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Our mentoring pairs meet at the online and in person events! See our previous activity below.

✨Networking Event for the Polish Scientific Diaspora in the USA

Mentoring Espresso – a two-hour event loaded with integration and education, dedicated to Polish researchers and business professionals in the United States. The meeting took place on 9th of November 2025, as a satellite event of the Science: Polish Perspectives (SPP) MeetUp MIT conference. This was an unique opportunity to build valuable relationships and identify development paths in science and business.

Key Information

Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025 9:30 - 11:30

Location: Trident Bookseller & Cafe, 338 Newbury Street, Boston, MA

Format: Two-hour networking and educational meeting

Structure: Rotational thematic tables

Rotational Thematic Tables and Mentors

The event featured rotational tables, giving chance for in-depth conversation with experts on key professional topics. We invited mentors from Polonium Mentoring for You to see their perspective on the programme.

Our guests:

  • Laurie Wessels: mentoring trainer, coach. Topic: "Making meaningful connections that last”

  • Joanna Kwiatek: Polonium Network Team Lead, mentor. Topic: "From lab to launch: choosing between academia and industry"

  • Ala Santos: CEO of Polonium Foundation, mentor 4th iteration: "Innovation in action: navigating the start-up world"

  • Anna Antonina Sobocińska: CAO of Polonium Foundation, Polonium Mentoring Coordinator. Topic: "Science without borders: where Your skills can take you"

Agenda

Total duration: 2 hours

9:30 – Food and coffee, participants take their seats at the first table of their choice

9:45 – Welcome and introduction (5 minutes)Brief presentation of the Mentoring Espresso conceptExplanation of the format and rules of the meeting

9:50 – Mentoring round – Table 1 (40 minutes)
Each group begins with a brief introduction (name, professional background, expectations) Guided mentoring discussion: mentors share their insights, advice, and experience
participants ask questions about their career, research, or professional development

10:30 – Change of tables (5 minutes) Participants move to the second table of their choice

10:35 – Mentoring round – Table 2 (40 minutes)
New group – brief introductions
Continuation of the discussion with another mentor on a different topic

11:15 – Networking time (15 minutes)
Opportunity to continue conversations with mentors or other participants in an informal atmosphere

What You Will Gain

  • Mentoring: Direct contact with experienced experts and mentors from the Polonium Foundation.

  • Development: Identification of potential career development paths beyond traditional academia (e.g., science diplomacy, international collaboration, start-ups).

  • Connections: Strengthening ties within the Polish scientific community in the USA.

  • Gifts: special goodie-bags with Polonium swag for You.

Dofinansowano przez Instytut Rozwoju Języka Polskiego ze środków budżetu Państwa, regranting: “Minigranty dla Polonii” Stowarzyszenie Aktywny Dialog.