The Synergy of Education and Mentorship
The Synergy of Education and Mentorship: How The WIT Network Makes the Connection
As we near the end of our 31 Reasons to Give to The WIT Network campaign this month, we hope you’ve been inspired by the work we’re doing and the stories that have been shared. The WIT Network is passionate about empowering and creating space for women in tech to thrive. Thank you for your time and attention in learning more about our plan to accomplish this mission. Professional development and mentorship play a vital role in the growth of women in tech. Closing the gender gap requires promoting more women into leadership roles. To accomplish this goal, women need access to training and development to upskill and build confidence toward their growth. Though women are still grossly under-represented in the C-Suite, the rise to 29% market share in this segment is partially attributed Mentorship, in conjunction with professional development, is a notable contributor to the career growth of women in tech. A recent study by Cigna indicated that 70% of women credit mentorship with their career success. Another 57% agreed that mentorship, coupled with other professional development opportunities, helped advance their careers. To top it off, women with mentors have reported earnings of 20% more than their counterparts without mentorship. There are many layers of professional development, and The WIT Network seeks to touch each of these layers through our program offerings. Our tech track training provides women opportunities to build specific tech skills to level up in their profession. In that same vein, our partnership with Red Hat to offer our WIT WISE (Women in Software Engineering) program provides a community for women interested in software engineering to network, benchmark, learning from each other through webinars and workshops, coaching, and various resources. Integral to career growth and developing relationships, soft skills increase a woman’s value to the organization she serves. The WIT Network team understands the importance of these skills, which is why we offer various programming to help women in tech develop soft skills, from communication skills to problem-solving. Our WIT Accelerates programming includes soft skills training plus leadership and sales development. |
to the availability of professional development opportunities.The impact of these development programs is reinforced when women choose to take advantage of mentorship opportunities. Engaging in mentorship provides women an opportunity to receive direct guidance in areas in which they need improvement, while also enhancing their strongest traits. The WIT Network offers mentorship through several avenues.
Our WIT Connects program, powered by Kalido, utilizes AI technology to connect women to mentors and like-minded professionals in seconds. The custom platform allows you to tailor your search based on interests and commonalities to connect to members within the network.
Through our WIT Connects program, mentorship is available through the click of a mouse. In addition to WIT Connects, our local communities provide space for women to seek mentors, as well as professional development programming.
We are proud of the network we have built and the available resources to our members. We are turning the tide for women in tech through the professional development and mentoring opportunities offered. But to continue the work we’re doing, we need your support.
"Members are looking to network with like-minded people for business and personal connections. It’s a time when support groups are needed more than ever before. We are delighted to offer these connection points for members of The WIT Network. It’s part of the reason we intentionally selected our name. Finally, we matched with an incredible AI platform to bring our network to life. Happy Connecting!"
Christine Bongard, Co-Founder & CEO, The WIT Network.
The WIT Network is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, so the growth and sustenance of our programs depend on your donations. As you wrap up your shopping for the holiday season, please consider donating to The WIT Network to support our education and programs for women in tech. A donation of $75 will support our WIT Connects program, creating more mentorship matches for women in tech. Choose to make a difference today.
