Everything You Wanted To Know About TED’s Coaching And Mentorship Program
Apply to be a TED Fellow for the opportunity to participate.
Whether you’re just starting out in your career or are a seasoned CEO, anyone can reap the benefits of having a coach or mentor to help hone their skills and better reach their goals. So how exactly do you get one? If you’re accepted to be a TED Fellow, you’re in luck.
Once selected into the TED Fellows program, not only do Fellows give a talk on stage, but they become instantly part of a global community of diverse innovators and thinkers. In addition to being provided invaluable resources (such as public relations guidance and professional development) to help them create an even greater impact with their work, Fellows are also given the opportunity to participate in a one-of-a-kind coaching and mentoring initiative.
You might be wondering…
What’s the difference between a mentor vs. a coach?
- A coach will not tell you what you should do or how you should do it. A coach’s job is to help you expand your way and scope of thinking so you have more options to consider and from which to choose in order to create bigger, more effective and more satisfying outcomes. It’s as if you have the entire spectrum of color of a rainbow to choose from instead of just a single hue. There are different types of coaches to meet your various needs, such as: business coaches, life coaches, public speaking coaches, executive coaches, leadership coaches, team building coaches, marketing coaches and nonprofit coaches.
- A mentor’s job is to train you in a specific skill or mind set such as fundraising, technology, executive leadership, financial strategies, branding, business planning, strategic planning, board development, etc. They will give you particular guidance in support of the goal or project you are attempting to accomplish.
They often take a coaching approach as they do so, giving Fellows a safe space to identify and pursue their goals.
Collaboration with a world-class coach or mentor can enable TED Fellows to maximize their effectiveness in their professional and personal lives and to make the most of the TED Fellowship. The coaches and mentors who support the program are some of the world’s most effective and intuitive individuals, each inspired by the TED mission and by the opportunity to coach or mentor the TED Fellows. TED Fellows have reported breakthroughs in financial planning, organizational effectiveness, confidence and interpersonal relationships thanks to the coaches and mentors who participate.
How is my coach or mentor selected?
The TED team reviews your application and may ask you a few additional questions. Then we go through the roster of available TED Fellows Coaching and Mentoring coaches and mentors to identify the best possible match of their strengths to your needs/desires. We will then connect the two of you by email, so you can do an introductory phone call and see if it’s a good fit.
How is the coaching/mentoring conducted?
You may have coaching and mentoring sessions on the telephone, in-person and via Skype, instant messaging and email or a combination. It is up to you and your coach/mentor to decide.
What happens in a coaching session?
Coaching is a conversation. As the person being coached, you’re responsible for deciding the focus for each coaching session. During the conversation, your coach will ask you questions, provide feedback, suggest practices and support you in discovering new/alternative viewpoints for looking at your situation. You will probably be asked to agree to take specific actions that will move you forward towards the goal you’ve set for your coaching.
What happens in a mentoring session?
The purpose of mentoring is to help another person build a specific set of skills. As the person being mentored, you are responsible to identify the set of skills or project for which you want to receive mentoring. It is up to you to bring a relevant request and/or the next step in your process to your sessions. Your mentor will be a thinking buddy, give professional guidance, ask questions and encourage you to try out your learnings.
What are some typical subjects that other TED Fellows ask for coaching on?
Requests vary based upon need. These are just a few of the requests we’ve had:
- Fundraising (nonprofit and forprofit)
- Work/life balance
- Developing a business model
- Speaking skills
- Marketing and branding
- Setting fees
- Transitioning from one career field to another
- Building confidence
- Figuring out “what’s next”
- Practical “how to’s”
- Financial wherewithal
- Stress/burnout
- Decision-making
- Relationships
What is the usual duration of a coaching/mentoring engagement?
TED Fellows Coaching and Mentoring coaches offer 12 hours of time.
So how do I get a coach or mentor?
Apply to become a TED Fellow today! Learn more about the TED Fellows program here.
The TED Fellows program would like to thank all the coaches and mentors that volunteer their time and skills:
Danielle Adam
Emily Aiken
June Archer
Peter Bailey
John Bates
Amir Bonefetami
Vikki Brock
Catherine Carr
Margaret Cary
Michael Cauley
Laura Colcord
Marcia Conner
Marc Cooper
Marianne Craig
Karen Curnow
Drew Curtis
Dan Feldstein
Charles Feltman
Ben Gallagher
Alan Graham
Soulaima Gourani
Graeme Harrison
Steve Heller
Geert Hofman
Colleen Jack
Nick Jekogian
Leda Kerabela
Donna Karlin
Heather Kaye
Ken Kesslin
Jamie Kim
Paul Klein
Kate Lye
Leonardo Maldonardo
Mark McKergow
Craig Miller
Gregory Miller
Sukh Mishra
DJ Mitsch
Linda Morris
Petra Platzer
Roxana Pupkin
Jess Ponce
Alexandra Ross
Steve Salee
Mark Setch
Julie Sgarzi
Laura Sicola
Matthew Shelley
Nancy Smyth
Karen Wright
Stephanie Rosol
Tonya Echols
Marianne Vermeer
Moty Koppes
Rachel Bellack
Ramzi Haidamus
June Archer
Jeff Stags
Richard Tierney
Cynder Niemela
Libby Robinson
Danielle Gustafson
Amy Waterman
Christy Haynes
Nadia Allaudin
Dian Ginsberg
