Register Your Interest for TechWomen Mentoring Circles 2022 

As part of our commitment to advancing Women in Tech, we welcome you to apply for a spot in the 2022 TechWomen Mentoring Circle programme. You can register your interest in participating as either a Mentee or Mentor for Circles in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington or Auckland. We welcome both male and female mentors.

2022 Dates and Locations

Venues and circle dates are as follows, all sessions start at 5:30pm.

Background

We recognise that there are different kinds of challenges and biases that women face across the globe. With a focus on Women in Tech, we’re dedicated to providing the resources women need to successfully drive their career. Rather than a formal mentorship matching programme, which can be challenging in a population of New Zealand’s size, we’d like to create relationships that will provide women with the knowledge, experience, and perspectives that they need to grow and develop.

A Harvard study of 45 CEOs found that 84% of CEOs credited having a mentor relationship with helping them avoid costly mistakes and becoming proficient in their roles faster. Regardless of your level within the organisation, effective mentoring doesn’t just happen. It relies on you investing in yourself throughout the process.
 
We currently have 26% female representation within the tech sector in New Zealand, so we have a way to go to achieve diversity in regard to gender. We believe there needs to be an additional focus on supporting this group. This initiative links closely with the NZ TechWomen goal to help New Zealand women succeed in the tech sector by creating connections, increasing knowledge and supporting growth.

What are TechWomen Mentoring Circles?

Our mentoring circles are all about bringing people together to make new connections in their community.

We are facilitating groups of 6 mentees and 2 mentors to meet on a regular basis, in a safe and supportive environment, to discuss professional aspirations and challenges, with peers and senior mentors.
 
What it is:

• Facilitated peer group mentoring
• Group discussion of non-technical aspects of career development (e.g. how to work with other people, how to deal with management, how to ask for a promotion)
• Career path planning and development
• Networking with new people
   

What it is not:

• Formal or structured
• One-on-one coaching
• Mentoring training (e.g. tools/techniques for mentoring)
• Technical training/coaching
• Mentoring for students (see our high school programme – ShadowTech – for that)

 
Benefits of a Circle:

• Mentees benefit from multiple mentors
• Feedback from peers as well as a mentor will provide the mentee with more diverse points of view and a variety of insights
• It will create a support network with local women in technology
• The group context will create opportunities for teamwork/collaboration on issues
• A circle will create a conversational style of mentoring which is less formal than one-on-one
• A wide variety of topics will be covered

 
How to Apply

To register as a please click in the links below and complete the form before 26 April 2022;

• Mentee Registration
• Mentor Registration

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