Impact Report (2024-25)

By Kathryn Mecrow-Flynn

Context

From September 2023-September 2024 we held three rounds: 

1. Round 6: for women, non-binary, and trans people of all genders. Total mentees: 99. 

2. Pilot Round for underrepresented groups. Total mentees: 55.  

3. Round 8: Round for women, non-binary and trans people of all genders. Total mentees: 49.

Our total expenditure last year was $133,624.90.

Programming and reach

Mentor Network Demographics

• We have 210 available mentors for our rounds for women, non-binary, and trans people of all genders.  

• Geographic coverage/ distribution: 

• These mentors represent 39 countries (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.)

• Regionally, a breakdown of the current mentor pool is as follows: 

  1. North America: 43.33%

  2. Europe: 35.71%

  3. Asia: 9.05%

  4. Africa: 4.76%

  5. South America: 4.29%

  6. Oceania: 1.43%

• Areas of interest:

• We ask mentors when they apply “Which of the following areas of interest would you like to discuss with a potential mentee? Select all that apply.” The results are as follows: 

  1. Mental health and wellbeing (49.67%)

  2. Community Building (41.83%)

  3. Research (35.29%)

  4. Entrepreneurship (33.99%)

  5. Public Policy and Politics (32.03%)

  6. International development (31.37%)

  7. Cause prioritisation (31.37%)

  8. Animal advocacy (27.45%)

  9. Emerging technologies (27.45%)

  10. High impact philanthropy (26.80%)

  11. Longtermism (22.22%)

Mentee Network Distribution

• Geographic coverage/ distribution: 

  • The mentees from the 3 rounds covered by the reporting period  represent 51 countries. These are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, and Zambia. 

• Regionally, a breakdown of the current mentee pool is as follows: 

  1. Europe: 44.03%

  2. North America: 25.95%

  3. Asia: 15.31%

  4. Africa: 7.86%

  5. South America: 4.32%

  6. Oceania: 2.54%

Career plan changes and career changes 

 Among the responders in the relevant rounds we have captured information about: 

• 24 total plan changes. For each of these we are satisfied that a counterfactual good outcome occurred in large part because of our intervention. 

• 10 accelerations. This is when the mentee reported at the time they were likely to take a concrete action with a good outcome but hadn’t yet accomplished the end goal.

• There were also 5 highlights of Magnify mentoring concretely helping other organizations through mentoring their leaders. 

Plan Changes:

Created partnership with connection

1. (Mentee): “(Mentor) was very helpful in connecting me with relevant experts which was hugely beneficial in my work. For example, he helped me connect with… the leading expert on AI liability. This has led to my organization… being able to work with (Expert) to organize a course on (AI-related topic) which we have more than 100 applications within a week of announcing the program.” 

Secured job opportunities

1. (Mentee): “Since we met, I've become a Magnify mentee, Attended the (AI-related upskilling conference), Founded (an EA group), Landed a full-time role as an AI Risk Analyst at (AI-related organization). Magnify Mentoring was instrumental to my success. The guidance from my mentors… was both valuable and touching. It showed me I'm not so far from my dreams, as I can engage in thoughtful discourse with people I admire.”

2. (Mentee): [Was hired as a Research Fellow with an AI-related organization because of Magnify]. 

3. (Mentee) “This mentorship has served as a bridge to my long term career goal in the field of policy making and would 100% recommend it to anyone trying to figure out the next concrete steps in their career. Magnify has helped me achieve my goals by providing me the tools and resources I needed to take the next steps in my career. I have had the opportunity to attend workshops that have equipped me with the skills I need as well as make connections with like-minded individuals. As a result, I am currently working on my research project which would not have been possible. I look forward to completing my project, sharing it and contributing to global efforts in existential risk reduction.”

4. (Mentee): [Was hired by her mentor in an EA org.]

5. (Mentee):“I built confidence and urgency around finding a new role that put me in a much better position for my career goals. I seized opportunities to apply I otherwise would have been more hesitant about and chose to look for another role about 6 months earlier than expected. As a result I ended up taking an opportunity that is so far proving to be a tremendous fit and next step for my career and future impact.”

6. (Mentee):“(Mentor) gave me very helpful personal and professional advice, and was also able to connect me with practical opportunities such as project leading at (Biosecurity-related organization). ”  

7. (Mentor): [Referred to a Board of Advisory role.] 

