Global Standards for mentoring excellence
Global mentoring standards through proprietary Mentoring Body of Knowledge (MBOK®) and delivers trusted certifications validated through psychometrics.
Vision
A world where mentoring is an evidence-based global discipline supported by universal standards that drive measurable human impacts.
Mission
To professionalize mentoring worldwide, build a global network of practitioners and deliver stronger outcomes in leadership development and human potential.
Our Core Values
Making mentoring standards, certifications, and opportunities accessible to all, regardless of geography, socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, or sector—through scholarships, regional adaptations, and barrier-free digital platforms that foster diverse global participation.
Developing and evolving MBOK® and related frameworks through rigorous research, expert consensus, data-driven validation, and ongoing global input to ensure empirical grounding, psychometric rigor, and measurable impact on growth, resilience, and equity.
Creating standards, programs, and tools that flexibly adapt to diverse cultural contexts without imposing any single worldview—supported by multilingual resources, cross-cultural validation, and regional advisory input while upholding universal ethical and professional standards.
Designing a cohesive ecosystem that supports programs of any size—from small community initiatives to large multinational efforts—via modular frameworks (tiered REPs and certifications), AI-enhanced digital tools, and adaptable governance for expansion across 200+ countries.
Committing to long-term financial, operational, and environmental stewardship through diversified revenue (certifications, sponsorships, assessments), eco-conscious practices (hybrid/virtual events), and continuous improvement cycles (biennial MBOK® updates) to ensure enduring self-sustaining impact.
Our Board of Directors
GMI’s leadership team brings deep expertise in global standards development, governance frameworks, and technology-enabled systems building — capabilities essential for establishing and stewarding a scalable global mentoring infrastructure.
Shawn Futterer
Founder & Executive Director
Founder and Executive Director of the Global Mentoring Institute, Shawn Futterer leads the development of global mentoring standards, including the MBOK®, IMPACT® methodology, and GMI’s assessment frameworks. His work focuses on professionalizing mentoring through structured standards, certifications, and scalable development systems used across corporate, academic, nonprofit, and government sectors.
Jason Kirton
Founder & Technology Director
Founder and Technology Director of the Global Mentoring Institute, Jason leads the development of GMI’s digital infrastructure and technology platform. His work focuses on building the systems that support standards delivery, assessment tools, certification processes, and the global mentoring ecosystem.
Evan Paradis
Founder & Operations Director
Founder and Operations Director of the Global Mentoring Institute, Eva oversees operational strategy and organizational execution. His work focuses on ensuring that GMI’s programs, partnerships, and initiatives are delivered efficiently as the Institute expands its global mentoring standards and initiatives.
Mitchell Baldwin
Non-Executive Director
Mitchell Baldwin is a healthcare operations professional focused on process improvement, organizational performance, and community-centered service delivery. With a Master of Health Administration (MHA) and experience within major healthcare systems, he works at the intersection of operational excellence, team engagement, and patient experience. His work emphasizes continuous improvement, collaboration, and systems thinking.
DeWayne Allen
Non-Executive Director
DeWayne Allen is an executive leader with more than 25 years of experience driving growth, strategy, and operational excellence within Fortune 500 organizations. His leadership includes major aerospace and defense M&A initiatives and significant business expansion. Allen is known for aligning teams around mission-driven outcomes and advancing inclusive, high-performing organizations.
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Non-Executive Director
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Addressing a Fragmented Practice
Mentoring is widely practiced yet inconsistently defined. Across sectors and regions, programs vary in rigor, terminology, and measurable outcomes. The absence of a unified global standard limits portability, credibility, and scalability. The Global Mentoring Institute was created to close this gap — establishing MBOK® as the authoritative foundation for mentoring practice, education, and certification worldwide.
MBOK
Global Standards
Evidence-Based Framework
The mentoring body of knowledge (MBOK) defines the competencies, ethics, and structured methodology that elevate mentoring into a globally recognized discipline.
Certification
Globally Recognized Credentials
Professional certifications that validate strategic, ethical and effective mentoring practice across corporate, academic, non-profit and government sectors.
