Podcast Summary

Podcast: BNI & The Power of One
Host: Tim Roberts
Episode: 861 – BNI Mentor Program
Date: October 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Tim Roberts addresses a listener question regarding the status and structure of the BNI Mentor Program. The conversation centers on how mentoring supports new member integration, resources available for chapters, the importance of the "Passport to Success," and actionable steps for improving member retention through structured mentorship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mentoring in BNI: Is It Still a Thing?

• The episode opens with a listener question from David about whether BNI still has an official mentorship program.
• Tim confirms that not only does the program still exist, but it remains essential for chapter and member success.

  “Yeah, so the mentoring program is still very much a thing and the passport to success still very much a thing.” (01:00)

2. Navigating BNI’s Current Online Resources

• Tim introduces the new single sign-in portal: mybni.com — simplifying access for members to BNI Connect, Business Builder, and other tools.
• Search "mentor" in BNI Business Builder for new member mentoring resources; these are primarily online trainings designed to guide new members through BNI fundamentals.

  “You go to mybni.com, sign in, and you are logged in and have access to any of the BNI things you would have access to… So very, very cool. Check it out, use it, save it.” (02:20)

• Leadership-level trainings—including Mentor Coordinator Training—require role assignment and can be requested through chapter leadership.

3. The Passport to Success Program

• The “Passport to Success” is a tangible tool included in new member kits (US-specific, but may be ordered separately).
• It encourages new members (or even entire chapters) to proactively schedule intentional one-to-ones with different members, especially leadership, fostering relationships and engagement.

  “It’s a small little passport, size of a regular passport… It gets you moving throughout the chapter, gets you meeting with the leaders. It starts that relationship building process…” (04:15)

• The passport tracks who members meet with, which topics are covered, and helps them build habits valuable for chapter success.

4. Why Mentoring (and Member Success Training) Matter

• Mentoring programs address a key weak spot for most chapters: first-year member retention.
• Without an onboarding structure, new members often become disengaged, frustrated, or ineffective.
• Tim makes an analogy to highway merging:

  “Just like on a highway, there’s usually a long on ramp for you to get up to speed with the other cars so you can merge into traffic safely. If we just bring in a new member… and then we just kind of leave them to figure it out, it’s dangerous for everybody.” (06:10)

• Effective mentoring—driven by a dedicated Mentor Coordinator—ensures new members are incorporated, get results, and contribute value to the chapter from day one.

5. The Mentor Coordinator’s Role and Impact

• Many chapters mistake “someone will handle it” for a system—Tim stresses the Mentor Coordinator’s importance in tracking and ensuring mentoring gets done.
• The effort to support new members repays itself in retention, productivity, and chapter growth.

  “It’s not a hard role, it’s not a huge time consuming role, but it can be a very important role for your chapter.” (11:05)

6. Action Steps and Advice for Chapters

• Check with your chapter leaders, Directors, or Success Coaches to get mentoring materials (like the Passport to Success) and training.
• If the mentoring process seems inactive, step up to become Mentor Coordinator—it’s impactful and accessible to anyone willing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the ongoing need for mentorship:

  “Mentoring program, pretty critical to do it well to the long-term success of the group and those new members.” (10:08)

• On why new member onboarding often fails:

  “You spent all this time trying to find them and getting them there to visit and they join and then you just like kind of leave them to it. When you think about it logically, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.” (08:50)

• Encouragement to take initiative:

  “Step up, volunteer, become the Mentor Coordinator. Remember you guys, when you make this investment in a new member… you want it to pay off, you want to return on that investment. This is what’s going to help you get that.” (11:20)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – 02:00 | Listener question and overview of mentoring in BNI
• 02:00 – 03:20 | Introduction to mybni.com and online resources
• 03:20 – 05:00 | Passport to Success and how it operates within chapters
• 05:00 – 08:00 | The importance of intention and habit-building for new members
• 08:00 – 10:30 | The dangers of “sink or swim” onboarding and the importance of a Mentor Coordinator
• 10:30 – End | Encouragement to lead, summary of the Mentor Coordinator role’s impact, final thoughts

Tone & Takeaways

Tim Roberts approaches the topic with practical urgency and an encouraging tone. He’s direct about common pitfalls while empowering every BNI member—especially those willing to step up—to take charge of mentorship for maximum chapter and member success. The message resonates whether you’re a new member, an experienced networker, or a BNI leader: investing in mentorship is investing in everyone’s results.