8. (Mentee):“She encouraged me to start writing, and I got a column posted in the biggest newspaper in my country and she introduced me to (an EA org) which I have been a part of now.” 

9. (Mentee):“I got a side job out of the connection I made.” 

10. (Mentee): “My mentor has been an incredibly valuable thought-partner in both my job application process and my early experience in my new role. She has also been a really wonderful source of context and experience on so much -- I am incredibly grateful to her and to Magnify for facilitating that connection!”

11. (Mentee):“I’ve been selected for the role of Content Lead as part of the core organizers for (conference)! I am incredibly excited and still pinch myself in disbelief that I finally landed my first official role in EA! This is largely thanks to the guidance and mentorship from Magnify, so I also want to thank you for all that you have done to help me get to this point.” 

12. (Mentee): “I was pointed to a great number of resources that lead me to meet great people, and get some jobs as a freelancer. My mentor encouraged me to be more open to networking and reaching out to people. I was very hesitant to do this at first as I thought that most people would ignore my request, but I was pleasantly surprised to see how welcoming people were. This created a shift in me, and is something that I will be taking with me moving forward.” 

13. (Mentee):“When I came to the Magnify program last year, I was at a pause in my EA journey. Having the mentoring sessions assured me that the break was what I needed to do good work in the long run, and also gave me the confidence to properly start the job-hunting process this year to transition towards more socially impactful work. Though daunting, I am grateful for the connection provided through Magnify such that I can tap on my mentor for some structure and advice. As I re-engage with the EA community and pursue my career goals, maintaining this balance will remain a top priority. Moreover, the schedule of having monthly sessions also gave me much positive motivation to get some stuff done before the next session. As someone who works full-time in a non-EA space and typically would not have the bandwidth to set aside time alone, having the next month’s session booked pushed me to take some small steps before each session.” [This mentee was subsequently hired to an EA org.]

Secured higher education opportunity

1. (Mentee): “Yes. I was given confidence boosts from having a clearer future trajectory, which helped me believe I could get into Cambridge, apply with my best foot forward, and then actually get in!  I accepted a research masters offer at Cambridge University.”

2. (Mentee): “Help making a decision about career next steps; I managed to take a (not so obvious) choice of pursuing a masters degree in an international institution.” 

3. (Mentee): (Mentor) helped me decide to apply for a PhD programme … with a view to work on technical AI governance in the future. If (EA organization) didn't work out, I was considering returning to  … industry - (my applications to operations roles at EA orgs originally fell through), but (Mentor) helped me regain my confidence and apply for more roles and also reconsider an impactful technical pathway.”

Started a new organization

1. (Mentee): “After my participation in the Magnify Mentoring program of 2024, I co-founded (animal advocacy related organization).”

Started a project

1. (Mentee): “I went to (co-working space where the mentor works), met some amazing friends and my amazing partner, and learned about and worked on projects I wouldn't have worked on otherwise.” 

2. (Mentee): “Having a mentor has encouraged me to take risks and feel supported by an incredible person. Since starting this program, I’ve achieved several meaningful goals, including: Publishing my first story in a book, launching my consultancy services. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity and the guidance I’ve received.”

3. (Mentee): “It helped in so many ways but it’s hard to describe. It really pushed my self-esteem to a pretty decent level, which is great, because my low self esteem was a major hurdle in my life. And with the new self-esteem, a lot of other nice things happened as a consequence… I became board president of (EA-related group).”

Secured an upskilling opportunity

1. (Mentee): “Mentorship helped me realize that I already know enough… to work effectively in the area… I am about to start a training course through an… (EA-related organization)... to further develop my intervention evaluation skills, so I can better assess potential solutions...” 

2. (Mentee): Was connected with and worked in a volunteer position at a Charity Entrepreneurship NGO and with EA Community building role.

Assistance in remaining in role

1. (Mentee): “I really appreciated the guidance on how to approach any future path I want to take. (Mentor) also helped me recognize the unique value I can bring to my work context, given my different background compared to the typical EA… Thank you for this opportunity - I was on the verge of moving out of the EA world due to some disagreements I have with the culture, but (Mentor) helped me realize that I don't have to be the same as everyone, and that it's important to keep diversity in the movement (and in any community!).”

