How I Plan to Structure My Mentorship Offerings in 2026

photo by Maria Kostyleva (IG:masha_and_film)

I started my paid mentoring journey on a platform that provided a predefined structure: three mentoring packages differentiated mainly by the number of 1:1 live sessions, and therefore by price. While this framework was a helpful starting point, my mentoring practice has since grown significantly. I now work with a much broader range of profiles and goals, and I’ve realized that this one-size-fits-all model no longer serves everyone well.

In practice, the current setup often creates confusion about expectations and outcomes. I’ve also observed that very infrequent interactions (for example, one session per month) rarely lead to meaningful progress within a reasonable timeframe. This often results in frustration on both sides, despite good intentions.

For 2026 with new mentees, I want to take a different approach. Instead of primarily differentiating packages by the number of calls, I will clearly differentiate them by mentoring focus. The focus then naturally determines the intensity, number of live interactions, and pricing. This makes the value proposition clearer and aligns the structure better with real outcomes.

An important benefit of this new approach is that it allows me to introduce a separate, more affordable option for people who currently cannot commit to higher-priced mentoring (such as fresh graduates or temporarily unemployed professionals) without compromising clarity or quality.

In 2026, I will offer 1:1 mentoring with the following options

Hire-Ready for Data Roles

A results-oriented program designed to help you position your skills effectively, identify and target the right Data & AI roles in the German/EU job market, and approach your job search with a clear, structured, and proven strategy.

You’ll learn how to translate your background into a compelling professional narrative, understand what employers truly expect from data professionals depending on the level, and focus your efforts on roles where you have the highest chance of success.

The program emphasizes practical execution over theory, from refining your CV and LinkedIn profile to preparing for technical and behavioral interviews. So you can move through the application process with confidence, clarity, and direction.

Academia → Industry

A structured mentoring program supporting PhD holders and researchers in transitioning from academia to industry roles in Data & AI. The focus is on translating academic expertise into industry-relevant skills, adopting an industry mindset, and learning how companies actually use data and AI to drive business outcomes. The program also covers career strategy, role selection, communication with non-academic stakeholders, and positioning research experience as a strong asset rather than a mismatch.

Data & AI Probation Phase Support

Mentoring for professionals in Data & AI roles during your first months in a new position. I will help you to navigate expectations, prioritize the right work, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and build credibility early on. It focuses on avoiding common probation-phase pitfalls, understanding team dynamics, and delivering visible value while adapting to new technical stacks, processes, and business contexts.

Understanding Data & AI 

A foundational program for professionals who want to truly understand what Data and AI mean in practice, without necessarily becoming hands-on engineers or data scientists. Participants learn how data products are built, what AI can and cannot do, how models are evaluated, and how data teams work in real organizations. The goal is to enable informed participation in discussions, better decision-making, and confident collaboration with technical teams, even without training models yourself!

AI Engineer Career Lab

A hands-on career lab for professionals who want to engineer, deploy, and operate ML and GenAI systems with production-level standards. The program focuses on real business use cases, system reliability, scalability, monitoring, and collaboration with data, product, and platform teams. You will develop the mindset and skill set required to move beyond notebooks and prototypes toward robust, maintainable AI systems that create measurable impact.

AI Solution Architect Career Lab

A mentoring program designed for Engineers or Data Scientists aiming to move into AI Solution Architect roles. The focus is on developing systems thinking, architectural decision-making, and the ability to design end-to-end AI solutions aligned with business and organizational constraints. You learn how to balance trade-offs, communicate architectural choices to technical and non-technical stakeholders, and operate at a senior level across teams and domains.

Data & AI Leadership Essentials

A preparation program for engineers and technical professionals stepping into leadership and management responsibilities in Data & AI environments. The program focuses on leading people, projects, and technical direction simultaneously, covering topics such as expectation management, team development, decision-making under uncertainty, and bridging the gap between technical execution and business strategy. It is designed to support a smooth and confident transition from individual contributor to leader.

Data & AI Access Program

A focused, 3-month acceleration program designed for students and unemployed professionals who want to break into their first role in Data & AI.

The program combines structured learning, hands-on mentorship, and career coaching to help you understand real-world expectations in data roles, build job-relevant skills, and position yourself competitively in the job market. We’ll work through practical, real-world examples, refine your CV, strengthen your interview readiness, and gain clarity on which Data & AI roles best match your background and strengths.

To ensure high-quality, personalized support, I accept only 1–2 mentees per month. Participation is therefore subject to a pre-selection process.

All options listed above include both live calls and asynchronous communication (e.g. email). However, I’ve worked with many people who simply don’t have the time or preference for written communication and prefer to work exclusively through live conversations.

For this reason, I’ve introduced a “Calls-Only Mentorship” option. It is designed specifically for those who want to focus entirely on live interactions and is available in packages of 5 calls or 10 calls.

I hope that this new approach creates better outcomes, less frustration, and a stronger sense of direction for everyone involved. I also hope it makes mentoring accessible to people at different stages of their careers and life situations, without compromising on quality or intention.

This is very much a work in progress, and I’d love your honest feedback. Does this structure make sense to you? What feels clear, and what still feels confusing or missing?

Your perspective would mean a lot and will directly shape how this evolves!