WASHINGTON, DC — For commercial bakers seeking resources to further their professional growth and encouragement to reach their goals, the American Society of Baking (ASB)’s new mentorship program might be just what they’re looking for.
The program is designed to foster inclusion in the baking industry and promote professional development through structured mentoring relationships.
Conversations around the new mentoring program were open at NEXUS, powered by BEMA and the American Bakers Association, held Oct. 1-3 in Washington, DC.
During the education session, Growth Through Mentorship, Kristen Spriggs, executive director of ASB, and Amy Estrada, brand manager at Rademaker, discussed the importance of mentorship; why it matters; and the differences between mentoring, coaching training and development.
“The members have been talking about the need for this,” Spriggs said. “We see it as a membership and recruitment tool, but more than anything, as a workforce development tool. It’s our commitment to professional development, training resources, and helping people build a network within this community so they stay in the baking industry for their entire careers. This is why we are committed to this, and why we’ve invested in this, and want to see this as something that’s very successful.”
Fostering lasting success through mentorship
To provide individuals with long-term success, ASB’s program focuses on enhancing personal and professional growth while also forming a community to continue that growth, even after the program ends.
“The way we see it, mentoring is about relationships,” Estrada said. “It’s about an exchange of knowledge and experience. It’s helping someone with less experience gain confidence, a clear purpose, insight and wisdom. For mentors, it’s about gaining leadership experience and broadening perspective. Whether you’re a mentor or a mentee, you have that ability.”
Mentors are meant to act as a point person for their mentees, sharing their knowledge and experience in the industry.
“They’re a challenger, supporter, encourager, confidant, someone you can trust,” Spriggs said. “They’re a career coach … maybe helping you navigate questions such as, ‘Am I ready for a change? Do I want to change? Is this where I want to be, or do I want to apply for that position? It seems kind of scary. Should I do this?’”
In any relationship like this, Spriggs said it’s up to the mentee to drive that professional success.
“It’s not a replacement of who you report to,” Estrada added. “There are no guarantees for employment opportunities, for raises, for promotions … and there’s no guarantees that you’re going to get all the answers you need, whether personal or professional. It is still going to be up to the mentee to take the recommendations and resources and effectively apply them to whatever area they are looking for help in. This isn’t getting all the answers; it’s not the easy way out.”
“The work includes trainings, surveys, participating … It's not just showing up for a call once a month with somebody.” — Kristen Spriggs | executive director | American Society of Baking
The science behind mentorship
To create the mentoring program, ASB partnered with The Art of Mentoring, a platform that offers a range of learning pathways, educational resources and networking opportunities. Using the science behind The Art of Mentoring, ASB can quantify the responses from registration applications and pair mentors and mentees based on compatibility.
“We can partner you with people who have 25 years of experience, or five years of experience, depending on what it is that you’re looking for,” Estrada said. “Maybe you’re looking for someone who remembers what it’s like to be new to the industry, to walk into the room and not know anyone. That’s something you forget over the years. Young mentors can speak to that, and it resonates with mentees.”
Estrada also shared that specific requests can be accommodated, depending on if mentees want someone from a specific age group or someone in a specific role.
For mentees, participation in the mentorship program is currently restricted to ASB professional members. Potential mentors are also asked to be professional members to ensure the level of industry commitment that ASB is looking for in this program.
“Both have to be committed to the work that it’s going to require,” Spriggs said. “The work includes training, surveys, participating … It’s not just showing up for a call once a month with somebody. It requires more work because we want to prep both the mentee and mentor for success.”
For more information on the mentorship program, including registration and agenda, visit the ASB website. Applications for the first five-month session close Oct. 7.
