Top 3 mentorship platforms that help with career development for women

Let’s talk about mentorship!

Truth is, it takes a positive person to surrender his or herself to needing the help and experiences of others to grow and succeed in their career.

The guidance of a more experienced person can help you quickly move up the career ladder and avoid common career mistakes. If you’ve been thinking about getting a mentor, take this as your sign to go for it!

Before we dive into the top 3 mentorship platforms we've strategically picked for you, let’s first define what mentorship is and the benefits you can gain from having a mentor.

What is mentorship?

Mentorship is the relationship between two people, where an individual (the mentor) with more knowledge and experience guides an individual with less experience (the mentee).

Mentorship can help you overcome challenges in your profession and prepare you for career growth.

Maybe you are not convinced yet and you want to ask…

Why do I need a mentor? 🤔

Picture this… fresh out of university, you are one of the few selected candidates in the biannual recruitment of a multinational company. Three months into your employment, you receive a slightly better offer from a new startup in your industry; you are at a crossroads.

Worried over your next career move?

You become overwhelmed and unsettled, which could lead you to make decisions that can negatively affect your professional career 😟

In situations like these, a mentor will guide you to make decisions that align with your career objectives.

Benefits of Career Mentorship for Women

💡 You get to learn from other people’s experiences

Do you agree that experience is the best teacher?

With a mentor, you don't have to experience some situations yourself. Your mentor will share their career experiences with you and advise you on how to prevent similar mistakes.

This knowledge will prepare you for future challenges. Your mentor will also be available to guide you in making big career decisions and support you when things turn out unexpectedly.

🤗 You get to develop your interpersonal skills

As you interact with someone of higher status, you will develop more self-awareness. You will also develop other skills like empathy and effective collaboration.

🗣 It helps to improve your communication skills

You are in constant communication with your mentor, therefore, it helps you develop listening skills and how to ask effective questions. It also improves your emotional intelligence.

📈 It helps you to advance fast in your career

Your career mentor's main aim is to guide you toward career growth. They achieve this by building your self-confidence, teaching you how to stay focused on your career, and assessing your performance.

👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏻 It expands your network

Remember, your network is your net worth!

Your mentor provides you with their experience and you can also enjoy their network of connections. They can recommend you for exciting opportunities that will speed up your career advancement.

And finally,

The top 3 female mentorship programs for you

1. Women in Management, Business and Public Service (Wimbiz)

Wimbiz is a non-profit organization that inspires and advocates for more representation of women in leadership positions both in the public and private sector.

Wimbiz was founded in 2001 and provides mentorship programs for young female professionals looking to advance in their careers.

What you’ll love

• They are the first women mentorship platform in Nigeria so they have a large pool of mentors

• Their mentorship program also covers secondary school students

2. Women in Successful Careers (Wiscar)

Wiscar is a non-profit organization that empowers professional women for self-development and career growth both in Nigeria and beyond. It was founded in 2008 by Mrs. Amina Oyagbola.

Wiscar has a network of women who are leaders in their respective fields and ready to groom younger women for a successful career.

What you’ll love

• They have programs for junior professionals (1 - 3 years of work experience) and senior professionals (4 - 10 years experience)

• They have other programs such as Grow and Learn Initiative targeted at young girls aged 13 - 21

3. Mentoring her

Mentoring Her was founded by US-based Nigerian, Dr. Lolade Adeyemi. The virtual mentorship platform launched in Nigeria in 2020.

They connect female professionals with mentors from different parts of the world to share experiences and skills to help the mentees achieve personal and career development.

What you’ll love

• Their mentorship program is done remotely so you can have 24/7 access to your mentor

• They also cater to young girls aged 13 and above

Conclusion

Having a mentor will make you highly valuable both in your personal life and professional career. So, visit the websites of the platforms listed above and join the one that aligns with your goals.

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