Naturally Chicago
Mentorship Matching Program

Cohort 4 is Now Full — Applications Are Closed

Naturally Chicago is thrilled that our Mentorship Cohort 4 is nearing its launch — with the record enrollment of both mentors and mentors.

Our mentor community includes leaders from across the natural products ecosystem — CEOs and founders, sales, marketing, operations, banking, venture capital, legal, insurance and more.

Brands applied to the program and identified the capabilities they want to build. The mentees are then each paired with a mentor whose experience aligns with those needs.

This program only works because of engaged mentors and ambitious brand mentees.

Here’s how the Mentorship program works:

  • Each mentor and mentee will engage in an introductory call and three meetings over the three-month period. Meetings can be virtual or in person.

  • Brands choose the skill sets on which they would like to be mentored. We will pair the brands with most appropriate mentors. Brands are responsible for creating the agenda for each meeting and sharing it with the mentors.

Now, scroll down to meet the industry leaders and experts who have signed up to serve as mentors for Cohort 4.

Cohort 4 2026

Meet the Mentors

Fostering Growth through Mentorship: Expand Your Skills and Network

The Naturally Chicago Mentorship Matching Program is designed to serve our members professional and personal growth, while stimulating a culture of lifelong learning for our Natural and Organic Industry leaders.

This free program connects experienced industry leaders with aspiring professionals in a supportive environment to share knowledge, wisdom, and real-world experience. Each mentee and mentor will embark on a five-month interactive relationship through monthly meetings.

We are currently recruiting Mentors to participate in Cohort 3, which will run from September through November 2025.

BENEFITS TO MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY

The Naturally Chicago Mentorship Program strengthens our region’s Natural Products industry by enabling entrepreneur mentees to make better-informed decisions about how to grow their companies and by connecting industry leaders with rising-star brands.

Mentees will ask questions of industry experts, service providers, finance and operations managers, and others. Mentors will learn from talented entrepreneurs who are looking to succeed in the competitive Natural Products marketplace. Together we will all grow.

MATCHING MENTORS AND MENTEES

Mentoring relationships are most successful when the mentees have opportunities to choose their mentors. Naturally Chicago will provide a list of mentors and their relevant skill sets during the application process. They will then be asked to list the mentors with whom they would prefer to work. Mentors have the option to approve or decline matches.

It is possible, depending on the number of mentees and mentors, that we may not be able to accommodate everyone looking to participate in the program.

Setting Expectations

BEST PRACTICES FOR MENTORS

Mentors: Mentors must work for companies that are corporate partners or, if they are independent, mentors can join as individual members.

Mentees: Mentees must be a founder or employee of a brand partner. Not a brand partner yet? Become one today.

BECOME A CORPORATE OR BRAND PARTNER
BECOME AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER

Successful Mentorship Starts with Establishing Clear Guidelines

BEST PRACTICES FOR MENTEES

Not a Member Yet? Join Naturally Chicago

If you have any questions about membership, email us at info@naturallyChicago.org.

Mentorship Matching Program FAQ’s

  • The mentoring commitment is approximately five months where we suggest a minimum of 60 minutes per month spent in sessions.

  • While we believe that in-person meetings are very beneficial, it is not a requirement. Mentor & Mentee will decide the best way to meet based on geography and time commitment. During your initial kickoff meeting, you can discuss the preferred method of communication and the frequency of your meetings. While we suggest monthly meetings, it can be more frequent if it is agreed upon.

  • Many mentees have specific areas they would like to explore with a mentor, others are looking for general information from industry veterans on growing their business. Mentees should be as clear as possible about their goals for the program.

    It is the responsibility of the mentee to create an agenda or list of areas that they would like to discuss prior to each meeting. This list/agenda should be shared with the mentor PRIOR to their meeting. Please give mentors 2-day advance notice of your agenda.

    Mentors should prepare for the meetings by reviewing the agenda and look for ways to add value to the discussion.

    It is recommended that mentors and mentees read both of the “Best Practices” documents so that it is clear what the expectations are for each participant.

  • Once you submit your initial application, it will be reviewed by the Mentorship Matching Program Committee to determine if you can be matched with a Mentor. At times, we may experience an overwhelming number of applications from Mentees that exceed the number of Mentors available. If we cannot match you immediately, we will keep your application on file and contact you once we have been able to match you with a Mentor, therefore you do not have to re-apply.

    While we try, in reality everyone may not get paired with their first-choice mentors. Our team does its best to match mentees with mentors who can help them with the skills and needs they identified. In the event either party does not feel it is a good match, please let us know. We’ll put your application on hold and try to match you again in the next round.

  • Based on the deadlines set forth on this page, you can expect to receive a communication acknowledging your application is being reviewed approximately two to three weeks after your submission and a response on whether a match was made approximately two weeks after that first communication.

  • While we try, in reality everyone may not get paired with their first-choice mentors. Our team does its best to match mentees with mentors who can help them with the skills and needs they identified. In the event either party does not feel it is a good match, please let us know. We’ll put your application on hold and try to match you again in the next round.

  • Our Mentorship Matching Program Committee is dedicated to helping you make the most out of your mentoring relationship. If you have any concerns that you wish to communicate about your mentoring relationship, we encourage you to contact our Senior Strategist at Greg@NaturallyChicago.org.

  • To ensure fairness to fellow Naturally Chicago members who are also interested in the Mentorship Matching Program, you may re-apply for another program period after your engagement ends. If you elect to re-apply, our Mentorship Matching Program Committee will review your application as they would with a new applicant to determine if a match can be made, with new applicants being matched first if possible.