Art of Mentoring Software Review for Association Executives
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- 5 min read
Strategic Mentoring Programs That Deliver Measurable Member Value
In today's association landscape, member engagement and professional development are essential to membership retention and organizational sustainability. Mentoring programs represent powerful tools for connecting experienced professionals with emerging talent, providing tangible value that strengthens member loyalty. This independent SmartThoughts analysis examines Art of Mentoring, an Australian-based mentoring software platform serving associations, government agencies, and corporations with structured mentoring technology and expert consulting services.
What Category Is This Software Found In?
Art of Mentoring is part of the Mentoring Software (MPS) category, often referred to as Mentorship Platform Software. In contrast to Learning Management Systems, which are centered on content delivery, mentoring software aids in relationship-building by offering matching algorithms, communication tools, and program management features [1].
Summary of the Art of Mentoring Software
Art of Mentoring is an Australian SaaS company founded in 1997, headquartered in Sydney, and acquired by AD1 Holdings. The company employs approximately 11-50 professionals across four continents [2][3]. They partner with the Australian HR Institute (AHRI), Center for Mentoring Excellence, and Professor David Clutterbuck [4]. According to Toyota Australia's Project Manager: "Their resources are world-class, customer care is fabulous—we really feel like they are on our team" [5].
The Purpose Statement of the Software
Art of Mentoring's mission centers on "creating mentoring relationships that work to satisfy human connection and produce unexpectedly pleasing results for people and their organisations" [6]. The company positions itself as a full-service mentoring partner combining purpose-built software with expert consulting.
What Makes Art of Mentoring a Fit for the Association Market
Art of Mentoring specifically focuses on membership organizations, offering dedicated resources such as the "7 Steps to Starting a Successful Association Mentoring Program" [7]. For associations, mentoring programs help in attracting and retaining members, supporting particular member segments, boosting engagement, preparing future leaders, and improving member employability [8]. The company reports at least 80% satisfaction rates among matched pairs.
AHRI, representing 20,000 HR professionals, has partnered with Art of Mentoring for over four years, running programs with 1,000+ annual participants: "The platform is very user friendly and has the features needed for our program" [9]. Additionally, Art of Mentoring received the 2025 LearnX Awards Diamond in EdTech Mentoring Online for their program with Beaumont People [10].
What Are the Functional Goals of the Art of Mentoring Software?
Core functional areas include: Matching and Pairing using AI-powered algorithms; Program Management with application tools, automated communications, surveys, and reporting dashboards; Goal Setting and Tracking enabling mentees to set, track, and manage personal and professional goals digitally while providing mentors real-time visibility and program managers data-driven insights on completion rates and engagement trends [23]; Training and Resources with 100,000+ globally trained; Integrations with Zoom, Teams, and Okta SSO; and Compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA and GDPR [11][12][13].
Where Does Art of Mentoring Fit in the Association Technology Ecosystem?
Art of Mentoring represents a "best-of-breed" complementary solution within the association technology stack rather than an AMS replacement. Using the SmartThoughts Tier Framework [14], most associations will not find comprehensive mentoring program management within their AMS platforms. While some AMS solutions offer basic member matching, dedicated mentoring software provides specialized functionality: matching algorithms, training modules, relationship monitoring, and ROI measurement. The platform charges by matched pair rather than user count, advantageous where only a subset participates. SSO integration through Okta allows seamless member portal access.
Who Are Some Likely Competitors in the Association Market?
Chronus (Seattle): Multiple mentoring formats, HRIS integration; steeper learning curve [15]. Together (Toronto): Intuitive interface, AI matching; admin complexity [16]. MentorcliQ (Columbus): Strong ROI reporting; manual administration required [17]. MentorCity: Built for associations; limited feature depth [18]. PushFar (UK): Affordable entry; limited customization at lower tiers [16].
What Does the Product Roadmap Look Like?
Recent enhancements include the newly launched Goal Setting and Tracking Tool—a significant addition designed to strengthen modern mentoring programs. This feature empowers mentees to set and manage personal and professional goals digitally, provides mentors with real-time progress visibility for timely guidance, and gives program managers data-driven insights on completion rates and engagement trends to demonstrate ROI while maintaining relationship privacy [23]. Additional platform updates include redesigned dashboards with enhanced filtering, switchable aliases for participant terminology, and WCAG 2.1 AAA compliance improvements [11].
