This week, TechWomen organized Mentoring Across Borders: Empower the Next Generation of Global Women Leaders. The event was a wonderful opportunity to expose the local community to the TechWomen program and discuss the impact of mentorship and exchange on fostering a collaborative and supportive community of women in STEM around the world.
Hosted by Juniper Networks in Sunnyvale and Salesforce.com in San Francisco on May 6 and May 7, respectively, Mentoring Across Borders attracted a diverse and enthusiastic crowd of former Mentors, community supporters, and individuals curious to learn more about the TechWomen program.
Highlights of the event included remarks by Dr. Allan Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education, and Lee Satterfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, who both captivated the audience with their passionate words of support for TechWomen and its impact. Recalling the TechWomen delegation trip to Jordan in February, Satterfield revealed, “Visiting Jordan with TechWomen was one of the highlights of my life.”
Other highlights included a panel discussion led by Sheila Casey from the U.S. Department of State featuring former TechWomen Professional and Cultural Mentors and a 2012 Emerging Leader from Jordan. The panelists shared their most memorable moments about TechWomen and spoke about how the program had impacted them.
Panelist Jen Sherman said, “These amazing women blow me away every single day. TechWomen helped me develop an amazing professional network.” For her, the most fulfilling aspects of the TechWomen program were the incredible network of extraordinary women she was able to join, and the many doors the experience opened for her own professional development.
Panelist Jill Wetzler found TechWomen enriching not only professionally, but personally, as well. She explained, “I was a Professional Mentor, but there were so many rewarding moments I shared with my Emerging Leader outside of work.” Though their relationship began through collaborating on their mentorship project, Jill and her Emerging Leader developed a deeper relationship by sharing different insights about each other’s cultures.
Inspired by the Mentors’ experiences, many attendees were excited to join the vibrant, growing TechWomen community and eager to become a TechWomen Mentor. One aspiring Cultural Mentor said, “I have been looking for an opportunity to give back, and this evening has inspired me to apply. I would love to be a part of this wonderful network.”
Both evenings concluded with a networking reception, giving attendees the chance to engage with each other and speak with the panelists, former TechWomen Mentors, and TechWomen program staff to gain a better understanding about the experience of being a TechWomen Mentor.
To find out more about mentoring with TechWomen and to apply to be a Mentor, click here. The Professional Mentor application is now open and the deadline to apply is June 1, 2013. The Cultural Mentor application is open June 1 – August 1, 2013.
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