LT Big Brother is the first and one of the largest voluntary professional mentoring programs for Lithuanians worldwide. Its aim is to pair up Lithuanians who have established themselves in various professional fields (Big Brothers/Sisters) with those Lithuanians who are still climbing the career ladder or changing professional fields (Small Brothers/Sisters), through informal personal communication, to share knowledge and experience.
Our mentors are top-level professionals from various fields. During the program season (May to December), they commit to having at least one in-person or online meeting per month with their mentees, sharing their knowledge and experience.
The LT Big Brother program was started in London in 2009, initiated by the LCLC (Lithuanian City of London Club). Since 2011, the program has been supported by the international network of professionals, Global Lithuanian Leaders. From 2024, the LT Big Brother program began operating independently by establishing the public institution Mentorspace Lithuania. The mentoring program exists thanks to the volunteers who believe in the mission of this project and contribute to the successful implementation of initiatives.
Constantly growing and improving, the program has been successfully running for 14 years and has become the goal of many talented Lithuanian students and young professionals. In addition to this significant achievement, the program no longer has age limits. LT Big Brother is now accessible to anyone seeking professional growth opportunities.
In the first decade, over 2,500 participants joined the program, successfully forming 1,300 mentor-mentee pairs. The program, which lasts for 9 months annually, attracts hundreds of participants from 24 different countries. The results of the season include career changes, professional and emotional development, further learning opportunities, and new career choices. Frequently discussed mentoring topics include:
- Career planning
- Advice for applying to Master’s / PhD programs
- Advice on seeking professional internships or jobs
- Business idea discussions or starting a business
- Advice for those changing careers
- Networking when moving to a new country
Program participants are also invited to events with business leaders, social leaders, and other professionals: meetings with well-known Lithuanian politicians, CEOs of major companies, artists, or athletes. The project offers vast opportunities for growth and valuable networking.
Who can participate?
The program no longer has age limits – our participants are not only final-year students and young professionals but also experienced experts in their fields who wish to learn new skills or change their career paths. It doesn’t matter where you live – you can choose a mentor from Lithuania or those living abroad. In 2023, the network of mentors covered 24 different fields and 30 different countries.
Who are Big Brothers/Big Sisters?
These are over 200 mentors, professionals, startup founders with at least 7-10 years of experience in their respective fields. They represent fields such as economics, finance, business management, law, international relations, politics, consulting, medicine, engineering, arts, and more. Among them are Wall Street and London City finance specialists, representatives of major consulting firms, World Bank economists, researchers at top universities, international law and relations experts, and startup founders. These professionals work in cities such as Vilnius, London, Brussels, New York, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, Hong Kong, and others around the world. All program participants are enthusiastic about sharing their experiences and helping mentees grow! Choose your mentor from the ‘Mentors’ section. Applications are accepted every March.
How does it work?
Each LT Big Brother season starts in February and runs for nine months, until December.
- Participants are selected once a year.
- Mentee selection begins in March. Participants must fill out a registration form by the deadline and choose up to three preferred mentors from the list provided on the website.
- After registration ends, mentors choose their mentees based on the application forms. To ensure mentoring quality, a mentor can select up to two mentees. The selection process takes into account the mentee’s motivation, ability to clearly formulate career goals, define areas of interest, and the type of help expected from the mentor.
- In April, the mentor-mentee pairs are announced.
- Mentors commit to meeting their mentees at least once a month, either in person or online, to discuss various topics. The topics and effectiveness of the meetings depend on the mentee’s initiative. Although mentors are very busy professionals, the project offers unlimited opportunities. Therefore, mentees are expected to show constant initiative, patience, curiosity, and the ability to manage relationships with busy mentors (finding a suitable time for each meeting, reminding the mentor about the meeting, preparing questions, and being well-prepared for each conversation).
- Mentees should allocate at least 5 hours per month for successful participation in the project.
- Sometimes, the relationship between mentors and mentees continues even after the project ends. Some mentees, having overcome professional challenges and gained experience, become mentors themselves.
Do you have any additional questions? Find answers in the FAQ section.
