Mentorship Program

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Mentorship Program →

The Plant Futures mentorship program is designed to empower a diverse group of college students, equipping them for successful and impactful careers within the food systems and plant-centric food sectors.

Central to this initiative is our commitment to fostering meaningful connections. We strive to build bridges between ambitious students and accomplished professionals, facilitating a dynamic exchange that empowers young leaders to drive transformative growth across the entire food system.

Group of diverse young students standing together outdoors, smiling, dressed casually, some with backpacks, on a cloudy day.

"We believe that mentorship is a powerful tool for driving positive change. Through this initiative, we aim to empower students with the knowledge, guidance, and connections they need to make a meaningful contribution to the plant-centric industry."

- Samantha Derrick
Plant Futures Executive Director

“We want to help our students think of college as a training ground of impact, and a place to build community through that impact.”

- Eric Sirvinskas
Community Relations Manager

Plant Futures' mentors will engage with students throughout the course of a semester, and hail from renowned organizations in the plant-based and agriculture sectors including:

Logo for a farm with a green chicken icon and the words "farm" in green text.
A logo for 'The Common Market' with a circular emblem featuring a landscape of green farmland and a sunburst in the background. Below, a green banner with white text reads 'Good · Fresh · Local'.
Blue Tindle logo on a white background.
Cover page of a protein directory with the title 'Protein Directory' and an illustration of a molecular structure.
Logo of the Plant Based Foods Institute featuring a green circular emblem with a stylized plant inside and the text "Plant Based Foods Institute" beside it.
A stylized outline of the United States filled with various animal silhouettes, with the text 'The Humane Society of the United States' below.
Logo of the Plant Based Foods Association featuring a stylized green plant with three leaves, with the name written below in green and black text.
Logo for Beyond Meat featuring a black silhouette of a cow inside a green circle with the text 'BEYOND MEAT' below.
Logo for MBT Consulting with a multicolored 3D bar graph and text indicating management, business, and technology services.
Logo for Mission Barns featuring a barn with sun rays and the text 'Mission Barns' in maroon.
Logo for Mission Planet with stylized text and a circular planet-like icon in the center.
Logo of Ingredient with a green circle and stylized black leaves, and the word 'Ingredient' written below in black.
A dark circular logo with stylized green leaves and the word 'akuá' in green lowercase letters in the center, set against a black background.
GlassWall Syndicate logo with a blue geometric icon and black text.
Logo with the text 'freshpoint' where 'fresh' is in green and 'point' is in orange, accompanied by a circular emblem with green leaves and an orange arc.
A circular logo with a magenta background and yellow outline, featuring the text 'CRAFTY COUNTER' and a large stylized letter C in the center.
Black Sheep Foods logo featuring a black sheep silhouette and bold black text.
The logo of the Stray Dog Institute featuring a stylized green 'S' and a black vertical line separating it from the black text 'Stray Dog Institute'.

Students from across the Plant Futures ecosystem are enthusiastically joining the program, representing institutions including:

Logo of the University of Minnesota featuring a maroon and gold 'M' and the text 'University of Minnesota' in maroon.
Text on a black background reading: "THE GRAY POUPON BROWN"
Arizona State University logo with large maroon 'A' and yellow sunburst, featuring the text 'Arizona State University' in maroon to the right.
The logo of the University of Michigan featuring a large yellow 'M' and the text 'University of Michigan' in blue.
Cornell University logo featuring a black silhouette of a library building with a tower and the name 'Cornell University' in red text.
University of Virginia logo in dark blue text.
Yale University logo with a shield and a torch, featuring the text 'Yale' underneath.
Fort Valley State University logo featuring a bell tower, with the text 'Fort Valley State University' and 'Since 1895' in a blue and yellow color scheme.
Minerva University logo with a black circular brushstroke and text.
New York University logo featuring a purple torch icon and purple text reading 'New York University'.
Harvard University logo with a shield featuring a white book, a black and orange chevron, and a Latin motto on a black background.
UC Davis logo with the text 'UC DAVIS' in blue font on a white background.
University of Texas at Austin logo with orange and black seal, featuring a star and shield, and text indicating it is part of The University of Texas at Austin.
UCLA logo in black and gold with blue letters 'UCLA' underneath.

