Providing 360 support for
students, schools, and companies
to help young professionals
prepare for success on the job
Meet Your Mentor
Kate is a seasoned fashion industry professional with 15 years of experience designing for global brands. She has led diverse teams in refining creative processes and inspiring better ways to achieve creative excellence. As the creator and director of a leading industry intern program for over four years, Kate’s passion for mentoring interns culminated in her first book and the founding of The Intern Mentor.
Get Your Copy Today! ~
Get Your Copy Today! ~
The Design Internship Handbook is the tool we all wish we had when starting our careers as creatives.
Drawing from real-world experiences and examples from the Intern Mentor’s own time hiring and managing young designers, this guide offers clear, easy-to-follow steps to help you prepare for applying to jobs, onboard, and professional growth; all resulting in successfully transitioning into your next role—whether it’s your first or your fifth.
Work With Me
Whether you're preparing for life after graduation, in the thick of a job search, or about to start a new role, the challenge is the same: you know what you want, but not how to get there. Personalized coaching closes that gap with clear strategies, honest feedback, and practical next steps, to go from ‘𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’ to ‘𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.’
Enhance your school’s training and support programs with expert course development, workshops, guest speaking, and fashion industry consulting. Our offerings are designed to build key career readiness competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), helping students gain the skills employers demand for success.
Design process consulting that helps you build an industry-leading intern program, streamline onboarding for faster productivity, and optimize team workflows. Our solutions set individuals and teams up for long-term success by reducing ramp-up time, increasing retention, and driving measurable performance improvements.
Get Your Free
Onboarding Checklist!
Hit the ground running with our free onboarding checklist.
✓ Set a good impression from day 1
✓ Shorten your onboarding time
✓ Set yourself up for long-term success
Exciting new things coming
Welcome to the future of mentorship
If you are interested in participating in the our new mentorship program,
we’d love to hear from you!
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 16
Venue
Virtual - Zoom
Time
4 pm PT / 7 PM ET
What does it mean to be employable?
AMA with Kate BonDurant
If you’ve ever wondered…
Why am I not getting interviews or offers?
Has my education really prepared me for the job market?
What should I focus on in my last year to be ready for work?
You’re not alone — and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
In this live AMA (Ask Me Anything), Kate BonDurant — founder of The Intern Mentor and author of The Design Internship Handbook — will answer your questions about:
What hiring managers actually look for (beyond a diploma)
The skills that matter most in the workplace
How to use your time in college to build employability
And anything else you want to know about launching your career
🎥 Bring your questions. Show up curious. Leave with clarity on what really matters when it comes to being employable.
Own Your Onboarding: How to Lead Your First 90 Days Like a Project Manager
Most onboarding programs are treated like passive experiences — a calendar of meetings, a welcome packet, and a hope that everything will fall into place. But for project managers, the first 90 days aren’t just a ramp-up period — they’re your first high-stakes project.
In this talk, we’ll explore how to apply the principles of project ownership to your own onboarding. You’ll learn why orientation and onboarding are not the same thing, how to avoid the New Hire Trust Trap, and how to reframe your goals to build trust, credibility, and traction from day one.
We’ll cover how to align expectations with stakeholders (your manager and team), manage ambiguity, and self-scope your work before you're officially handed the reins. Whether you’re stepping into your first PM role or transitioning into a new organization, this session will show you how to approach your first 30/60/90 days with the same strategic thinking you bring to every project.
October 15
Venue
Virtual - Zoom
Time
11 am PT / 2 pm ET
Acing the Transition from School to Work: and Setting Yourself Up for Long-Term Success
Sac State Executive Speaker Series:
Life after school isn’t just exciting—it’s overwhelming. You're expected to adjust quickly, contribute meaningfully, and prove yourself in a world that rarely explains the rules.
In this session, Kate BonDurant—Founder of The Intern Mentor and author of The Design Internship Handbook—shares her professional journey and breaks down what most people wish they'd known before starting their first job. Drawing from years of experience mentoring interns and developing onboarding programs, Kate will share how to navigate your early career with more clarity, confidence, and intention.
Whether you're preparing for an internship, a full-time role, or still figuring out what's next, you'll walk away with practical insights to help you show up strong—and build momentum from day one.
You’ll Learn:
How to approach your job hunt and onboarding differently
The top myths that derail new hires and how to avoid them
Build credibility with your manager and teammates from day one
I collaborate with schools, organizations, and professional groups to help bridge the gap between education and employment. Speaking engagements are customized to your audience and scope, and I reserve select spots each semester for educational institutions.
October 7
Venue
Virtual - Zoom
Time
7:15 am PT / 10:15 pm ET
November 13
Venue
Virtual - Zoom
Time
4 pm PT / 7 PM ET
What Hiring Managers Really Look For In Resumes + Portfolios
AMA with Kate BonDurant
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼?
We'll discuss common advice you've heard and what really influences hiring decisions.
Bring your questions about:
✅ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
✅ 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁)
✅ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆
🎥 Bring your questions. Show up curious. Leave with clarity on what really matters when it comes to resumes and portfolios.