by Silvia Siliprandi and Valerie Ryder

Workshop “How to find your own Mentor”

PWA realizes that there is a significant gap between supply and demand of Mentoring programs in Italy, which is why the PWA Mentoring program was first conceived and is now continuing with its second edition. PWA is also aware that it will likely be difficult to fulfill all requests to take part in the 2011 program.

This is why Valerie Ryder, program leader, facilitated a Workshop on finding your own Mentor. In her presentation Valerie clarified that anybody can find a Mentor. No one’s professional and/or life situation is too “unusual” to start looking for one (or even several!). But where to look? It’s better to avoid close friends, family and significant others, who may not have the right experience and be too emotionally involved to be objective. Also avoid your direct boss and colleagues, as this could be tricky, possibly overexposing you, your uncertainties and your future intentions. Do not approach acquaintances with no significant ties with you and people with good intentions…but no time!

Do however consider approaching an industry leader of the sector you are interested in, a higher-up in the organization you work for, a mutual connection who has taken an interest in you, a peer at a professional association, or a community leader. Identify at least three potential Mentors and approach them by telling them why you would like to have them as your Mentors, being honest, informal and specific about your needs. Be flexible about time availability and basic logistics, but do set an appointment to get the relationship going once you are accepted as a Mentee.

Persevere if you can’t find one immediately. If you are unsure about a potential Mentor, ask a question and check if you’re satisfied with the answer. Look for a Mentor with the right experience and who is a role model for you, and also who has the right chemistry that can allow you to cultivate a strong and long-lasting professional connection or even a friendship. Do not postpone your search. If you think you need a Mentor, the time to get moving is NOW!

Valerie Ryder, Executive Coach & Consultant at Ryder & Associates, served as Mentor in the 2010 edition and invited her own Mentee, Chiara Cappelletti, Chemical Engineer and Development Technologist at BP Technology Centre near London, to share her experience on finding a Mentor after moving to the UK and subsequent to completing the PWA program. Chiara approached a successful young manager working in her company, several levels above her, asking candidly if she would become her Mentee. The much sought-after manager she selected agreed (!), stipulating that Chiara’s immediate manager be aware of the Mentoring relationship (standard practice). Chiara has effectively started her Mentorship within her own company, and is well-prepared to take on her ambitious professional challenges.

Please share with PWA your own success story on finding a Mentor by writing to professional@pwa-milan.org

View photos from the 27 April event here

Read La Carriera Rosa’s interview of Valerie Ryder on the PWA Mentoring Program here

Download the “Women Leading Women” 2010 mentoring publication here

PWA Professional Development Director Valerie Ryder was interviewed by La Carriera Rosa on the PWA Mentoring program.

PWA Milan ha lanciato la seconda edizione del programma di Mentoring, diretto da Valerie Ryder – Professional Development Director di PWA Milan e ideatrice dell’iniziativa, e coordinato da Lee K. Smith – Mentoring Program Coordinator, quest’anno denominato “Moving Mountains Through Mentoring”, letteralmente “Smuovere le montagne con il Mentoring”. Tra le Mentor già confermate per l’edizione 2011, anche nomi della lista di donne “Ready-for- Board”. La Carriera Rosa ha chiesto a Valerie Ryder di illustrare l’iniziativa.

Read the full article here

Wednesday, 27 April 2011 Speaker Event: Moving Mountains through Mentoring

Do you need to decide your next step in your current job and wish you could consult with somebody with experience to give you unbiased advice? Are running your own business and wishing you had some guidance from someone who’s done it before? Would it help you to have someone to turn to for advice on a regular basis to keep you on track?

“Building your career without mentors is like climbing Mt. Everest without a guide and a Sherpa. Sure, you can attempt it, but why would you?” – Patty Azzarello

Having a mentor is vital to your career success, no matter what point you are at: junior or more seasoned, a small-business owner or in the corporate world, on maternity leave or in transition. Mentoring is valuable for women at every stage of their careers, from university students all the way up to the board room.

In this interactive evening led by Valerie Ryder and Lee K. Smith, you will:

• learn firsthand from mentees in the 2010 edition of the PWA Mentoring Program how their professional and personal lives were impacted by their mentoring relationships
• hear about the details of the 2011 edition that is beginning now if you’re considering applying
• participate in a workshop explaining how anyone can find a mentor and learn proven tips and techniques on identifying and approaching a mentor on your own

PWA recognizes the acute need for mentoring and its proven ability to ‘move mountains’. That is why our second annual mentoring event is aimed at all women who are interested in professional advancement – whether they choose to participate in our program, pursue a mentoring relationship by themselves, or both.