The platform uses matching algorithms for pairing but no publicly available information indicates advanced generative AI features. Their philosophy—"great mentoring is an art, not just software"—prioritizes methodology over AI automation [6]. No public long-term roadmap documentation exists, though the Goal Setting tool release demonstrates continued product investment.
What Is the Price of This Software?
According to GetApp, pricing starts at $6,800/year with a free trial available [13]. The company offers three distinct plan tiers: Mentoring on Demand (always-on, automated self-match model with tiered active users, online-only support, and 70%+ satisfaction rates); Professional (starting at 20 pairs with unlimited users, admin/preference matching, Program Manager Training, unlimited direct support access, and 80%+ satisfaction rates); and Platinum (high-touch managed service where Art of Mentoring manages the program and platform, includes live hosted webinars, events module, and targets 90%+ satisfaction rates). Pricing is per matched pair rather than user count, with Single Sign-On and Events module as optional add-ons.
Disclaimer: In the end, it is recommended to contact the software vendor directly for the latest pricing information.
What Do Peers Say About This Software?
Art of Mentoring has 11 verified reviews on GetApp/Capterra [13][19].
Positive themes: Exceptional customer service; intuitive platform; pre-loaded resources with scheduling capabilities; effective matching algorithm [19][20].
Areas for improvement: Cannot attach videos to communications; no rollback feature; email headers show "Art of Mentoring" rather than organization branding [19].
Verified clients: AHRI, Master Builders' Australia, Toyota Financial Services, NRMA, Wesfarmers [5][9][21]. Disclaimer: Peer reviews evolve continuously. See: https://www.smartthoughts.net/post/beyond-review-sites-association-software-reviews-fail
SmartThoughts Expert Analysis and Reasoning
Strengths: The 1997 founding and AD1 Holdings acquisition demonstrate longevity and backing. The 2023 Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards Gold and 2025 LearnX Diamond validate credibility. Explicit association focus—evidenced by AHRI, Master Builders' partnerships and TSAE affiliation—indicates genuine market understanding [4][10].
Considerations: With approximately 17 employees across continents, evaluate response time expectations for North American organizations working with Australia headquarters. Limited review volume (11 verified) suggests concentrated client relationships. The per-pair pricing requires calculation against potential participant volume. Organizations seeking cutting-edge AI coaching features should compare against platforms with more aggressive AI roadmaps.
Leadership: Founded by Melissa and Alex Richardson; Alex serves as CEO [22]. Inquire about strategic direction during evaluation. Further, Bijay Alex Mathew, CRO, appears to be in the USA, Austin, Texas.
Final Conclusion:
Art of Mentoring offers purpose-built mentoring software with demonstrated association experience, evidenced by partnerships with AHRI, Master Builders' Australia, and Beaumont People. The combination of technology and consulting, coupled with per-pair pricing, particularly suits associations launching mentoring initiatives or professionalizing existing programs with measurable outcomes.
For association executives evaluating mentoring software options—or seeking to understand whether a dedicated platform is warranted alongside your existing AMS—
SmartThoughts provides independent analyst guidance all the systems in the Association Technology eCosystem. To schedule a complimentary evaluation conversation or access additional software reviews with competitive analysis, visit here.
Sources Cited:
[1] Industry definitions - Mentoring Software category
[2] Crunchbase - Art of Mentoring Company Profile
[3] LeadIQ - Art of Mentoring Overview (April 2025)
[5] LinkedIn - Art of Mentoring - Toyota testimonial
[8] Art of Mentoring Association Benefits documentation
[9] Art of Mentoring AHRI Testimonial page
[10] Art of Mentoring LinkedIn - 2025 LearnX Diamond
[12] Art of Mentoring training completion statistics
[13] GetApp - Art of Mentoring 2025 Pricing & Reviews
[16] Guider AI - Best Alternatives to Chronus/Together
[17] CB Insights - MentorcliQ competitor analysis
[18] SourceForge - MentorCity and alternatives
[19] Capterra - Art of Mentoring Reviews 2025
[20] Software Advice - Art of Mentoring Reviews
[21] CB Insights - Art of Mentoring client list
[22] ContactOut - Art of Mentoring Staff Directory
[23] Art of Mentoring - Goal Setting and Tracking Tool Product Announcement
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