   
   

Acceleration

Research Focus change

1. (Mentee): “My mentor was so valuable and gave me great career and life advice. It was really useful to hear about her journey and it influenced me to pursue law in the future. I also found great resources as a result of her guidance and attended some very useful events for networking and making connections.” 

Job seeking support

1. (Mentee): “The MM mentorship program has been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals, having a transformative effect on my personal and professional journey. Initially, I sought support in developing my master’s thesis and securing funding for it. My mentor provided valuable resources, advice, and feedback on my research proposal and funding application. After receiving specialized feedback from a contact my mentor shared with me, I decided to focus on finding a job where I could excel and work on my thesis simultaneously. My mentor played a crucial role in improving my CV - which boosted my confidence in my skills and experiences - and providing resources for interview preparation and writing cover letters. The mentorship sessions were also vital in developing my skills, enhancing my communication abilities, and introducing me to new technologies, particularly AI tools. Following the session guidelines felt like journaling, contributing positively to my personal development and expanding my knowledge on productivity strategies, leadership abilities, and goal-setting techniques. It turned out that the program not only enhanced my skills and advanced my career but also provided emotional support. The encouragement and accountability from my mentor, and also the sessions’ guidelines, boosted my confidence and motivation to pursue my goals. As a result of participating in the program, I have already secured two job interviews in the EA community, which is a significant milestone for me, as I had never received interviews for EA jobs before.”

2. (Mentee): “I will pursue high-impact jobs sooner than I expected.”

3. (Mentee): “Yes, it has helped provide clarity on my future plans, and connected me to organizations and individuals that might help me with next steps. Also gave me ideas for types of positions to look for and ways to test fit for different career paths before actually making a major change.”

4. (Mentee): “I found it useful to get the mentors' perspective on my current career uncertainties. The mentors' feedback expanded my view to other possibilities that I am considering.” 

5. (Mentee): Yes, it helped me make a plan for my future and helped me think about what I am looking for in my career and what jobs I can imagine doing, as well as some tools I can use to be more productive and focused. I am planning to apply for jobs in EA organizations.”

6. (Mentee): “I started doing a lot of informational interviews after my mentor recommended 2 people to interview and connected me to them. I applied to an EA job and an EA training program, and the mentor sessions were really helpful for that. I decided to focus more on research roles only, and could narrow down from several different options that seemed attractive before.”

7. (Mentee): “I actually found my PhD position before (Mentor) could really help me with my search but she did provide advice on how to make the best of it and what to do if I want to leave academia and why she did etc. It made me much more aware that there is a third option next to academia and industry, which is working at a non-profit and I like this option a lot.”

Research Support 

1. (Mentee): “When I started my calls with (Mentor), I outlined quarterly goals and discussed my progress on them, which was very useful for accountability and receiving inspiration. For example, I reached out to a lot of participants of research fellowships to get their experiences and advice (one of them I was connected to through Kathryn), and this was one of my goals.”

Mental health support

• (Mentor): “In helping me overcome burn-out and find the confidence to take a step back from work.”

Support of senior professionals

1. (Mentee): “Yes, through the mentorship, I was able to tackle some challenges in my current role. Some strategic changes to (organization)'s plans. More self-assurance in my role.”

2. (Mentee):“It’s been encouraging to meet women facing similar challenges, and I’ve gained practical tips—especially on grant writing—that have boosted my confidence and clarity.”

3. (Mentee): “So useful to be connected to someone who had previously founded and knew the AIM ecosystem as I was going through the Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation program and founding a charity.”

4. (Mentee): “Yes - my goal was to become a more effective leader. My mentor is the epitome of effective leadership and was able to confidently guide me toward enacting the kind of influence within my organization that I had been struggling to make happen. I feel I now have a clear path forward!”

Final Form Summaries

• I recommend being a mentee with Magnify (rating scales) It is worth noting the two women, non-binary, and trans people rounds are better rated–likely because we are still working out how best to serve the underrepresented groups round. The most recent was 9.18/10 with Round 6 at 9.13/10. The average score is 8.87 out of 10 for the three recent rounds. 

• How many meetings did you have with your main mentor? The average across all rounds was 5 sessions. However, there was significant variation here (15 meetings to 1). I asked the mentees to fill out the form even if they did not continue to meet their mentors to ensure we capture drop out rate).  

