Women in Technology Mentoring Program Angela Spyropoulos Women in Technology Mentoring Program Director Moraine Valley Community College

Why do we need Mentoring Programs? Young girls need female role models Research suggests that roles models, mentoring and related support systems hold the key to successful participation of women in technologies. Confidence is the key to success for women in any field. Research suggests it’s more significant when it comes to women’s pursuit of non traditional careers.

Mentoring provides: Role models Support system Positive, fun experiences in STEM Information on career paths Encouragement Builds Confidence Network with industry professionals Information on courses needed & educational plans

A Mentor provides: Real life experiences Career Guidance, Opportunities that await them Personal information about a career This is important for young people making career decisions First hand interactive relationship Information and facts that dispel stereotypes and negative impressions A Mentor is an excellent person to answer specific questions about their field

Mentoring A developmental, caring, sharing, and helping relationship where one person invests time, know-how, and effort in enhancing another person’s growth, knowledge, and skills, and responds to critical needs in the life of that person in ways that prepare the individual for greater productivity or achievement in the future. Definition

Mentor A person looked upon for wise advice and guidance. Mentee A person guided and helped especially in the furtherance of his or her career by another, more influential person. Definitions

Designing your Mentoring Program

Types of Mentoring

Traditional One-on-One Mentoring Places one mentor in a relationship with one student Mentor and student should meet regularly Assign mentors to students with similar career goals or related field of interest

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring (Big Sister/Little Sister) Older, more experienced student (Big Sister) develops a guiding, teaching relationship with a younger, less experienced student (Little Sister) Big Sister shows the ropes Big Sister gives advice on what courses to take in the program Assign students with similar career goals or related field of interest

Recruiting and Screening Mentors

Recruiting Mentors Recruitment is focused on particular attributes Characteristics, personality, temperament Utilize resources such as instructors Mentors get involved for a variety of reasons Identify their motivations Speak to them directly during recruitment messages

Word of mouth is a key strategy Mentors respond best to a direct appeal Mentors have gotten involved because they were asked directly Present mentoring as something fun, simple, and relatively easy Recruiting Mentors

Matching Mentors with Participating Students

Process of matching mentors with participating students One-on-one mentoring, you will be matching one mentor to one student Mentor assignments vary for a students’ individual needs.

Characteristics to consider in matching mentors to students Gender Culture Shared background Same career path Related field of study or interest Personality/ temperament Approval of student’s parents Availability for scheduling

Written Application for Students Students need to provide information on the program application in order to place them successfully with an appropriate mentor Field of Study Degree Sought Graduation Date What program is the student currently in? Does the student want to be a Big Sister or Little Sister? Personal information such as: MarriedChildrenReturning Student Work full/part time

Mentor’s Roles and Responsibilities Provide opportunities for your mentee Provide and promote support networks Assist your mentee in cultivating skills Promote self-esteem and confidence Empower your mentee as a leader Maintain focus on skill development Be available to your mentee

Mentor’s Roles and Responsibilities Initiate contact with your mentee Introduce yourselves to your student. Little sisters will be nervous. Big Sisters and Mentors should approach them. Listen with an open mind Encourage Provide emotional support continued

Mentor’s Roles and Responsibilities Communicate regularly Share information on your own success Give and receive feedback Trust and Respect Lead by example Foster an understanding of women’s and/or minorities diverse roles to society Foster strategies to address obstacles women face continued

Dos and Don’ts of Mentoring Have an open mind; don’t discount, dismiss or minimize Provide constructive criticism; don’t patronize or make light of a perceived obstacle or place undue guilt on the mentee Provide support, but don’t become a crutch for the mentee Maintain personal and professional boundaries, but don’t be distant or unapproachable

Kick-Off Event

Kick-off Event Many mentoring programs begin by hosting a kick-off event such as a dinner or a pizza party Here students and mentors are introduced to each other Include the parents in the “meet-the-mentor” event

Ideas for your mentoring program’s introductory session? At this initial “meet-the-mentor” dinner, hand-out the Student/Mentor and Big Sister/Little Sister designations sheets Go around the room for introductions Have the girls give real life experiences i.e. “What is it like being a woman in today’s technology world?”

Planning for the Meeting Checklist Decide on the date for the meeting Choose a time Reserve a room Create an agenda Send invitations to all interested parties, students and mentors. Attach the agenda advising the location, date, time, etc. Decide on food/catering Gather any “Women in Technology” speakers Create designation sheets to hand-out at the meeting

Where will the sessions be held? How often? At the school – Once a month i.e. School Theater Dinner Social – Once a semester Helps break the ice

At the Meeting Follow agenda of meeting Dinner Introduce the program Have speakers Hand-out designation sheets assigning Mentors to Students and Big Sisters to Little Sisters Describe/Preview the website Have students and mentors introduce themselves Assign a person to takes notes for bios and photographs At the end of the meeting, allow mentors and students to interact with one another (networking) Mentors and students may exchange phone numbers. I only place addresses on website.

After the Meeting Assign someone to create a school website or enlist a webmaster for assistance A Student-Mentor school website is created which includes group pictures taken at the meeting The website is a way for the students to contact the corporate mentors they met at the meeting as well as their peers (Big and Little Sisters) The website includes a picture of all attendees, a brief description of the member and a contact address The website will help the members communicate and interact with one another