Mentee story · Professional growth
Learning from mentors across the world
Jonatha Jay Arreola
Joined to learn planning tools and be exposed to mentors from different contexts worldwide.
Mentee story · Professional growth
Personal branding and navigating career challenges
Jonatha Jay Arreola
Learned personal branding, built networks and gained confidence through the program.
Mentee story · Confidence
How the program lifted my confidence as an introvert
Jonatha Jay Arreola
Recommends the program for the confidence and connections it gave an introvert.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Navigating a career move from Australia to Spain
Jayden Holmes · Urban planner · Australia → Spain
The program arrived at the perfect time to test ideas and prepare for a big move.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Developing a clearer professional identity
Jayden Holmes · Urban planner · Australia → Spain
Gained a clearer sense of who he is professionally and how to position himself.
Mentee story · Madrid experience
Why I love Madrid
Jayden Holmes · Urban planner · Australia → Spain
A walkable, forward-thinking, vibrant Madrid that reminds him of home.
Mentee story · Career clarity
For mid-career planners feeling stuck
Jayden Holmes · Urban planner · Australia → Spain
Recommends it to mid-career planners who feel stagnant and want clarity.
Mentee story · Career clarity
A career inflection after 20 years in planning
Jason Traves · Urban planner · 20+ years
Found in Cities Forum a global community and an unparalleled network.
Mentee story · Confidence
How the program calmed my career anxiety and opened doors
Jason Traves · Urban planner · 20+ years
Gave him confidence, a method to reflect and even led to an unexpected opportunity.
Mentee story · Madrid experience
Reading Madrid as an urban planner
Jason Traves · Urban planner · 20+ years
A fascinating first experience of Madrid, reading the city from the air and on the ground.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Pause, reflect and engage a new network
Jason Traves · Urban planner · 20+ years
Advises being open and curious; the program is a chance to pause, reflect and connect.
Mentee story · Professional growth
Joining for fresh perspectives, not career advice
Johan van der Berg · Senior planner · Belgium
An experienced planner who joined seeking reflection and new interactions, not advice.
Mentee story · Professional growth
A change in perspective on how I work
Johan van der Berg · Senior planner · Belgium
Came away more confident and clearer about what he wants to change.
Mentee story · Madrid experience
Exploring Madrid with a critical planner's eye
Johan van der Berg · Senior planner · Belgium
A walkable Madrid he enjoyed exploring, valuing modal shift and nature-based solutions.
Mentee story · Community
An honest take: this program is for the open-minded
Johan van der Berg · Senior planner · Belgium
A candid reflection: the program rewards those open to engage and explore.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Finding direction after my master's in urban planning
Ricky Wijaya Umar · Architecture & spatial planning
Joined to find his place and community after feeling lost post-graduation.
Mentee story · Confidence
Gaining the confidence to call myself an urban planner
Ricky Wijaya Umar · Architecture & spatial planning
Now more confident to identify and 'brand' himself as an urban planner.
Mentee story · International network
Building international connections in urban planning
Ricky Wijaya Umar · Architecture & spatial planning
Found belonging and international, like-minded connections.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Bridging the gap for mid-career planners
Ana Gaby Chávez · Mid-career urban planner
Sees the program as key for mid-career planners to understand their capabilities.
Mentee story · International network
Realising my experience matters on a global stage
Ana Gaby Chávez · Mid-career urban planner
Talking with mentors worldwide made her see how valuable her experience is.
Mentee story · Career clarity
For those transitioning from study to work
Ana Gaby Chávez · Mid-career urban planner
Recommends it for students and graduates transitioning into the workforce.
Mentee story · Community
A spontaneous decision that paid off
Alicia Baker · Urban planner · Australia
Applied on a whim from a LinkedIn post and soon realised its value.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Space to reflect and a global community
Alicia Baker · Urban planner · Australia
Used the program to reflect on her career and connect internationally.
Mentee story · Madrid experience
Madrid: a motivator to keep investing in myself
Alicia Baker · Urban planner · Australia
Madrid as a motivator to meet people in person and keep investing in herself.
Mentee story · Professional growth
The valuable 'in-between' space for your career
Alicia Baker · Urban planner · Australia
Values a space, untied to any employer, to explore beyond your job title.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Rethinking my career path as an architect and planner
Carolina Benavides · Architect & urban planner
Wanted outside perspective to clear up where her career was headed.
Mentee story · Community
Realising I am not alone on this career path
Carolina Benavides · Architect & urban planner
Reassured by seeing many peers face the same questions.
Mentee story · Community
The value of honest, informal conversations
Carolina Benavides · Architect & urban planner
The best insights came from honest, casual conversations.
Mentee story · Professional growth
How reaching out brings perspective and inspiration
Carolina Benavides · Architect & urban planner
Being social in your profession brings perspective and inspiration.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Redefining my focus toward urban resilience
Lucy Peguero · Architecture & planning
Used the program to restructure and focus her professional direction.
Mentee story · Professional growth
From generalist to focused: finding my niche and network
Lucy Peguero · Architecture & planning
Moved from broad generalist to a focused niche, backed by a support network.
Mentee story · Career clarity
A program for anyone seeking clarity in urbanism
Lucy Peguero · Architecture & planning
Recommends it to anyone in transition or seeking clarity in urbanism.
Mentee story · Career clarity
From job-hunting struggles to working at Cities Forum
Tanishka Sharma · Fresh graduate (now CITIES FORUM)
Joined as a mentee, won a scholarship and ended up working at Cities Forum.
Mentee story · Confidence
Rebuilding my confidence after endless rejections
Tanishka Sharma · Fresh graduate (now CITIES FORUM)
Supportive mentors helped her believe in herself again.
Mentee story · Professional growth
What makes this a well-curated mentoring program
Tanishka Sharma · Fresh graduate (now CITIES FORUM)
Visibility, Knowledge Series, 1:1 sessions and meetups made the program well-rounded.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Why I would recommend this program at any career stage
Tanishka Sharma · Fresh graduate (now CITIES FORUM)
Recommends it especially for those uncertain about their direction.
Mentee story · International network
Connecting with urban planners across the world
Falaknaaz Patni · Urban planner · India
Joined to meet people doing the same work across the world.
Mentee story · International network
How urban planning differs across countries
Falaknaaz Patni · Urban planner · India
Discovered how differently planning works across countries and contexts.
Mentee story · Community
Finding a space with so many women in power
Falaknaaz Patni · Urban planner · India
Moved by being in a space with so many women in leadership.
Mentee story · International network
The place to be for international urban planning
Falaknaaz Patni · Urban planner · India
The place to be for anyone wanting to work internationally.
Mentee story · Career clarity
Learning to position myself in my urban planning career
Paola Tovar · Urban planner · Mexico
Learned to position and 'sell' herself and clarify what she wants.
Mentee story · Community
A real global community and honest advice
Paola Tovar · Urban planner · Mexico
Found a real community of open mentors giving honest advice.
Mentee story · Community
Why this program is for anyone in urbanism
Paola Tovar · Urban planner · Mexico
Anyone wanting to be part of a community in urbanism can join.
Mentee story · Community
Taking action on the challenges our cities face
Marcos Rojas
Proud to be in the first cohort and to take action on urban challenges.
Mentee story · International network
Access to expert mentors and a global network
Marcos Rojas
Specialised mentors and a global network help reorient goals and gain visibility.
