Creating 1000+ connections between a family of brands, through mentoring
with Jessica Pierre
DEI & HR Programs Specialist,
Ziff Davis
Mentorloop Impact Award Winner
2022, 2023 & 2024
“We learned through Mentorloop Sentiment feedback that the connections made through our program have been instrumental in problem-solving and broadening the perspectives of our participants”
Ziff Davis MentorRead More
Brittany is very engaged and makes it very easy to connect. We continued to discuss goals, tools, and mindset for our mentorship sessions along with learning to know more about one another. We both have been using the mentorloop reading material for mentee/mentor.
Ziff Davis MentorRead More
I always look forward to educating and helping women excel in their careers. I struggled in the past and certainly didn't want others to feel the same, therefore this program has been helpful.
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At Ziff Davis, fostering meaningful connections across our diverse portfolio of brands is a priority. Our mentoring program, powered by Mentorloop, has become a vital tool in facilitating cross-divisional engagement, career development, and professional growth. Through regular interactions, mentors and mentees exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and co-create solutions, enriching both personal development and the organization as a whole.
Challenges Before Mentorloop
Ziff Davis, a global digital media and internet company, includes leading brands across various sectors, including technology, shopping, gaming, entertainment, health, cybersecurity, and martech. Before Mentorloop, we faced challenges in creating networking and development opportunities across these brands. Employees struggled to connect outside their immediate teams, limiting collaboration and personal growth.
Through our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), we identified these challenges. Career progression conversations led by Ziff Davis leaders were among our most attended events, and the engagement they generated helped us recognize the need for a formal mentoring program. We needed a way to connect employees across brands, business units, and regions, and provide access to diverse perspectives and career guidance.
Impact of the Ziff Davis Mentoring Program
Our mentorship program is now one of the most active employee initiatives at Ziff Davis. Last year, we created nearly 700 mentoring relationships, and this year, we’ve added over 250 new participants and nearly 400 new relationships.
Key outcomes include:
- Cross-divisional connections: Employees are matched with mentors outside their direct reporting line, often from different business units. This broadens their professional network and provides fresh perspectives, helping them solve problems and develop new skills.
- Career growth: Exposure to new leaders has opened doors for career advancement, with many participants citing promotions and new opportunities as a direct result of their mentoring relationships.
- Diverse skill development: Participants seeking specific guidance have leveraged Mentorloop’s self-match function to connect with mentors who can help them hone or learn new skills.
- Recognition for ERG leaders: As a reward for their contributions, we’ve prioritized matching our ERG leaders with VIP mentors, including C-suite executives and senior leaders, further supporting their development.
Our mentoring program has become a significant asset for employee engagement, professional development, and cross-divisional collaboration.
Enhancing Employee Engagement
At Ziff Davis, mentoring has become embedded in our company culture, thanks to the grassroots efforts of our Mentorship Ambassadors—our ERG leaders who first identified the need for a formal program. These ambassadors have been instrumental in the program’s design and continue to drive its success.
Last year, we introduced several initiatives to enhance the user experience:
- Mentoring All-Star of the Month: We spotlight participants in our public channels who have received favorable feedback on Mentorloop. This initiative has increased sentiment feedback and encouraged participants to share their experiences.
- Mentorship Program Bingo: To gamify the mentoring experience, we’ve introduced quarterly “Mentorship Bingo” challenges, with tasks such as “Complete the First Meeting Checklist” and “Take a selfie with your mentoring partner.” This fun initiative drives engagement and keeps employees returning to Mentorloop’s resources.
Looking to the Future
The Ziff Davis mentoring program, led by the DEI Team and our Mentorship Ambassadors, is set to expand even further. As we look ahead, we plan to:
- Continue growing participation, supported by initiatives like Mentorship Bingo and “Mentoring All-Star of the Month.”
- Expand the use of Group Loops to facilitate peer mentoring and collaboration, reducing mentor burnout while connecting even more colleagues.
- Work closely with Mentorloop to address challenges, improve the user experience, and introduce new resources to ensure every participant has a rewarding experience.
At Ziff Davis, we are committed to building a strong mentoring culture that supports career growth, fosters cross-divisional connections, and helps employees at every level thrive.
Jessica Pierre
DEI & HR Programs Specialist
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The mentorship program is one of the most active employee programs at Ziff Davis.
In addition to the nearly 700 relationships we created last year, we’ve had over 250 new employees sign up and created almost 400 new relationships this year.
– Jessica Pierre, DEI & HR Programs Specialist, Ziff Davis
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