Mentorship is at the heart of the GDI Hackathon. While sponsorships make the event financially accessible, it’s our mentors who make it a transformative learning experience for participants. We welcome volunteers from all levels of the tech industry, from experienced engineers and designers to product managers and emerging professionals eager to share their knowledge. 

This information session will review the expectations and details on how to engage for impact during our event.

What Mentors Do? 

• Guide Teams: Support participants as they brainstorm, prototype, and build projects. 

• Answer Questions: Provide technical advice, project management direction, and encouragement. 

• Build Confidence: Help participants overcome roadblocks and celebrate their progress. 

• Model Inclusion: Create a welcoming environment where women, non-binary adults, and allies feel empowered to learn and create. 

Time Commitment

Mentorship is flexible — we welcome volunteers who can give as little as 2 hours or commit to multi-day engagement:

• 2–3 hours: Drop in to support teams during hacking sessions. We use Slack to connect teams and mentors look for mentors to “Office Hours” on Slack where they can step away and be available.

• Half-day/Full-day: Stay with a team to provide deeper guidance. Help a team solve a tricky problem which could be how to scope their project to solving a bug. 

• Multi-day: Engage across the entire hackathon, this role embeds with a team and provides ongoing support from idea to execution. 

Mentorship FAQs

Q1: My schedule is unpredictable and I’m not sure I can commit to a set time. 

A1: We completely understand how busy life can be! Our flexible mentorship model allows you to set your own availability for “office hours” when you’re free. If your schedule changes, no problem — just don’t sign up for time slots that week. Our goal is to recruit enough mentors so that participants have ongoing coverage and support throughout the event.

Q2: I’m not that technical. Can I still mentor?

 A2: Absolutely. Mentorship is not only about coding, teams often need help with project management, scoping their ideas, or simply building confidence to take risks and try new things. Guiding teams early on to shape their projects, set realistic goals, and collaborate effectively is just as valuable as technical problem-solving.

Q3: How much time do I need to give? 

A3: That’s up to you! You can drop in for just 2 hours, commit to a half-day or full-day, or even stay engaged for the entire hackathon. Every bit of your support helps participants feel encouraged and supported.

Q4: What do I need to prepare before mentoring?

A4: Nothing formal — just bring your experience, empathy, and willingness to help. We’ll provide guidelines and a quick orientation so you feel ready to jump in and support participants.