Testimonials

  • "[My mentor] really helped me gain confidence in what I was doing and learn about opportunities that are out there and what is possible…I’m really lucky to have our relationship now and to have gotten to work with her.”

    Jessica Cohen

    Mentee, Cornell

  • “My mentee was doing such amazing things in this space already…from participating in the impact Lab with Plant Futures to organizing a plant-based dining fair on campus. She has honestly inspired me as much as I hope I’ve inspired her. This has been a great opportunity as well to be connected with the other mentors. While this space isn't new, it has been growing rapidly, so we are not always aware of all of the work going on…We have the same goal, so it's great to build those bridges and join forces whenever possible.

    Kate Jarvis
    Mentor, The Humane Society of the United States

  • “I am someone who doesn't love putting themselves out there…so it was really helpful for me to hear about [my mentor's] experience, because she has found so many positions through networking. She normalized it as part of developing your relational skills. She coached me through what a call looks like after you’ve reached out to someone on LinkedIn from what kind of questions you're asking to follow up. Having a person to talk to and get to know who has done this and has lived experience networking has been super valuable for me in learning professional development skills. I’m grateful…it gave me a huge confidence boost.”

    Rachel Anne Murphy
    Mentee, Arizona State University

  • "It has been really gratifying to participate in the kind of mentorship program I wish I had in college. I have enjoyed connecting with my mentee, hearing about what's exciting them, and serving as a resource and sounding board for their professional thoughts and aspirations. Big thank you to Plant Futures for facilitating this great program! We absolutely need more ways for students to connect to and visualize professional opportunities related to building more just and sustainable food systems for all."

    Lauren Kohler
    Mentor, Stray Dog Institute

  • “My two main takeaways from this mentorship opportunity was (1) to be curious. As people trying to change the food system with no blueprint or “right way,” we have to have the curiosity to try something new…and (2) in terms of networking, a lot of it can feel transactional but the main thing to keep in mind when reaching out is that you're trying to build human connection with them, a relationship. A lot of people in this space are really awesome!”

    Jeremy Martinez
    Mentee, UCLA

  • “My role as a mentor in the Plant Futures program has been a journey of deep fulfillment and insight…One of the most enriching aspects of this experience has been observing the development and growth of these bright, young minds. Their commitment and fresh ideas for building a plant-centric future have been inspiring… Seeing their eagerness to learn and their potential to innovate in this space underscored the vital role of mentorship in steering our food systems toward sustainability and ethics…Being a part of Plant Futures, I've been reminded of the profound impact that sharing knowledge and experience can have. It's a privilege to guide and empower the next wave of food system leaders.”

    Andrew Sayles
    Mentor, Co-Founder & COO at Livestock Labs

The Plant Futures mentorship program is strategically designed to accomplish the following objectives:

  • By exposing students to diverse career pathways within the plant-centric industry, the program empowers them to make informed decisions about their future endeavors. Mentors will offer invaluable guidance, aiding students in navigating their educational and professional journeys, and forming connections with industry experts. Strong resume, stronger network. All before you graduate.

  • The mentorship program also extends support to chapter leaders and members, fostering their growth as effective leaders. Mentors will collaborate with students to develop successful events, initiatives, and campaigns, enhancing their leadership skills and bolstering the influence of Plant Futures' network.

  • Encouraging students to approach their careers and chapter responsibilities through an entrepreneurial lens, the program seeks to instill innovation, creativity, and strategic thinking. By cultivating this mindset, Plant Futures aims to nurture the next generation of visionary leaders in the plant-centric movement.

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Interested in getting involved?

The mentorship program underscores Plant Futures' commitment to cultivating a community that drives transformative change.

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