Assessment
Validated Assessments
& Measurable Impact
Evidence based assessment tools measure mentor readiness, program maturity, and developmental outcomes – ensuring rigor, accountability and global scalability.
Building Global Infrastructure
The Global Mentoring Institute (GMI) is building the world’s first fully integrated professional infrastructure for mentoring — designed to standardize, certify, scale, and sustain mentoring as a globally recognized discipline. To deliver this vision we are building a global network of partners.
Academic Institutions
Research. Curriculum. Thought Leadership.
Academic institutions contribute research leadership, MBOK®-aligned curriculum integration, and faculty expertise, and in return gain structured student mentoring frameworks, improved retention and graduation outcomes, stronger career placement, and recognized certification pathways embedded within academic programs.
Corporations & Business
Scale. Application. Workforce Integration.
Corporations contribute enterprise implementation, leadership development infrastructure, and workforce analytics, and in return gain MBOK®-aligned mentoring programs, stronger talent pipelines, measurable ROI, succession alignment, and globally recognized mentor certification embedded within workforce systems.
Government & Public Sector
Workforce Development. National Impact.
Government and public-sector partners contribute policy alignment, workforce frameworks, and implementation environments, and in return gain scalable mentoring standards, stronger transition programs, improved workforce mobility, measurable public impact, and enhanced trust through structured development systems.
Community Organizations
Access. Equity. Grassroots Implementation
Community organizations contribute grassroots implementation and access to underserved populations, and in return gain structured MBOK®-aligned frameworks, validated assessment tools, expanded funding opportunities, stronger program effectiveness, and improved long-term community outcomes
Standards Bodies
Interoperability. Legitimacy. Governance.
Professional and standards bodies contribute governance expertise and cross-disciplinary alignment, and in return gain credential interoperability, strengthened legitimacy, aligned ethical frameworks, and global collaboration within a unified mentoring profession.
Military Assistance
Structured growth. Transition readiness.
Military assistance programs contribute structured, high-accountability development environments, and in return gain enhanced veteran transition outcomes, workforce reintegration support, measurable program impact, and globally recognized mentoring standards embedded within transition systems.
Guiding the Global Mentoring Discipline
Independent councils and advisory boards ensure the integrity, evolution, and global credibility of Psychometric Assessments, MBOK® and GMI certification.
Standards Evolution Council
Stewards the development and evolution of the MBOK
- Oversee MBOK Updates & Revisions
- Review Practitioner Feedback
- Integrates Research & Technology
Academic Advisory Board
Ensures academic rigor and research alignment
- Guides Curriculum Standards
- Validates Research Methodology
- Aligns to Academic Frameworks
Research Advisory Board
Advances evidence-based mentoring practices
- Sponsors Validation Studies
- Global Benchmark Insights
- Reviews Assessment Methodology
Ethics Oversight Committee
Safeguards ethical conduct and certification integrity
- Enforces Code of Conduct & Ethics
- Appeals and disciplinary actions
- Protects Credential Integrity
Technology Advisory Board
Guiding the digital infrastructure that powers the global mentoring ecosystem
- Platform Innovation
- AI & Data Strategy
- Global technology Governance
Join the Leaders Shaping Mentoring Worldwide
Join global leaders shaping the future of mentoring standards, research, and innovation.
The Global Mentoring Institute invites experienced professionals, researchers, and industry leaders to contribute to the governance of the global mentoring profession.
Board, council, and committee members help guide standards development, certification integrity, research advancement, and digital innovation across the GMI ecosystem.
Help Build the Future of Mentoring
Join the Global Mentoring Institute in shaping a globally recognized mentoring discipline through service, research, education and collaboration.
Volunteer
Contribute your time and expertise to help advance the Global Mentoring Standard.
Academic Partnership
Collaborate and advise on psychometric research and curriculum to strengthen mentoring as a discipline.
Enterprise Partnership
Work with us to strengthen workforce development or support the mission as a sponsor.