FAQs

Mentees must be active LRW members to participate in the program. Learn how you can become an LRW member. Mentors do not need to be active LRW members. Apply to become a mentor.

Do I have to be a woman to participate?

We welcome all genders to sign up as mentees or mentors! As long as you are an LRW member and complete the signup form, you can be a mentee. As long as you meet the mentor requirements, you can apply to become a mentor.

Do I have to work for a railroad participate?

If you work in the rail industry, you are eligible to participate in Mentor Sessions.

How much does the program cost?

Mentor Sessions is free and available for all active LRW members who want mentoring!

Do mentors get paid?

Mentor Sessions are powered by volunteer mentors, just like the League of Railway Women's Committee Chairs and members who run the program.

If I am a mentee, can I also be a mentor or vice versa?

Yes and yes! Learn about our requirements on participating as either a mentor or mentee in our Program Overview and follow the process for both.

How do mentors and mentees get paired up?

Mentees will choose a mentor for themselves by reading about them in our Rail Mentors section and then using our LRW Mentor Sessions Calendar to book an appointment with the mentor they want to meet with.

How often can I schedule a Mentor Session?

Please do not schedule more than one (1) Mentor Session per month to allow other women and LRW members the opportunity to schedule with mentors.

Why can't I access the Mentor Sessions calendar?

You must have a Google account to view and use the LRW Mentor Sessions Calendar. It's free to get a Google Account.

Why are there no more events in the Mentor Sessions calendar?

Mentor Sessions are on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are not able to find time with a specific mentor, please wait until their schedule opens up again. Refrain from over-scheduling mentors to allow other women the opportunity to schedule with mentors. Do not set up more than one Mentor Session appointment per month.

Can I schedule with my mentor on my own?

We discourage scheduling with mentors outside of the program. If you wish to meet again with the same mentor, please look in our LRW Mentor Sessions Calendar to set up another time with them in another month when they are available. Our mentors are doing this on a volunteer basis so we want to respect their time and stick to the hours that they have dedicated for mentoring.

How close to the session time slot can I schedule with a mentor?

You should book mentor time slots at least one (1) hour before the current time. For example, if the current time is 12:00 PM and the meeting time slot you want to book is at 1 PM, you may go ahead and book it. You can still book sessions at or before the appointed time but this may not give the mentor enough notice that they are needed for mentoring. If the mentor has confirmed the meeting or emailed you with a reply of their attendance, you're good to go. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that the mentor will be at the meeting. We encourage you to send a reminder email to notify the mentor that you're waiting in the virtual meeting room.

How do I successfully schedule a Mentor Session?

Step 1. Once you find an open mentor slot, click on the gray button with the mentor's name to book an appointment. See screenshot below.

Step 2. Fill out the following questions when scheduling your meeting:

What topics do you want to discuss today?
What is your desired outcome for this meeting?
What is your LinkedIn profile link?

Step 3. Accept the meeting invitation in Google Calendar and add your primary email (if applicable) to the attendees list so that you're notified on your main account.

Click on the event.
Edit the event by clicking on the pencil icon on the top of the popup dialog box.
On the right column, click Add Guest, type in your email address, and press enter on your keyboard.

What happens if a mentor or mentee needs to reschedule or cancel a meeting?

In the event that a mentor session needs to be rescheduled or cancelled, mentees and mentors must do so at least 48 hours in advance. This is a courtesy to the mentor and others who may benefit from the mentor's time and knowledge or allow time for the mentee to schedule with another mentor. To reschedule or cancel an event, simply reply to the calendar event invite to email guests with your request.

What happens if we can't dial into the Google Meeting link?

Sometimes there may be technical issues that occur with the automatically-generated meeting link. If this happens, email events@railwaywomen.org and your mentor or mentee that you are having technical issues. LRW may not be able to respond in time, so it is best to communicate with your mentor or mentee to meet through another link that one of you set up at that time.

As a mentor, how do I know that someone has booked one of my time slots?

In addition to the original event invitation you get when we initially created the appointment for you, you will get another updated email notification automatically when a mentee has reserved your time. The event in your calendar will also get updated automatically. Once you receive a new booking, please reply to the mentee to confirm you will be available at that time. If you wish to use a different virtual meeting platform, please mention it in your response at this time.

As a mentor, how do I add or remove my appointment slots?

Please email us at events@railwaywomen.org to change your mentoring schedule.

Are Mentor Sessions recorded?

According to our Code of Conduct, mentors and mentees agree to not make video or audio recordings of meetings, whether virtual or in-person. All information shared during the mentoring relationship is confidential, with the exception of knowledge of improper conduct and conduct that violates LRW policies, code of conduct, and code of ethics.

I'm a mentee interested in long-term mentorship. What should I do?

Meet with the mentor first before considering long-term mentorship using our LRW Mentor Sessions Calendar. If you want to pursue long-term mentorship with a specific mentor, you may continue to book them through the calendar and keep in mind that you should only book one (1) Mentor Session per month (this is across all mentors).

Can mentors and mentees meet in person?

Mentor Sessions are virtual. LRW will automatically set up a virtual meeting room for Mentor Sessions via Google Meet, a free service that requires each participant to have a Google account. The mentor and mentee may also decide to meet in person. If they do, each party must take every precaution and follow social distancing rules and regulations in place at their respective companies and the facility in which they are to meet. LRW does not require meeting in-person and bears no responsibility should the mentor and mentee choose to meet in person for their mentoring session.

Will LRW reimburse me for any Mentor Sessions-related expenses?

Regardless of whether participants meet virtually or in-person, LRW will not be able to reimburse either party for any cost associated with using a different virtual platform or facility.

How long will the Mentor Sessions pilot program last?

We will be running the pilot starting on February 15, 2021 until May 31, 2021. Given the program success and as we get more mentors, we will make Mentor Sessions an official part of the LRW membership offering and increase the limit of sessions per mentee.

I have other questions or concerns.

Please read our Program Overview for general mentee or mentor information and requirements. Contact us at events@railwaywomen.org for any other inquiries.