Certificate in Innovation Mentoring

Creative HQ’s Certificate in Innovation Mentoring is made up of six modules, totaling 40 hours: The Certificate covers the following topics:

  • programmes and roles, 
  • innovation and coaching fundamentals, 
  • working and engaging with mentees
  • outcomes and impact 

After the successful completion of all six modules and the required readings, participants conduct ten hours of mentorship sessions with founders and record two of those hours for review and feedback by the Creative HQ coaches. Once participants successfully complete their mentorship sessions and two, one-hour feedback sessions with Creative HQ coaches, they are awarded the Certificate in Innovation Mentoring award.

Learning outcomes

The recipients of this certificate have learnt the basics of Innovation Mentoring and can confidently apply some of the key innovation tools and methodologies.

Below are some of the key learning outcomes for each module.

Module 1: Programmes and roles

  • Understanding of startup program structures.
  • Understanding of the various roles within these programmes.
  • An understanding of the types of people who fill these roles.
  • The ability to see how roles interact and support each other.

Module 2: Innovation and coaching fundamentals

  • Understanding the concepts of Possibility Making and Validated Learning as they relate to helping founders in the journey of creating value in their ventures.
  • Be able to identify, understand and articulate a problem that is worth solving.
  • Be able to use creative techniques to ideate solutions to solve the problem.
  • Be able to assess the value of a venture that can solve the problem.

Module 3: Working with mentees

  • Awareness of some of the main challenges coaches and mentors face.
  • The ability to use active listening techniques.
  • Awareness of bias and have tools to maintain neutrality.
  • The ability to use questions and feedback to engage.

Module 4: Engaging with mentees

  • Understanding of ways to form groups and have used the CH3 tool.
  • The ability to use the SCARF model for difficult discussions with individuals.
  • Understanding of various approaches to conflict resolution within teams.
  • Awareness of different techniques to monitor team and founder wellbeing.

Module 5: Outcomes and impact #1

  • The ability to set goals and establish action plans to achieve these goals.
  • Use questions to create learning opportunities and a growth mindset.
  • The ability to encourage founders to have accountability of achieving goals.
  • Be able to help founders break unhelpful habits and create effective habits.

Module 6: Outcomes and impact #2

  • Awareness of the importance and structure of healthy connections.
  • Awareness of mentor board governance structures and practices, and the mentor’s role within them.
  • The ability to identify and prevent mentor whiplash.
  • Be able to build conducive mentoring environments.