MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
From your first product role to leading product strategy, teams and outcomes, connect with mentors to move your career forward.
The TPMA Mentorship Program connects product professionals to learn from each other, build new skills, and make progress toward what’s next.
Since 2011, thousands of product professionals have taken part. In our current cohort, 86% of mentees surveyed rated their mentor highly effective in supporting their development, and 71% reported making progress toward their mentorship goal.
You might be figuring out your next move, stepping into a bigger role, working through something new, or at a point where you have experience you want to share. Having the right person in your corner can change how you approach it.
The 1:1 match is at the heart of the program, but you’re not limited to one relationship. You’ll also be part of a private community of mentors and mentees where people compare notes, share what they’re learning, and meet product people they might not otherwise cross paths with.
The program gives you four months to invest in your own development, contribute what you’ve learned, and build relationships that can continue beyond the cohort.
Come to learn, give back, or do both.
It wasn’t just about frameworks or theory. I was actively applying new ways of thinking in my day-to-day work, and it felt less like learning about product and more like evolving as a product leader.
It’s important to help this next wave of PMs - I once stood on the shoulders of giants, it’s time for others to stand on mine.
It's been a great experience for me. I am learning from my mentee as well. I believe we will form a great "professional" friendship following this.
My mentor has been extremely helpful throughout the process. He's always ready with great advice to navigate through the product space and he's helped me in my search for a role since day one.
Work through actual product challenges, trade-offs, and conversations.
Turn mentor feedback into action in your day-to-day work.
Stay on track with structure, check-ins, and progress support.
Learn with peers, mentors, and product leaders beyond your match.
We've learned that great mentorship starts with the right match. In the last cohort, mentors told us their biggest impact came when the experience level was right. They were able to share real situations, lessons learned, failures, and how they improved, not just theory or general advice.
Mentees showed us that the biggest impact came when they could apply those experiences directly to real decisions and conversations in their day-to-day work. So we changed our approach, partnering with Pairwise to match based on where mentors can have the most impact, and backing mentees with structure, accountability, and a community that helps them follow through and make meaningful progress towards their goals.
Pairwise gives us a clear way to match for impact, learn from how pairs engage, and build a stronger program over time.
Still have questions? Reach out to us at mentorship@tpma.ca
Joining the program is simple.
Start with TPMA membership
All mentors and mentees need to be TPMA members. Membership is free, or you can become a Community Builder for additional benefits, including 25% off the mentorship program and discounts on TPMA events and workshops. Explore TPMA Membership.
For mentees
You don’t need to have everything figured out. But the people who get the most from mentorship come in with something they want to work on and are ready to put the time in.
Mentorship works best when you:
• Come in with clear goals
• Use sessions to work through decisions
• Put what you learn into practice
• Show up consistently and follow through
Program fee: $129 + HST
Community Builder members: $96.75 + HST
For mentors
We’re looking for experienced product people who want to help someone else get better at the work. There’s no set number of years required, what matters is that you have meaningful experience to draw from and are ready to share it.
Strong mentors:
• Bring real-world experience and product judgment
• Share what they’ve learned, including what didn’t work
• Give clear, useful feedback
• Challenge their mentee’s thinking while being supportive
• Show up consistently and invest in the relationship
Our mentors span Senior PMs to Heads of Product, bringing deep, real-world experience across product roles. Most have 5–10 years of experience, with a strong group of 10+ year leaders who continue to mentor cohort after cohort.
This means you’re learning from people who are actively making the kinds of decisions you’re working toward.
Yes. The best outcomes come from mentees who take ownership of their goals.
Come in with a clear direction, use sessions to work through real decisions, and apply what you learn between meetings. Your mentor supports the thinking. You drive the progress.
Getting started is simple, and we’ll guide you through each step.
1. Become a TPMA member
Start by joining TPMA (free or Community Builder). This ensures you receive all program updates, cohort details, and communications.
2. Submit your application
Apply between September 1 - 24, 2026 through the program page and complete your registration.
3. Complete your profile for matching
Once registered, you’ll receive a follow-up email with access to our matching platform. You’ll be asked to upload your resume or LinkedIn profile and share a few details to help us create the best match.
4. Get matched and onboarded
We’ll pair you with a mentor or mentee based on experience, goals, and fit. You’ll then receive your match details, an invitation to the kickoff session, and access to the Cohort Slack community.
We’ve made matching more intentional to ensure every pairing is set up for real impact.
We match based on:
Experience level to ensure the right perspective and guidance
Goals and direction so sessions focus on what you’re working toward
Context and background to keep conversations grounded in real work
Working style to support productive, consistent engagement
Our goal is to create matches where mentors can share real experience and mentees can apply that thinking directly in their day-to-day work.
Mentorship program fees are subject to TPMA’s Refund & Credit Policy. Because of the cohort structure and matching process, fees are generally non-refundable once the cohort is confirmed.
Explore the TPMA refund policy for details on refunds, credits and exceptions.
We collect information about your experience, goals, and preferences to support mentorship matching and program delivery. Relevant profile information may be shared with your matched mentor or mentee to help create a productive mentorship relationship.
Your information is handled in accordance with the TPMA privacy policy.
TheTPMA Mentorship Program is a thriving community designed to connect product professionals at every stage of their journey, whether you’re just starting out, levelling up, or leading. Since its launch in 2011, the program has created meaningful one-on-one partnerships and provided a supportive network forlearning, knowledge-sharing, and professional growth.
Duration: The program runs once a year between January and June, lasting 6 months.
Registration for the 2024-2025 season opens on October 2, 2024. Questions? Email mentorship@tpma.ca.
Matchmaking: Fill out a brief questionnaire about your interests and career goals. We pair you with a mentor who best fits your aspirations and professional background. During the program kick-off presentation, TPMA will introduce both parties and provide the recommended framework for the program. Mentors and mentees are expected to discuss and agree on goals and processes before the program starts.
Mentors and mentees are expected to have at least one meeting per month and commit to ongoing constructive communication both ways, which is essential to the successful completion of the program. TPMA supports mentors and mentees with monthly check-in surveys and program coordinators who are always available to help.
🌟 Elevate your product game with TPMA's mentorship program! 🌟
Mentees gain insights and connections that can help to gain new perspectives and accelerate your career. When you join TPMA Mentorship Program as a mentee, your mentor will share personal experiences, offer advice, and answer complex questions.
As a mentee, you can be proactive in your role by:
Mentors provide support and career guidance to product managers or soon-to-be product managers who will benefit from your unique experience and skills. As a mentor, sharing your knowledge will open mentees’ eyes and play a crucial role in building a dynamic, enduring, local community of professional product managers. Your wisdom and experience could make a significant impact on your mentee’s career.
Click on the sections below to expand. If you have a question that has not been addressed in this list, please contact the program coordinator at mentorship@tpma.ca
The Fall 2026 Mentorship Cohort is open for mentors and mentees.
Bring a challenge you want to work through, or the experience to help someone else through theirs.
Toronto Product Management Association (TPMA) is a community focused on development, growth and networking of Product professionals in the Greater Toronto Area.
