MPI Poland Chapter is preparing the second edition of Future Professionals, a mentoring programme designed for people at the beginning of their careers in the meetings and events industry. The first two stages of the programme are currently under way – mentor recruitment and applications from prospective mentees. The main mentoring phase of the second edition will begin in November 2026 and run until February 2027.
Future Professionals is an initiative that connects young people interested in the MICE industry with experienced industry professionals. The programme is designed to provide a platform for individual professional development, knowledge and experience sharing, and a better understanding of how the meetings and events sector operates.
The programme has been divided into several stages to support the selection of participants and the effective matching of mentoring pairs before the main phase begins.
Stage I – Mentor Recruitment
The first stage of preparations for the second edition was mentor recruitment, which opened on 26 August and ran until 10 September 2026. Experienced representatives of the MICE industry were invited to take part and share their knowledge, professional experience and practical understanding of the market with people at the beginning of their careers.
The mentor’s role extends well beyond regular conversations. Experience from the first edition showed that mentoring can also involve working together on projects, attending industry events, discussing career development and exploring specific areas of the market. A mentor can help a mentee better understand the realities of working in the meetings industry, define professional goals, identify possible career paths and share practical experience that can be difficult to acquire through academic study or training alone.
Stage II – Mentee Recruitment
The next stage is the recruitment of mentees. Applications opened on 15 September and will remain open until 10 October 2026.
The programme is aimed primarily at students, graduates and people taking their first steps in their professional careers who would like to gain a better understanding of the meetings and events industry. Participants do not need to have a clearly defined career plan at this stage. What matters is curiosity about the sector, openness to professional development and a willingness to work actively with a mentor.
MPI Future Professionals offers participants an opportunity to explore different areas of the MICE sector – from congress and conference organisation, corporate events and incentive travel to the work of convention bureaux, PCOs, DMCs, conference venues, hotels and industry associations. For mentees, the programme can also provide an opportunity to work towards a specific professional goal, whether that means finding a first job, identifying an area of specialisation, gaining practical experience, developing new skills or building a professional network.
The Second Edition Begins in November
Once mentor and mentee recruitment has been completed, the process of matching mentoring pairs will begin. The programme aims to connect participants in a way that ensures the mentor’s experience corresponds as closely as possible with the mentee’s interests, needs and professional development goals.
The main phase of the second edition of Future Professionals will begin in November 2026 and continue until February 2027. During this period, participants will work together towards previously defined goals, gain first-hand insight into how the industry operates and benefit from the experience of professionals representing different segments of the meetings sector.
Poland Convention Bureau Again Supports the Development of Young Professionals
Poland Convention Bureau of the Polish Tourism Organisation is once again taking part in the second edition of Future Professionals, supporting an initiative aimed at people beginning their careers in the meetings industry.
Poland Convention Bureau’s involvement forms part of its activities focused on education, knowledge exchange and the development of skills among the future workforce of the MICE sector. The programme also provides an opportunity to introduce young professionals to the structure of the Polish meetings industry and demonstrate how convention bureaux, professional congress organisers, incentive travel organisers, conference venues, hotels, associations and other organisations work together across the national meetings industry.
The First Edition of the Mentoring Programme as a Point of Reference
The second edition builds on the experience gained during the programme’s first year. According to MPI Poland Chapter, 91% of mentees achieved the goal they had set when joining the programme. For some participants, this meant finding a job; for others, it involved gaining professional experience, developing a personal brand or establishing new relationships within the industry.
Poland Convention Bureau POT was also involved in the first edition. PCB served as an industry partner, while Jarosław Marciuk acted as mentor to mentee Justyna Nerło.
In addition, during the programme’s opening event in Warsaw, Jarosław Marciuk delivered a presentation as part of the Laboratorium Twórców project.
Their collaboration covered topics including digital marketing, the promotion of Poland as a destination for meetings and events, the role of convention bureaux, communication, personal branding and mobile photography. Another important part of the mentoring process was gaining practical insight into the industry and taking part in joint initiatives. A summary of the programme is available on the MPI Poland Chapter website.
Experience from the first edition demonstrated that Future Professionals can be much more than a series of meetings between a mentor and mentee. It also provides a way to experience the industry from the inside, build professional relationships and help young people prepare more effectively for a well-informed entry into the job market.
