What are the most effective ways to stay in touch with former colleagues and mentors?

I have found mentors appreciating you letting them know how you have applied their advise and being clear on what you need from them from each update. This way they know that you won't waste their time. As a mentor myself, I appreciate the same from my mentees. I also do not like to chase them, but prefer proactive--regularly scheduled check-in times also helps avoid long periods of silence in between.

I have found that keeping in touch with former colleagues and mentors can have tremendous benefits both socially and professionally. I like to forward articles they might find interesting or share an old photo from my phones memories. Be that person who people look forward to hear from. Always give more than you take!

In my experience, regularly update your profile and engage with your connections posts. LinkedIn is also great for sharing professional achievements, articles, and insights, which can be conversation-starters.

Sending a greeting card during the holiday season is a warm way to reconnect. Also, remembering birthdays, and other important days with a thoughtful message goes a long way in maintaining those valuable connections.

I suggest not overthinking stuff. What can be very helpful is providing feedback to your mentor.. A simple thank you for the help or an update on the status or outcome related to a recent recommendation. Feedback helps the mentor grow in their role too. So do take the time to provide feedback and be part of your mentor's growth in their role.

Create a personal brand helps people create interest in your image, and is a good topic to discuss with former colleagues. And also generate authority

Few years ago, after being out of touch for over 25 years, someone from our batch created a WhatsApp group. This has been our platform to connect with schoolmates. This experience has created nostalgia, reminiscing old memories but also to stay current with life's journey. Now, once in a while, we meet over zoom and share. This has created a curiosity element, waiting to see new posts etc.

I love connecting on social media - it's a passive way to stay engaged and agree that engaging with posts and sharing your own insights (and/or memories) is a fun way to stay connected. I'd caution to keep your engagement & content appropriate to the "type" of platform you're engaging on.

Pedir ayuda o consejo siempre es una buena opción, pues a todos nos gusta que nos reconozcan la experiencia en algún aspecto. No siempre tiene que ser por algo que desconozcas, puedes preguntar a colegas por su opinión para matizar o mejorar algo que estás preparando y sobre lo que eres experto. Cuando el tema a tratar no es confidencial, yo lo he hecho múltiples veces, y recibes feedback muy interesante, a la vez que fortaleces la relación con tus colegas o mentores. Como ejemplo claro, cuando he tenido que participar en conferencias o mesas redondas.

One things I've found helpful, and especially with mentors, is to set up regular time to catch up. This doesn't have to be anything more than a quarterly check-in, but it's often incredibly valuable to have a "board of directors" built with people you trust to run ideas past, work through opportunities, and soundboard your next steps. Because mentors know your journey, they may recognize blindspots or spur interesting ideas you may have missed - and it also gives you the opportunity to do the same for them.

I would add to this, check in with people around events you're planning to attend. Often we don't move too far professionally from the lanes that connected us with our contacts in the first place, so make sure you reach out in your travels to see if you'll both be attending or if you're in their home town, try to set up time to grab a coffee or dinner.

Reach out when you're doing to an interesting even, or ask them to meet up for a cup of coffee if you're attending an even at their work place.

Daily, I curate my social life using a meticulously organized Dashboard in Notion. Here, I log the names of individuals I wish to connect with or strengthen ties. I set reminders to reach out or schedule periodic meet-ups. While it may sound methodical and calculated, quite the opposite is true. It represents a genuine effort that demands commitment and time. This selective process is reserved for those individuals who truly matter, to nurture meaningful relationships and keep the bond continually flourishing.

Keeping your connections and relationships intact is far more likely if it's an authentic relationship where you simply value a relationship and want to check-in. I would think about this less thru the lens of getting something out of the conversation and just enjoy the catch-up and look for ways to give value to them and their own journey.

Most people say what’s in it for me when they’re thinking about doing something. Well I believe that something so subtle as thinking what’s in it for “them” changes the game in connections and maintaining relationships. When we begin to understand that the world does not revolve around us then we can be free to reflect and reach out to others, celebrate others and engage by encouraging others. A mentor is typically expected to be pulled into many different places by a mentee but restoring the balance by offering support, encouragement and a listening ear will change the dynamics of a mentor/mentee relationship. So I’d like to recommend reversing the focus of engagement periodically and your mentor/ mentee experience will thrive.

If you haven’t gotten their number before leaving the previous position so that you can KIT, you can consider using a common conversing platform, like MS Teams. Many organizations use MS Teams, so sometimes when you move from one place to another, if Teams is set up, it’s a great way to stay in contact with former colleagues. This has been successful for me so I wanted to share.

Concisely summarize your current work and interests in a thoughtful email or LinkedIn message to them a few times a year. Forward links to your published research, projects, or articles you think they might find valuable. Express appreciation for what you learned from them, remembering how they helped accelerate your early career development. Meet or call to catch up if attending the same conference or visiting each other's cities for other reasons. Follow their work and achievements online while limiting social media contacts to avoid overwhelming inboxes. The key is balancing meaningful outreach demonstrating how you still value their guidance with understanding busy schedules and shifting priorities.