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🎓 Mentorship Programmes

Find the right mentorship programme to accelerate your career in Ireland.

Why mentorship matters: Research consistently shows that professionals with mentors earn more, get promoted faster, and report higher job satisfaction. In Ireland's tight-knit professional community, a good mentor can open doors that no CV ever could. Below are the best programmes and networks available.
All
Tech
Women
Startups
Graduates
Executive

Dogpatch Labs Mentor Hours

TechStartup

Free, drop-in mentoring sessions at Ireland's leading startup hub. Mentors include founders, VCs, and tech leaders. Sessions cover product strategy, fundraising, go-to-market, and scaling.

📍 Dublin (CHQ Building)💰 Free📅 Weekly
Visit Dogpatch Labs →

30% Club — Cross-Company Mentoring

WomenExecutive

Pairs senior women with C-suite mentors from different organisations. Focused on accelerating women into leadership. Participating companies include major Irish corporates and multinationals.

📍 Ireland-wide💰 Free (company-sponsored)📅 12-month programme
Learn more →

Tech Ireland Mentoring Network

Tech

Connects tech professionals across Ireland with experienced mentors in software engineering, product, design, and data. Matches based on goals, industry, and experience level.

📍 Remote/Dublin💰 Free📅 6-month cycles
Apply for next cohort →

Enterprise Ireland Mentor Network

StartupGeneral

Enterprise Ireland's pool of 300+ voluntary mentors with deep industry experience. Available to EI-supported companies. Mentors include successful entrepreneurs, executives, and sector specialists.

📍 Ireland-wide💰 Free (EI clients)📅 Ongoing
Check eligibility →

Women in Technology and Science (WITS)

WomenTech

Ireland's longest-running network for women in STEM. Offers formal mentoring programmes, networking events, and a supportive community of 3,000+ members. Mentoring runs in annual cohorts.

📍 Dublin + events nationwide💰 Membership €35/year📅 Annual intake
Join WITS →

UCD Mentoring Programme

GraduateGeneral

UCD alumni mentor current students and recent graduates. Covers career guidance, industry insights, and interview prep. One of the largest university mentoring schemes in Ireland with 500+ active mentors.

📍 Dublin / Remote💰 Free (UCD community)📅 Semester-based
Register as mentee →

IoD Ireland — Director Development

Executive

The Institute of Directors offers executive mentoring and director development programmes. Connects aspiring and current board members with experienced directors for governance, strategy, and leadership guidance.

📍 Dublin💰 IoD membership required📅 Ongoing
Explore IoD programmes →

NDRC / Dogpatch Accelerator Mentors

StartupTech

Ireland's leading pre-seed accelerator provides dedicated mentors to portfolio companies. Even if not in the programme, their events and office hours provide access to an incredible mentor network.

📍 Dublin💰 Free (accelerator participants)📅 Cohort-based
Apply to NDRC →

Volunteer Ireland — Boardmatch

General

Places professionals on non-profit boards — an incredible way to develop governance skills, expand your network, and give back. Paired with experienced board members who informally mentor newcomers.

📍 Ireland-wide💰 Free📅 Ongoing
Find a board role →

Lean In Ireland

WomenGeneral

Local circles across Ireland where women meet monthly for peer mentoring, skill-building, and support. Not formal one-to-one mentoring, but incredibly effective for building a career support network.

📍 Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick💰 Free📅 Monthly circles
Find a circle →

💡 How to Get the Most from Mentorship

🎯 Be Specific

Come to each session with a specific question or challenge. "How do I handle a difficult stakeholder?" is better than "Help me with my career."

📝 Prepare and Follow Up

Send an agenda before each meeting. After, email a summary of what you discussed and actions you'll take. This shows respect for their time.

🤝 Give Back

Mentorship isn't one-way. Share articles, make introductions, and update your mentor on how their advice worked out. Reciprocity builds lasting relationships.

⏰ Respect Time

Keep to scheduled times, be punctual, and don't exceed the agreed duration. Most mentors are busy professionals giving their time voluntarily.