Building the Future of Broadband Leadership
The NextGen Mentoring Pilot is a new SCTE Foundation initiative designed to empower rising technical talent across the broadband industry. Building on the success of SCTE’s long-standing TechConnect Mentoring Program with The WICT Network, which has supported more than 250 women since 2011, this new program is tailored specifically for early- to mid-career professionals pursuing technical, operational, or engineering paths.
This pilot continues the Foundation’s mission to expand access helping individuals gain the knowledge, confidence, and professional connections they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving broadband workforce.
Program Experience
Participants will be matched with experienced mentors from across SCTE’s global community. Each pair will work through a structured series of guided discussions designed to support:
- Career Development – Defining professional goals, identifying pathways to technical mastery and certification, and building visibility across the industry.
- Leadership Growth – Strengthening communication, collaboration, and confidence through focused mentoring conversations.
- Industry Connection – Expanding peer and mentor networks that create a sense of belonging and long-term professional support.
Each SCTE Chapter will have the opportunity to reserve a limited number of seats for local members, ensuring that the program strengthens both individual development and chapter engagement.
A Leadership Bonus: Five Degrees of Change – Small Shifts, Big Impact
The pilot will be facilitated by executive coach and leadership expert Shannon Cassidy, founder of Bridge Between, Inc. As a bonus to participants, Shannon will integrate her newly released Five Degrees of Change: Small Shifts, Big Impact course into the program—an engaging experience that reveals how small, deliberate adjustments can create meaningful, lasting results.
Through Five Degrees of Change, participants will discover practical ways to:
- Build resilience and self-awareness
- Reframe mistakes into learning opportunities
- Strengthen emotional intelligence and influence
- Clarify goals and focus for greater impact
- Share their brilliance and lead with purpose
Each participant will also receive the Five Degrees of Change: Small Shifts, Big Impact workbook—a reflection and action tool designed to turn insights into real-world results.
Together, the mentoring experience and course combine technical skill-building with the human leadership capabilities essential for success in broadband’s next era.
Timeline & How to Apply
- Applications for the NextGen Mentoring Pilot will open in November 2025 and close on Friday, January 9, 2026.
- The NextGen Mentoring Pilot is a six-month program running from January through June 2026, bringing together mentors and mentees for structured, guided development sessions.
- Selected participants will be notified in early January, and the program will officially begin in late January 2026.
Participation is open to SCTE members, chapter representatives, and broadband professionals eager to grow their careers, expand their networks, and contribute to the industry’s future.
Join the Movement
Be part of the next generation of broadband leaders.
Mentor, learn, connect, and grow with the SCTE Foundation.