll down to upload files here
  3. Click upload files here
  4. Select resume
  5. Click open and update.

Note: resumes must be in doc or pdf format 

Resume can be removed from profile page

  1. Click on the pencil icon on the name card on tea spot page or profile page
  2. Click on the pencil icon on the Job section, scroll down to upload files here
  3. Click remove
  4. Click update button




Logged in? Yes

  1. On the web, click on the drop down menu on the top right corner
  2. On mobile, tap on your image on top left corner to view menu 
  • then,  select change password
  • enter new password
  • enter confirm new password
  • click submit 

Logged in? No

  1. Click member login
  2. Click forgot password
  3. Input email and click send reset email
  4. Check email for ‘please reset password’ from Obsidi by BPTN
  5. Click reset password from email
  6. Enter new password, enter confirm password and click submit
  1. Click invite peeps on dropdown menu or on tea spot
  2. Click copy icon beside your unique link
  3. Send to your contacts

You can only invite peeps when you are logged in

You must be logged in to send a connection request

From tea spot

Through a post

  • Click on the name or image of a Member
  • Click connect on their profile page

      Or

Through suggested connection

  •   Click connect or click on their name or image to view their profile and click connect

From search bar

  • Type the name of Member
  • Click on the member’s name or image
  • View profile and click connect

      Or 

  • Tap or click on the search bar
  • Click see all result (Note, you can use a filter to narrow down search or scroll down)
  • Click connect

a. From my Tribe 

On web

  1. Click on my tribe on the navigation bar
  2. Click received tab

iii. Click accept

Or

Want to view the sender's profile? Click sender's name or image, view profile and click accept

On mobile

  1. tap on your image on the top left corner to view menu, tap my tribe
  2. select received from the drop-down menu

iii. click accept

Or

Want to view the sender's profile? click sender's name or image, view profile and click accept

b. From pings

  • Click on pings on navigation bar
  • Click view
  • Click accept

Click decline instead of accept (ref accept process)




From tea spot

a. For web

  1. Click on your image or name on the name card
  2. Or click the page button on the name card
  3. View total number of connections

b. For mobile

  1. Click your image on the top left corner to view menu
  2. Tap on My page
  3. View the total number of connections

From my Tribe 

a. on web

  1. click on my tribe on the navigation bar
  2. Connections will be listed on the connected tab
  3. click block on desired connection

b. on mobile

  1. tap on your image on top left corner to view menu, tap my tribe
  2. scroll down to find the Member you want to block
  3. click block

From tea spot

  1. Click on the member’s name or image 
  2. Ensure that you are connected.
  3. No, then connect. (N.B. Messages can only be sent to members you are connected with)
  4. Yes, click message
  5. Type message into the message box and click send
  6. Recipient would receive an email notification 

From my tribe

  1. Under connected tab scroll to find the member
  2. Click message
  3. Type message into the message box and click send

From Search 

  1. Type the member’s name into the search bar and click on their name or image
  2. Click message
  3. Type message into the message box and click send

Or 

  1. Type the member’s name and click see all results
  2. Scroll to the member and click message button
  3. Type message into the message box and click send

From Direct message icon

  1. Click or tap on the message icon on the navigation bar
  2. Click on the name or image of the message sender
  3. Type your response into the message box and click send
  1. Click the DM icon on navigation bar
  2. Click on the message to open the message box
  3. Click the three dots on the specific message you want to edit
  4. Click edit message
  5. Make changes to the message and click save
  1. Click the DM icon on navigation bar
  2. Click on the message to open the message box
  3. Click the three dots on the specific message you want to delete
  4. Click delete message
  5. Are you sure you want to delete the message, click ok
  1. Are you sure you want to delete the entire conversation, click ok
  2. Click the DM icon on navigation bar
  3. Click on the message to open the message box
  4. Click the three dots on the top right corner of the message box
  5. Click delete conversation
  1. Click or tap the create a post box
  2. Input title & description
  3. Attach video or image if desired
  4. Click post
  1. Click or tap create a post box
  2. Click or tap video icon
  3. Select the video and click open
  4. Preview video and click post
  1. Click or tap create a post box
  2. Click or tap image icon
  3. Select the image and click open
  4. Preview image and click post
  1. Click on the three dots on the top right of your post
  2. Click or tap edit post
  3. Make edits to the post and click post
  1. Click on the three dots on the top right of your post
  2. Click or tap delete post
  3. Are you sure you want to delete this post? click ok
  1. Click on the message icon or message on the post
  2. Type your comment into the comment box
  3. Click send icon to comment

Character limit for comment is 250



  1. Click on the reaction on the post
  2. Click on the preferred reaction (fist, raise hand or fist bump)
  1. Click on repost or share icon on the post
  2. You can add more details and click post
  1. Click on the three dots on the top right of your post
  2. Click or tap copy link to post

You can find all your post in your profile pace, scroll to find my tea

On the web

  1. Click the drop-down menu on the top right of the navigation bar
  2. Click mode to switch between dark and light mode

On a Mobile device

  1. Click on your name or image on the top left of the navigation bar to open menu
  2. Click mode to switch between dark and light mode

To view all notifications: Click or tap pings on the navigation bar, and scroll to view all your notifications

To clear all notifications: Click or tap pings on the navigation bar,  and click clear all notifications

On web

  1. When logged into Obsidi
  2. Click on the dropdown menu on the navigation bar 
  3. Click feedback, the select if something is not quite right or if it is a compliment
  4. Add your message, upload image if any
  5. Then, click submit

On mobile

  1. When logged into Obsidi
  2. Click your image to bring up the side menu
  1. Click feedback, the select if something is not quite right or if it is a compliment
  2. Add your message, upload image if any
  3. Then, click submit