Mentor-up-Close is a mentorship experience that matches mentees with mentors, with the aim making mentorship more accessible and fun. Its speed-dating-style format gives mentees quick access to a variety of mentors, and mentors access to new talent and thinking. It offers a way to hear many different perspectives in just 90 minutes, without the pressure of committing to a traditional mentorship relationship.

Launched online during the pandemic and continued in-person, we have matched 400 creatives worldwide so far, and have partnered with the One Show, Cannes Lions, Festival el Dorado and Creative Circles globally.

Mentor-up-Close is brought to you by Fala. It will take place at MAD//Fest 2025 on Tuesday 1st July from 4pm to 5.30pm and you will need to be available for the duration of the session.

Your application will be reviewed by the Fala team and if selected you will be 'matched' to 3 mentors and will have a 20 minute meeting with each one.

Mentors confirmed for MAD//Fest 2025 are:

  • Rania Robinson, CEO, Quiet Storm
  • Rebeca Ricoy, Director of Marketing LATAM + EMEA, Duolingo
  • Ruby Raut, Founder, WUKA
  • Sadira E. Furlow, Chief of Global Brand and Communications / Dean of Dopeness, Tony's Chocolonely
  • Dan Brain, Co-founder, MAD//Fest
  • Mark Shanley, Executive Creative Director, adam&eveDDB
  • Gemma Parkinson, Global Marketing and Business Development Director, Belvedere Vodka
  • Nicky Woodhouse, Co-founder, Sister Motion
  • Camille Beaufils, Chief Marketing Officer, Fever Tree
  • Katie Mitchell, Managing Director, Seen Studios
  • Gill Huber, Managing Director, Ingenuity+

To register your interest in taking part, enter your details in the form below. You must already be registered to attend MAD//Fest to apply. You can book tickets here.