Mentoring for Women Business Owners

Now Enrolling for 2008-2009 program.

Register by October 21st, 2008.

How it works:
The Mentoring for Women Business Owners program is a twelve month program where women business owners are matched with seasoned, successful entrepreneur mentors in the region. Funded by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, admission is by online application and interview process in the fall of each year. Each mentee is matched with a mentor through a process that ensures good "chemistry" to foster a learning environment.

A matching evening is held where mentees have a formal meeting with the mentors they have short-listed. After this session, matches are established and the formal mentoring relationship becomes self-paced. Each partnership is required to meet once per month for a twelve-month period. The primary benefit of the mentoring program is the experience mentees will receive in a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Mentors provide insight, knowledge, coaching, make connections to other resources, and motivate by example. Formal mentoring opens the doors to women who may not normally be mentored through informal channels.

Cost for Mentee participation:
  • $695 per 12 month program

Program Qualifications

Mentees

• Your business must be at least 51% owned and managed by a woman entrepreneur
• You have a minimum of 1 year in business
• You exhibit a desire to grow the business and have explicit reasons for joining the mentoring program
• You are highly motivated and willing to invest the time and energy in the relationship
• You display internal and external integrity
• You are willing to commit to monthly meetings with your mentor for a twelve month period, as well as two program events yearly

Do you want to participate? Click here for the Mentee Application.

Click Here - A limited number of partial scholarships are available.

Mentors

• You are a veteran business owner or a top executive level manager
• You have a willingness to openly share your business knowledge - both successes and failures
• You display internal and external integrity
• You are willing to commit to monthly meetings with your mentee for a twelve month period, as well as two program events yearly.

Cost for Mentor and counselor participation:
  • Your very valuable time

Male and female mentors are “hand-selected” from the local business community and consist of seasoned business owners or senior executives who have the desire, ability and time to serve as mentors. Mentors share their business knowledge openly and are committed to a monthly meeting with mentees. Do you want to participate? Click here for the Mentor Application

Kickoff Event
The Kickoff Event is scheduled for October 28th, 2008 at Chatham University. The purpose of this event is the following:

• Mentees have an opportunity to mingle with all registered mentors
• Orientation sessions are scheduled for both the mentors and mentees to clarify roles and expectations and give both a roadmap for success
• After this event, matches will be established and the formal mentoring relationship becomes self-paced

For more information, please contact 412-365-1253 or womens-mentoring@chatham.edu