Mentor-Protege

Note: Applications are now open for Session 31 starting on June 11, 2013. Applications will be accepted until May 22, 2013.

Mentor-Protégé is a marquee program of WIT. Linking protégés with experienced professionals, Mentor Protégé takes participants through a structured program that helps them expand their exposure to and knowledge of what it takes to meet their goals.

Vision
The WIT Mentor-Protégé program is the 21st Century’s place for women in or support the technology industry that want dynamic personal growth and a platform for professional success. Career women aspire to be enriched through mentoring and networking in this unparalleled program in the Washington, DC area.

Mission
The WIT Mentor-Protégé Program's mission is to encourage dynamic personal and career growth for women in technology through a series of guided quality discussions in a community with other professional women.

Structure
Each Mentor-Protégé Program offers a five-part series and is conducted by a professional facilitator. Each monthly session explores issues and opportunities facing women professionals today, such as Work/Life Integration, Strategic Networking, Political Savvy and Executive Presence, and Communication. The series is designed for:

• Young professionals 5 years into career,
• Professional women in transition, and
• Women re-entering the workforce.

The program is limited to 25 women and qualified candidates are accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. Protégés are matched with 4 different mentors during each 5-month program. To ensure that protégés get the most out of the Mentoring Program, we request that protégés commit to all 5 sessions.

While most of our Mentors continue to work with us, we encourage new Mentors to apply. In this way we have a large group of talent available for Mentor-Protégé matching.

Protégés and new Mentors complete applications to participate in the program 2 to 3 months prior to the program start date. The program provides an excellent networking opportunity for career path (protégé) and senior (mentor) women.
The Program framework is "Women Mentoring Women."

Program Schedule for Current Session ending in May 2013 (2nd Tuesday of the month at Verisign, Reston, VA - 6:30-8:30 pm.

Each session includes:One-on-one mentoring, networking forum, expert speaker or presentation and a light meal

Orientation	Session 1	Session 2	Session 3	Session 4
1/8/13	2/12/13	3/12/13	4/9/13	5/14/13

The typical agenda for each session:
6:00 – 6:30 pm: Greetings/Sign in/Refreshments/Networking
6:30 – 6:45 pm: Welcome and Introduction of Host/Underwriter
6:45 – 7:30 pm: Guest Speaker
7:30 – 8:30 pm: One-on-One Mentoring

Below is the Program Schedule for Session 31, starting in June 2013. These sessions will be held at Navy Federal, Vienna, VA from 6:00-8:30 pm.

Each session includes:One-on-one mentoring, networking forum, expert speaker or presentation and a light meal

Orientation	Session 1	Session 2	Session 3	Session 4
6/11/13	7/9/13	9/10/13	10/8/13	11/12/13

Comments from WIT Protégés:

“In four short months with WIT, I gained the insights and encouragement I had hoped to find in my MBA program. The program is really a "best value" because I developed greatly both personally and professionally for a small investment. What was especially important was that we all made the most of the short time we had together. While the MBA provided an academic basis of business, WIT delivers the real life version of how to succeed in business. Thank you, WIT!” - Program Protégé

“Each mentor provided career insight whether it was sharing their strategy for career moves, highlighting another perspective, or discussing what specifically helped propel them from a mid level role to the executive role. Each mentor added value in a different way and offered ideas on areas to explore.” – Program Protégé

“I enjoyed learning something new every session. The mentors were matched very well; I learned something different from each person. I liked that I was matched with people that have different work experiences than me, they weren't all IT managers, but that we could see how many of our experiences were similar no matter what field we are in. – Program Protégé

“This program was high quality and down to earth practical.” – Program Protégé

For more information please contact:

Kim Dismuke
Vice Chair, Mentorship
kim.dismuke@ngc.com

Patricia Remacle
Vice Chair, Mentorship
paremacle@yahoo.com

Protégés
Protégé Requirements
• Must be a WIT Member
• Must already have five years experience as a professional in the workplace (not for new college graduates)
• Must complete an application and be accepted into the program as described below
• Must attend all five program sessions

Protégés - After being accepted into the program, a $250 program fee is rquired paid prior to the first session. Information about how to make the payment will be provided in your acceptance lettter. The mentoring program fee is in addition to the annual WIT membership dues.

Apply here to be a Protégé for Session 31 starting on June 11, 2013

Mentors

M - Meet new people

E - Energize yourself and other WIT members

N - Network, network, network!

T - Teach others about your career & life experiences

O - Open yourself to new perspectives; Offer new perspectives

R - Reap the benefits of other women’s experiences

Mentor Requirements
• Must be a WIT member
• Must be Director or above and have 20+ years in the workplace or significant experience owning a running a business
• Must have varied leadership experience
• Must possess the following skills: listening, advocacy, teaching, and sharing
• Must be able to expose others to opportunities and increase visibility
• Must complete an application and be accepted into the program
• New Mentors must attend orientation upon initial acceptance into the program
• Must commit to attending three sessions per year

Article on Mentor-Protégé relationship challenges.

Click Here to Apply as a Mentor

Host and Underwriters

Women in Technology (WIT), the premier organization contributing to the success of professional women in the Washington technology community, is building on the success of its hallmark program, the Mentor Protégé Program, in order to meet the demands of major corporations seeking to develop their human resources talent and encourage corporate diversity.

Each year WIT holds two Mentoring Programs: one January through May and the second June through November.

The Programs are hosted and underwritten by technology firms in the Washington Metropolitan area. It is through their support that Women in Technology (WIT) continues to offer the hallmark Mentoring Program to women in or supporting the technology industry.
Host and Underwriter Benefits and Role

For a nominal investment, the Host and Underwriter will gain access to about 80 professional women, potential employees and can provide female employees in the operations and technology community a networking and professional growth environment to develop relationships and create new opportunities. Additionally, through WIT partnerships, the company will encourage diversity and involvement both within the company and the community at large.

As the Host and Underwriter of the Mentor-Protégé Program, your company will achieve the following:

• Increase company’s profile as a technology leader
• Raise company’s profile among successful women in technology
• A venue to communicate the company’s commitment to diversity and women in leadership
• A venue to articulate company’s mission and goals to an external audience
• Visibility to potential talent
• Increase employees access to gain the knowledge available through interaction with experienced leaders in the technical community
• Opportunity to encourage employees of company to increase involvement in the community
• Provide employees a channel for professional development

>As the Host and Underwriter of the Mentor-Protégé Program, the company's role includes:
• Providing the facilities for the five sessions, include light dinner for 80 participants
• Making a contribution towards the cost of providing this Program (suggested $3,000)
• Having a representative present a brief overview of your company in each session
• Having up to three employees selected as Protégés, at no cost to the individuals (normally there is a $250 fee per participant)

WIT appreciates the support of our Session 30 host and underwriter, Verisign.

Mentor-Protege Questions? Contact
Our WIT staff can answer any questions: staff@womenintechnology.org, 703-766-1153.

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