Mentorship is not just about completing tasks or solving problems. It’s about shaping the next generation of open-source leaders. This talk shares perspectives from both mentees and mentors, showing how newcomers can evolve into core contributors to CNCF-graduated projects and how to effectively select, welcome, and retain mentees.

Through the CNCF LFX Mentorship Program, Prasanth grew from a student to a core contributor, significantly shaping the Harbor CLI codebase alongside fellow mentees.

This session explores how mentorship benefits mentees, mentors, and projects. It covers how to be a better mentee, manage challenges, and become a better mentor. Attendees will learn what aspects to prioritize, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to create better and supportive learning environment that attracts, retains, and helps mentees grow into maintainers.