Collaborating with Experts and Advisors

Last updated: March 27th, 2025

Barkera’s Company Guidelines and Policies for Collaborating with Expert Advisors

Purpose:

These guidelines are established to foster a respectful, professional, and productive environment within Barkera’s collaborative programs that involve team members working alongside expert advisors, mentors, and industry professionals.

They are designed to protect the time, interests, and well-being of all participants. By adhering to these policies, we ensure a mutually beneficial and respectful experience for everyone involved.

Respect and Professionalism

All participants are expected to treat one another with respect, professionalism, and courtesy.

Communication should be clear, constructive, and professional at all times.

Discriminatory, harassing, or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Time Management and Commitment

All team members must respect the time of advisors and collaborators by being punctual, prepared, and engaged during scheduled meetings.

Advisors will honor agreed-upon time commitments and notify participants in advance if conflicts arise.

Participants should establish clear expectations regarding availability, preferred communication methods, and response times.

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

All discussions, materials, and insights shared through Barkera’s programs are to be treated as confidential unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Participants must respect all intellectual property and proprietary information shared by advisors or the company.

Breaches of confidentiality or misuse of information may result in immediate removal from the program or additional disciplinary action.

Constructive Feedback and Professional Growth

Feedback should be delivered and received in a constructive, respectful manner.

Advisors are encouraged to share actionable insights, while team members should remain open and receptive to learning and development.

Boundaries and Appropriate Conduct

Professional boundaries must be maintained at all times. Personal matters should only be discussed when appropriate and relevant.

No participant shall misuse any advisory relationship for personal gain, financial solicitations, or unethical purposes.

Reporting and Conflict Resolution

Any concerns, issues, or conflicts must be reported to the designated program administrator or HR representative promptly.

Barkera’s HR team will address reports fairly and take appropriate steps to resolve them.

Retaliation against anyone who raises concerns in good faith is strictly prohibited.

Professional Boundaries in Communication with Advisors

Team Member Participants are expected to maintain professional boundaries when interacting with mentors, expert advisors, and industry professionals both during and outside of program events.

Direct communication between Team Members, experts, and advisors should remain within the context of the program assigned. If a team member wishes to engage further with an expert or advisor, they must seek prior approval from the program administrator to ensure the interaction remains appropriate and professional.

Contacting advisors through personal channels such as social media, unless explicitly invited to do so, is strongly discouraged. Barkera’s Professional communication platforms like email or company-approved channels should be used for ALL correspondence.

Team Members should be mindful of experts’ and advisors’ time, avoiding excessive messages, unsolicited requests, or inquiries beyond the scope of the mentorship program (during, before, and after participating). Overstepping boundaries can create discomfort for the advisor and negatively impact their experience with the program and Barkera.

Barkera’s Experts and Advisors have the right to set their own boundaries regarding communication and may report concerns about inappropriate or excessive contact. Any reports of boundary violations will be reviewed by the program administrator and may result in disciplinary action, including removal from the program.