February 21, 2025
Mentorship in Action: Highlights from the first edition of the CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program
At the CEE Digital Alliance, we believe that true growth stems from collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and trust. This belief came to life through the CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program, which recently concluded its first-ever cycle.
Over a period of nine months, 17 mentor-mentee pairs embarked on a transformative journey, exchanging insights, building trust, and driving both personal and professional development.
The results? Beyond expectations, the program delivered breakthroughs and practical tools for success. With 94% of participants expressing satisfaction with the overall mentoring process and the supporting Mentiway platform, and 100% stating they would implement mentoring in their organizations, it’s clear this program is making an indelible impact.
The Bigger Picture: Collaboration Across Borders
One of the most powerful aspects of the CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program is its ability to foster cross-border collaboration. By connecting professionals from digital agencies across Central and Eastern Europe, the program created a regional ecosystem of trust and knowledge-sharing, empowering participants to overcome challenges together.
This sense of community is at the heart of CEE Digital Alliance’s mission: to unite Central and Eastern Europe’s digital agencies in a circle of trust that drives mutual growth and innovation. By providing a platform for shared learning and collaboration, the mentoring program strengthened not just individual participants but the entire alliance.
The Power of Mentorship in a Rapidly Evolving Industry
For digital professionals and agencies in Central and Eastern Europe, the challenges of a fast-changing industry require more than technical skills—they demand adaptability, strategic thinking, and a willingness to learn from others. The CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program was created to address these needs, connecting early-career professionals with seasoned leaders to foster growth at every level.
This program wasn’t just about acquiring skills—it was about building trust, forging connections, and inspiring transformation.
For one of our mentees, Marios Anthopoulos, the experience went far beyond his expectations:
“I found the mentoring programme unexpectedly helpful and insightful. (…) It’s really about providing guidance in a deeper sense of personal and professional level which I didn’t expect and I really appreciated. It helped me make some breakthroughs on the most important aspects of my personal and professional life, it really changed me.“
These words reflect what makes the CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program unique: its ability to address not only professional challenges but also personal growth, creating well-rounded, empowered individuals.
Structure Meets Success: Leveraging Mentiway for Mentorship
One of the key drivers behind the program’s success was its structured approach, supported by a dedicated tool. The mentoring process was facilitated by Mentiway, a platform designed to seamlessly launch, manage, and monitor mentoring programs. Mentiway provided mentors and mentees with tools to organize sessions, track progress, and ensure that no detail was overlooked.
As one of the mentors in the program, Ionuț Munteanu explained:
“Having a clear procedure and methodology when managing complex projects is crucial, as this helps maintain focus and ensures decisions are made effectively. Mentiway simplifies this by providing a structured platform that manages mentoring processes efficiently. It tracks progress, organizes sessions, and ensures nothing is overlooked, making it a valuable tool for mentors and mentees.“
Mentors like Andrej Salner, also credited Mentiway for providing clarity and confidence:
“For my first formal mentoring experience, Mentiway was invaluable. It added structure and gave me confidence as a mentor, provided useful materials, and helped keep the process on track.“
With 94% of participants expressing satisfaction with Mentiway, the platform proved to be an essential tool in making the mentoring process effective and impactful.
Participants Share Stories of Transformation
The CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program was designed to create meaningful, lasting change—and the stories shared by participants demonstrate its success.
For Mihaela Zamfir, one of the mentees, the program provided a unique opportunity for personal development:
“I found the program great. I would recommend to anyone to try this kind of personal development. (…) I move forward with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped with insights and strategies that will continue to guide me as I lead my team and support our clients in achieving their goals.”
The statistics underline this sentiment: when asked if they would recommend mentoring as a method of developing competencies, 94% of participants rated it positively. Moreover, every single participant (100%) said they would implement mentoring in their own organizations, underscoring the transformative value of the program.
Key Takeaways from the Program’s First Cycle
As we reflect on the first cycle of the CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program, several key insights and outcomes emerge:
High Satisfaction Rates:
Transformative Impact:
Cross-Border Collaboration:
The program strengthened connections between professionals across the CEE region, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
These outcomes demonstrate the program’s ability to deliver on CEE Digital Alliance’s core values of trust, knowledge-sharing, and innovation while empowering participants to achieve their goals.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program?
The first cycle of the CEEDA Connect Mentoring Program may have ended, but its impact is just beginning.
The success of this initiative has inspired us to expand and refine the program for future participants, continuing to offer opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and growth.
Second edition will start soon!
Here is how it started.
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