Rekindle’s Employer Reimbursement Guide

Hi there!

We love that you’re making the effort to have this reimbursed by your employer. It’s fairly standard practice for companies to cover employee training, so here’s what we have for you to make it happen:

Effective strategies for approaching the conversation with your manager

A sample email to send your manager

A bonus tip!

Approaching the conversation with your manager

1. Prepare your talking points before the meeting (covered below).

2. Keep it short and direct.

3. Don’t ask in a way where it seems like you’re apologetic for asking them to invest in you, or like you’re seeking validation that you deserve it. Use warm but powerful body language and ask like you know your worth.

4. If they take a few seconds to think, let the silence linger. Don’t jump in and offer a compromise just because you feel uncomfortable.

5. Don’t focus on how this will help you achieve your goals. Instead, highlight what the company will gain by investing in this program for you—this is key.

Talking points to cover

1. Talk about how mentorship helps employees perform at their best, and how women often miss out on this crucial element. If your manager is driven by numbers, share this stat for context:

  • 76% of working professionals credit their success to mentors, yet
  • 63% of women report never having had a formal mentor at the workplace.

2. Tell them that you’re excited about a mentorship program that can help you—and by extension, the team—perform more effectively. It’s available at USD 2,988 for a full year of in-depth mentorship (early bird offer).

3. Share that it covers things like building alliances, taking charge, and influencing stakeholders to get better outcomes for the company. Let them know that the objective is for you to become a better manager, a better employee, and a better team member.

4. Confirm that the program is 100% online, so there are no associated travel costs. Also share that you will complete the program on the job—that unlike attending a two-day conference, you will not need to take time away from work to participate.

5. Assure them that you’ll engage with the program consistently and keep them updated on your progress. You’ll have your own dashboard, which you can share with them periodically.

Sample email to send your manager

Hi {Approver’s name},

I’m writing to request that you sponsor me for a mentorship program called Rekindle. This is the website.

The program is designed to help me—and by extension, our team—perform more effectively. It covers skills like building alliances, taking charge, and influencing stakeholders to drive better outcomes for the company.

The objective of this mentorship is to help me become a better manager, a better employee, and a better team member.

The program is offered at USD 2,988 for one full year of mentorship (early bird offer). As it’s 100% online, there are no additional travel costs. Also, unlike attending a two-day conference, I will complete this program on the job and will not need to take time away from work.

I assure you that I will engage with the program consistently and hope you’ll give me the opportunity to take my performance to the next level!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
{Your name}

Bonus tip

You took the courage to ask them for this investment—we’re so proud of you! Now, what if they say no?

Persist in your ask. Don’t leave the meeting right away assuming they don’t value you or that you don’t deserve it. Show them you’re serious about this, and persuade them some more.

Tell them that it’s hard for women to find mentors, and that this kind of support can help you have more impact in your role.

If your performance appraisal included feedback on areas for improvement, consider how this program could help—and mention that to your manager. For example: “You said that I need to take more ownership and also build stronger team relationships. This program will help me with both.”

Finally, depending on your relationship with your boss, you could add a bit of humor by suggesting that the money you’re saving them at happy hour or on golf could be redirected here instead!

What if they still say no?

Ask them what you need to do to become eligible for this investment. Encourage them to define clear timelines or performance goals that could make this possible—for example, “I’ll approve it next quarter,” or “Once you deliver on this project successfully.”

What if you get the vibe that they’ll never approve it? Well, it might mean you’re working at a company where you NEED this mentorship more than anyone else!

So, you can either wait for them to change their commitment (which could take a long time). Or you can pay for this yourself and get the mentorship you need to succeed in a company like yours!

It’s your choice. Just know that we’d love to have you join us, and will be rooting for you no matter what you choose.

And here’s the best part—even if they say no, you’ll still have gained one important thing:

Just by asking, you would’ve shown them that you’re ambitious and serious about your career. That alone can go a long way.

Good luck!

Best wishes,
The Rekindle Team