Overview BA Mentorship Program

Overview of:
The Business Analyst
Mentorship Program (BAMP)
 
 
The Business Analyst Mentorship Program (BAMP) was conceived and implemented by the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the IIBA.  It is a four-month program which pairs a Novice BA (the Mentee) with a Senior BA (the Mentor).  The purpose of the program is to deliver information, coaching, and Career Guidance to Mentees using the CPP (Career Path Planning) Methodology.  The intended beneficiary Mentees are Wanabe-BA’s, who have little or no BA experience but wish to  explore the Business Analyst career path, and Novice BA’s, who have a small amount of BA experience and are seeking to advance their careers by improving their BA Skill Set and their Business Acumen.
Visoin Statement:
The Business Analyst Mentorship Program (BAMP) will pair Experienced BA’s with Novice BA’s for one-to-one information-sharing, coaching and Career Guidance using the CPP Methodology.
Sessions and Schedule:
Sessions are composed of up to 10 – 12 Mentees.
The Spring Session begins on February 1 (for Feb-Mar-Apr-May).
The Fall Session begins on July 1 (For Jul-Aug-Sep-Oct)
Program Officers:
The Director manages the program and works with the Mentors.
The Session Chairperson works with the Mentees of a Session
EVENTS IN THE BAMP SESSION:
Registration:

Prospective Mentors and Mentees should complete the Greater Atlanta Chapter IIBA BA Mentorship Program form on the GAC website (https://atlanta.iiba.org/ ). 

The Kick-Off Meeting:
Mentees are invited to a Kick-Off Meeting scheduled at least two weeks before the beginning of the first month of the up-coming Session.  The Kick-Off Meeting has two purposes.  First, the program officers (Director, Chairperson) present the program in full, and assure that the Mentees have a good understanding of the principals of the program.  Second, the officers discuss with each mentee individually their General Background, their Education, their Business Experience, and the Desired Direction of their Career.  This information is solicited for the purpose of matching the Mentee with a Mentor who is best suited to instruct the Mentee.
The Pairing:
During the two weeks after the Kick-Off Meeting, the program officers use the information gleaned from the Mentees and their knowledge of the Mentors to MATCH each Mentee with a suitable Mentor.
The START Emial:
On or about the Start Date of the Session, the Session Chairperson will send out a “BAMP – MATCH and START” email to each Mentee individually.  The Mentee is advised the Name and Contact Information of the Mentor, and given the responsibility of contacting the Mentor and setting up the meetings.
The Apprentice Initiative:
The Mentees will be offered participation in the Apprentice Initiative during the first month of the Session.  The Apprentice Initiative allows the BAMP Mentee (the “Apprentice BA”) to accompany an experienced, practicing BA (the “Master BA”), at the Master BA’s place of business, for at least one Business Day.
All Apprentice visits must be concluded in the second and third month of the Session.
The Meeting at Midway:
The Meeting at Midway occurs during the first week of the third month of the program. 

The Meeting at Midway
The Invitees are:

  •  All current-Session Mentees and Mentors,
  • The past four winners of the Wanda Hudgins Spain CPP Award ,
  • All Inactive Mentors (not assigned in the current Session),
  • The Chapter President and Vice President of Professional Development, and
  • The Director and the Session Chairperson

The Graduation Ceremony:
All Mentees must submit their completed CPP’s in order to graduate.  The graduation Ceremony is held during the Chapter Meeting in the first month of the succeeding Session.  Mentees in the new session are expected to volunteer to assist in the Graduation Ceremony.  All graduates will receive a Certification of Completion, and the Mentee who submitted the best CPP will receive the Wanda Hudgins Spain CPP Award.

The Graduation Ceremony
 
Expectations of Mentees:

  • Complete the Greater Atlanta Chapter IIBA BA Mentorship Program form on the GAC website
  • Attend the Kick-Off Meeting
  • Arrange and execute a minimum of one meeting with their Mentor each month.
  • Provide an Agenda, for approval by their Mentor, in advance for each meeting.
  • Attend and volunteer in the Graduation Ceremony of the preceding Session
  • Attend the Meeting at Midway
  • Participate in the Apprentice Initiative (optional)
  • Complete the CPP
  • Attend their own Graduation Ceremony
  • Winners of the Wanda Hudgins Spain CPP Award are expectd to attnd the next three Meetings at Midway, if possible, as Guest of Honor.

Expectations of Mentors:

  • Complete the Greater Atlanta Chapter IIBA BA Mentorship Program form on the GAC website
  • Respond positively to their Mentee’s request for meetings, and prepare for and meet with their Mentee each month.
  • Attend the Meeting at Midway
  • Be very knowledgeable with the CPP, and assist their Mentee in completing their CPP
  • Attend their Mentee’s Graduation Ceremony