Most organizations that launch mentorship programs believe in mentorship. That is rarely the problem. The problem is what happens after the kickoff meeting and most programs are not built to handle it.

Most professionals spend years building networks that never become anything more than a list of names. What they actually need is something different entirely. Here is what separates a network from a community and why that distinction changes everything.

For years organizations have responded to engagement challenges the same way. More events. More newsletters. More content. And yet membership organizations continue to struggle with participation and retention. The problem is we have been solving the wrong thing entirely.

Siphosethu Sehlabaka, Upnotch Member, is an Industry Community Strategist at EY.

Joseph Spellman, Upnotch member, is a Customer Success Leader. Throughout his career, Joseph has had the privilege of helping shape the...