Democratizing Black-to-Black Personal and Professional Mentorship Platform to empower the next generation
Mentor Me Black was born from a simple truth: Black mentors change lives.
Our three founders—Gedeon Baende, Mark Jones, and Dr. Troy Williams—are all graduates of the University of San Diego (USD). Each of them had Black mentors who shaped their paths and helped them navigate challenges that only someone who had walked the same road could truly understand.
After graduation, our founders kept asking themselves: What if we could scale that experience? What if every Black student or professional could access the kind of mentorship we received?
That question became Mentor Me Black—the first technology platform purpose-built for Black-to-Black Personal and Professional Mentorship Platform at scale.
We're not just another professional networking site. We're building something deeper: a movement to ensure that every Black person seeking guidance can find a mentor who understands their journey, shares their experiences, and believes in their potential.
To democratize access to Black mentorship by connecting students and professionals with experienced mentors who understand their unique journeys, challenges, and aspirations.
A world where every Black person has access to mentorship that empowers them to thrive in their careers, navigate systems with confidence, and build the future they deserve.
Mentorship is a two-way street. We believe in mutual growth, where mentors learn as much as mentees through shared experiences.
We prioritize collective advancement over individual gain. When one of us wins, we all win.
We don't just give advice—we equip people with tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate their own paths.
Mentorship should never be a privilege. Our platform is 100% free, open to all, and designed to remove barriers.
We create environments where Black people can be authentic, vulnerable, and heard without fear of judgment.
We hold ourselves and our community to the highest standards because our people deserve nothing less.
Three USD graduates united by a shared mission: to scale the mentorship that changed their lives
Co-Founder & CTO
Tech specialist and USD graduate. Gedeon builds the infrastructure that makes Black-to-Black Personal and Professional Mentorship Platform accessible at scale—turning vision into reality.
Co-Founder & CEO
Entrepreneur, advocate, and USD graduate. Mark leads execution and strategy, driven by the belief that representation and mentorship are the keys to lasting change.
Co-Founder
Mental health professional and USD graduate. Troy believes healing and growth happen through connection—mentorship that addresses not just careers, but the whole person.
There are plenty of mentorship platforms out there. So why build one specifically for Black mentorship?
Because context matters. A Black mentor doesn't just give career advice—they understand navigating predominantly white spaces, code-switching, imposter syndrome, microaggressions, and the unique pressures of being "the only one in the room."
Black-to-Black Personal and Professional Mentorship Platform provides:
We're not saying other mentorship doesn't have value—it does. But there's something uniquely powerful about being mentored by someone who has walked your path, faced your struggles, and still made it through.
That's what Mentor Me Black is here to provide.
Whether you're seeking guidance or ready to give back, there's a place for you here