• My mentoring pairing was productive and a suitable fit (rating scale) The average score is 8.72 out of 10 for the three recent rounds with a similar but less noticeable trend to the one highlighted above. 

• How many new connections did you make through the program? The average new connection additional to the mentor were 2 with the highest being 7 connections.  

• Has Magnify supported you in achieving your goals? If so, how? Below are a few short selections of answers:

• Clarity and Confidence in Career Direction: “Magnify has helped me achieve my goals by providing the tools and resources I needed to take the next steps in my career.” “It helped me think about what I am looking for in my career… as well as some tools I can use to be more productive and focused.” “I now have a clear plan for what I need to achieve to work towards my longer-term goals” “I feel I now have a clear path forward!”

• Accountability and Motivation: “The structured sessions and check-ins motivated mentees to take action and reflect regularly.” “Having the next month’s session booked pushed me to take some small steps before each session.” “The mentorship helped keep me motivated and inspired to be working towards impactful outcomes.” “The mentorship sessions served as journaling — boosting my confidence and motivation.”

• Valuable Advice and Practical Support: “My mentor helped me prepare job applications and gave practical feedback.” “I applied to an EA job and a training program — the mentor sessions were really helpful.” “I started doing informational interviews after my mentor recommended two people.” “Helped improve my CV and provided interview prep resources.”

• Connections and Opportunities: “I secured two job interviews in the EA community — a milestone I hadn’t reached before.” “I learned about job opportunities and got connected to relevant people in my field.”

• Personal Growth, Emotional Support & Mindset Shift: “It was emotionally supportive and made a difference to my motivation.” “Helped me overcome burnout and find the confidence to step back from work.” “I feel in a better place — my perspective on how I see myself, my environment, and my work has shifted.”

• What did Magnify do well? 

• Strong Matching: “Pairing! Perfect mentor match”,  “Matching me with a mentor that had relevant expertise.”,  “Very individual and perfect matching”,  “Pairing me with the absolute best mentor!”,  “Mentor matching and giving a lot of flexibility.”,  “Matching me with a wonderful mentor! I very much felt like our values were aligned and found it very easy to progress with her.”

• Helpful Structure, Guidance & Resources: “The session guidance sheets helped give some ideas... served as a backup in case we ran out of steam.”,  “Good prompts for conversations – smooth operations.”,  “The resources and plans for talking were helpful.”,  “Great support and guidance on how to spend mentoring sessions.” “Smooth organization, useful supporting materials.” “The communications have been fantastic.”

• Supportive, Welcoming, and Responsive Team: “Kathryn was incredibly supportive and helpful in the process. “Emails were very friendly, seemed easily approachable.” “I really enjoyed my welcoming call with Kathryn… she made me feel like she was really invested in my development.” “Checking in regularly. The emails were super friendly and welcoming.”

• Sense of Community & Belonging:“I felt VERY welcome and very able to make use of Slack as a community space.” “The icebreaker/meet up event was wonderful.” “Orientation and interactions in the Slack space made me feel optimistic and connected.” “Being very welcoming, being free of charge, creating a community with a low bar for asking questions.”

• Professionalism with Flexibility: “Magnify seems like a well-oiled machine… matching system seems excellent.” “Good information. Visible and present. Good support.” “Managing the program with professionalism while maintaining empathy and friendliness.”

• What improvements can Magnify make?

• Limited Peer and Community Engagement: “More contact between mentees would be good.” “I missed out on networking and community engagement during the program.” “I enjoyed the social sessions… would have loved another social session at the midpoint mark or end.” “More frequent, bite-sized opportunities to engage with others could be nice!” 

Action: We have now introduced peer-groups and monthly training sessions including goal setting, mid-program goal reflection and accomplishment celebration. 

2. Desire for more support in meetings: “Maybe a little more structure/suggestions… I wasn’t sure how to make it useful. “I felt like I had to know what I needed from my mentor – but I still had to figure that out.” “A better and easier structure for 1-1s.” “Can be hard to stick to meetings – I would recommend scheduling in advance.” 

Action: We just started holding a goal setting workshop at the beginning of the round which I am hoping will help the mentees more carefully utilize a mentor’s time. We are  eager to see if this helps address this in the next program’s results.