The Audio Developer Conference is proud to announce the 3rd session of the ADC Mentorship Program for 2025!

The ADC Mentorship program is centered around the Audio Developer Conference (ADC) and was created to help encourage interaction between experienced members of the audio software community, and those who are just coming into it.

A few of the ADC Mentorship Program goals are to:

Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment
Encourage communication in the community
Promote diversity among members

If you are new to the audio development community and would like to enhance your network, and receive guidance and support toward navigating your future in the industry, signing up to be a mentee is an excellent way to get started.

“I gained some great insights into how the industry works and also some good encouragement that I'm on track to doing the things necessary to launch my career.”

Mack Cooper, Software Engineer & ADC Mentee

If you are an experienced member of the audio community who would like to give back by providing guidance and support, think about signing up to be a mentor.

“I enjoyed answering questions and helping them make decisions about their projects. My own understanding of a DSP topic improved by talking through a challenge that one mentee was facing.”
Arthur Carabott, Senior Technical Designer at Splice & ADC Mentor

If you are matched with a mentor/mentee, you will commit to 3 one-hour calls with your match between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.

The submission portal is now closed.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Become a Mentor!Become a Mentee!

A few key dates for the program are:

May 1, 2025 until June 1, 2025: Accepting submissions for mentors and mentees
July 1, 2025:Email introductions for paired mentors/mentees will be sent out
July 1 2025 until Dec 31, 2025:ADC Mentorship Program 2025 period

If you would like to be a mentor or mentee, all submissions are due by June 1, 2025.

Mentorship FAQ

What are the goals of the program?

The overall goal is to help encourage interaction between experienced members of the audio community with those that are just coming into it. Mentors have the opportunity to give back to the community that they’ve been involved in for years and make valuable contributions to people’s development within it. Mentees will be able to get guidance and advice for navigating a career in the audio industry.

What is this program not meant to be?

From a mentee perspective, the Mentorship Program is not meant for private tutoring, nor is it a forum for code reviews. Do not expect your mentor to evaluate any code.
From a mentor perspective, it is also not a way to get free or unpaid work done by someone looking to get an internship or a job.

Is there a fee for the program?

There is no fee to participate in the program. Mentors and mentees volunteer their time, and the ADC Mentorship Program simply provides a framework for matching mentors with mentees.

How are mentors and mentees selected?

Both mentors and mentees sign up through the submission forms, and we do our best to find good matches in an anonymised process; we don’t screen participants but everyone is expected to follow the Code of Conduct (CoC); in case of violations please report them to [email protected]

What is the program structure?

The program matches will be announced July 1, 2025 and you will receive an email introducing you to your matched mentor or mentee. After that, you will be expected to begin communicating with your assigned mentor/mentee to set up 3 one-hour long calls within the 5 month duration of the program which runs from July 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025.

To get the most out of these sessions, we recommend that your first call be based around introductions and planning how your and your match would best like to proceed through the program and subsequent calls. The next calls should be based around questions or an agenda prepared by the mentee to help you get the most out of the program and the expertise of your mentor.

How can I prepare for the sessions?

This will depend on the arrangements you make with your mentor/mentee. We don’t assume responsibility for participants’ behavior but we ask you to respect each other’s time.

How much time will I be expected to commit to the program?

The expectation for the program is to have 3 one-hour long calls over the 5 month duration of the program. Beyond that, the mentee is expected to drive the agenda for the calls by coming prepared to the sessions with questions, or other topics for the discussion.

What can I do if my mentor/mentee doesn’t respond to my emails or doesn’t show up for our meetings?

Try sending another email and reaching out to your match. If they haven’t responded after two emails being sent in a matter of 1-2 weeks, please send an email to [email protected] and let us know. Please be aware that vacations happen throughout the year and some people may not have vacation email responders turned on.

What can I do if I'm uncomfortable with the behavior of my mentor/mentee?

All participants of the program are expected to follow the Berlin CoC (see link here). Please report any violations of it to us by emailing [email protected] and we will look into the situation. If you don’t believe that you will be able to continue working with your match mentor/mentee for one reason or another, please email us at [email protected] and we will do our best, should you wish, to find another match for you. Be aware that finding another match may be difficult once the matches are announced.

What happens after the program?

You can stay in contact with your mentor/mentee should you both decide to do so. You can also help us by spreading the word about the program, and join us again next year! We will be sending out a survey at the end of the program to ask for your feedback, so please take the time to let us know what you liked, what you think could be improved, etc.

What if I still have questions that have not been answered?

Email [email protected] with any questions you may have.