Introducing the CNG Mentorship Pilot Program
Applications open now — deadline April 30
CNG is the convening space for geospatial data practitioners. The sharing of knowledge amongst members of the community helps us all thrive and grow, and we are always looking for ways to improve how you all connect and learn from each other.
That is why we are launching the CNG Mentorship Pilot Program: a roughly six-month program that pairs geospatial professionals with mentees for regular one-on-one meetings to help the mentee grow in their career. The program runs from May through October 2026, culminating with an optional in-person meetup at CNG Forum 2026 in Snowbird, Utah. We’re starting with a small cohort so we can match thoughtfully, support participants well, and learn what makes these relationships work. The goal is to build something that scales.
About the program
Mentor-mentee pairs will meet at least twice a month for an hour each meeting. In the end, pairs or individuals from a pair who want to share their experience will have an opportunity to present at CNG 2026.
We’re matching across three types of mentorship. Mentees and mentors can both indicate their interest in any combination:
- General career guidance: navigating the field, job transitions, professional development
- Technical guidance: specific tools, methods, workflows, or domains
- Project-focused: a mentee brings a current work or school project, and the mentor helps move it forward
Who should apply
Mentors are geospatial professionals at any career stage–early, mid, or senior–who want to invest in someone earlier in their journey. No prior mentoring experience required.
Mentees are students and professionals looking for guidance on their career, their technical skills, or a specific project. You do not need to attend CNG 2026 to participate, though all participants are eligible for a CNG membership and a scholarship to the forum.
Both groups commit to: two one-hour meetings per month for six months, a mentor/mentee kickoff training, potential check-in/follow-up surveys, and a follow-up debrief with the program organizers.
Apply by April 30
Applications are open now for both mentors and mentees.
We’ll finalize pairings in early May and reach out to everyone before the May training.
Questions? Reach out to Michelle Roby at michelle@radiant.earth.
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