U.S.-Based Mentorship Program
The TechWomen program will occur over five weeks from early September through October 2012. The program will commence in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and will conclude in Washington, D.C.
Professional Mentorships
TechWomen Mentees will take part in three-week project-based mentorships at leading companies in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. Each Mentee is matched with a Professional Mentor who partners with the Mentee on a technical project at the host company and provides professional guidance and support. For more information on becoming a Professional Mentor, see Become A Mentor.
Professional Enrichment
As a complement to the mentorships, TechWomen Mentees will participate in professional enrichment activities. In 2011, TechWomen participants attended leadership and entrepreneurship workshops, “Tech Talks,” and served on panels at community events. They participated in “tech meet ups,” TEDxSoMa, and other networking events. In 2012, TechWomen Mentees will attend the Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing, a conference organized by the Anita Borg Institute focused on supporting women in today’s technology fields, including computer science, information technology, research and engineering.
Cultural Enrichment
Each TechWomen Mentee has a Cultural Mentor who facilitates activities to help showcase American culture and deepen mutual understanding. In 2011, Mentees volunteered with incarcerated girls in juvenile halls and attended neighborhood festivals, book readings, art exhibits and dance performances. They also visited national landmarks in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Mentor Delegations to the Middle East and North Africa
This is optional for Mentors and takes place after the Mentees have returned to their home countries. Volunteer TechWomen Mentor delegations will travel to one or two countries in the Middle East and North Africa to reconnect with Mentees, and participate in networking events and seminars. Alongside the Mentees, the U.S. experts will take part in and lead workshops to encourage girls (ages 11–15) to consider career opportunities in technical fields. The in-country programming will focus on expanding networks of women in the technology sectors, creating and strengthening partnerships, and ensuring the sustainability of Mentor/Mentee relationships.