Mentorship

How the Mentorship Program Works

The Mentorship Program begins with sharing successful events and activity ideas with IEEE Region 8 WIE. Please email [email protected] or contact us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Through this program, you can:

• Participate as a mentor: Suggest a successful event organized in your Section that you would like to help replicate in another Section.
• Participate as a mentee: Suggest an event you would like to organize in your Section, and we will help connect you with a mentor who has previously organized a similar activity.

Suggested Events and Activities

The following list provides examples of activities that may be shared through the Mentorship Program. Affinity Groups are also encouraged to develop new ideas that respond to the needs of their members and communities.

Participation in Section and Student Branch Activities

Section and Student Branch Affinity Groups can participate in activities organized within their respective Sections and Student Branches. Examples include:

• Represent IEEE WIE at Section events whenever possible.
• Volunteer to support Section activities such as conferences, workshops, and meetings.
• Organize a short plenary or information session during IEEE Day and other events to introduce IEEE WIE.
• Engage with your Section when planning your own events, as the Section may be able to provide support and resources.

Networking Activities

• Organize or participate in WIE Leadership Summits.
• Organize a panel featuring two to five successful women in STEM who can present short talks and interact with attendees during a question-and-answer session.
• Organize WIE Coffee Talks.
• Host seminars about women in STEM, including their achievements, current status, and the challenges they face.
• Organize or participate in activities celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8.
• Contact companies in different technology sectors and offer to introduce IEEE and IEEE WIE to their employees through a short information session.

Professional Development Events

• Leadership workshops
• Body language workshops
• Interview training sessions
• Engineering ethics discussions

Social Responsibility Activities

• Provide introductory computer or internet training in remote or underserved communities.
• Organize or participate in a breast cancer awareness campaign during October.
• Visit orphanages, hospitals, or refugee camps and spend time supporting members of the community.
• Collaborate with a charity or nongovernmental organization and offer technical expertise or volunteer assistance.
• Collaborate with organizations supporting women and participate in their activities whenever possible.
• Develop an engineering solution to a community challenge or participate in EPICS in IEEE.

Technical Events

Although IEEE WIE, like other IEEE Affinity Groups, has a nontechnical focus, Section and Student Branch Affinity Groups are encouraged to participate in technical conferences and workshops organized within their Sections.

• Volunteer with the organizing team.
• Support event promotion and help share announcements.
• Distribute informational materials introducing IEEE WIE.
• Present small appreciation gifts to women researchers, paper presenters, or speakers.
• Host an IEEE WIE booth and distribute informational and promotional materials to participants.
• Organize technical or nontechnical competitions and develop creative ways to engage attendees.

Collaboration Among Affinity Groups

• Section Affinity Groups are encouraged to maintain regular communication with Student Branch Affinity Groups within their Sections.
• Section Affinity Groups are encouraged to identify Student Branches where new WIE Student Branch Affinity Groups could be established and support them during the formation process.
• Section Affinity Groups are encouraged to supervise and mentor newly established Student Branch Affinity Groups.
• Student Branch Affinity Groups are encouraged to maintain regular communication with their Section Affinity Group.
• Student Branch Affinity Groups should collaborate closely with their Student Branches and support one another’s activities.
• Remember that collaboration is key to success.

Social Activities for Members

Do not forget to have fun. Consider organizing social activities for your Affinity Group members and, where possible, for members of other Section and Student Branch Affinity Groups.

• Casual outings
• Movie screenings or cinema visits
• Pizza nights
• Camping or ski trips
• Group games, such as escape-room activities
• Sports tournaments
• Paper rallies or similar team activities