Mentees and mentors alike benefited from last year’s program, sometimes in surprising ways. Their experiences and our initial conclusions have been documented in a PWA Mentoring publication which will be distributed for the first time to all event attendees (both PWA members and guests).

Read more about the mentoring program here, or contact professional@pwa-milan.org

About Valerie Ryder, PWA Milan Professional development Director and 2010-11 Mentoring Program Leader: Mentor, executive coach, facilitator, and leadership development expert, Valerie’s focus is on leading women toward professional fulfillment. Read more about her at www.ryderassociates.com.

About Lee K. Smith, 2011 Mentoring Program Coordinator: Global Director of Retail & Shopper at the market research firm TNS, Lee transitioned from being a small business owner to life in the multi-national corporate world last year. Having a PWA mentor from a large corporation was invaluable for many stages of the change. At the same time, Lee was able to share some of her own experience with her PWA mentee, who was then starting her own business.

NH Hotel President, Largo Augusto 10 (MM San Babila, Duomo)
Networking Cocktail: 7 – 8 pm
Presentation 8 – 9:30 pm

Entrance free for members, 25 euro for guests, payable in cash at the event.

Members, please register in the calendar section of EPWN

Guests please register here.

For more information, email speakers@pwa-milan.org

All professional women welcome whether members or guests

PWA Mentoring Event: Moving Mountains through Mentoring

This year, our annual mentoring event is aimed at all women who are interested in furthering their careers through mentoring – PWA members or not, PWA Mentoring Program participants or not. Mentoring is valuable for women at every level of our careers, and finding a mentoring partner can be approached in a variety of ways.

In the first part of this evening, we will be hearing testimony from several mentees in the 2010 edition of the Mentoring Program, and learn firsthand how their professional and personal lives were impacted. Both mentees and mentors alike benefited from the program, sometimes in surprising ways. Their experiences and our initial conclusions have been documented in a PWA Mentoring publication which will be discussed and distributed at the event.

The second half of the evening will feature a presentation on How to Find a Mentor. Here we will learn proven tips and techniques on identifying and approaching a mentor on your own. This is useful for all professional women, and as Cherie Blair points out in a recent interview, the world needs women not only at the boardroom level, but at all echelons of the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds in order for more women to reach the top.

We look forward to seeing you Wednesday, 27 April. For more information, contact us at professional@pwa-milan.org.

• Valerie Ryder, 2010-11 Mentoring Program Leader and Professional Development Director
• Lee K. Smith, 2011 Mentoring Program Coordinator

Networking Aperitivo 7-8 p.m. / Presentation 8-9.30 p.m.
Hotel NH President. Largo Augusto 10, (MM San Babila, Duomo)

Free for members, €25 for guests, payable by cash at the event.

Members, please register in the calendar section of EPWN (www.EuropeanPWN.net)

Guests, please register here.

By Valerie Ryder and Kristina Tool

Mentoring plays a critical role in the advancement of women professionals in all sectors. It provides women role models, it can provide access to important networks and opportunities, and can provide structure for the development of individual skills and leadership abilities.

These are areas that are often cited as key barriers to career advancement for women in Italy, as is the lack of mentoring in general. Only a small portion of the Italian working population has access to this career development tool, mainly selected high-potential employees of international corporations.

PWA has innovatively moved to fill this gap by pioneering network mentoring in Italy, via its Women Leading Women program. The mentoring program is a key component of PWA’s updated mission, which is to support the advancement of career-minded women in their professional growth and development through networking, skill-building and mentoring in an international environment.

Facts and Figures:

Although mentoring is an increasingly-used tool for career development within companies, only a small portion of the working population has access to it. PWA has moved to fill this gap by pioneering “network mentoring” in Italy, a concept which has been implemented effectively by several of its European affiliates.

The application period for the first edition of the PWA Mentoring Program has recently closed, the results are in, and matches have been made. Close to 50 women have come forward as potential mentors or mentees, greatly exceeding expectations based on results attained in other countries across Europe.

What sets Italy apart? Not surprisingly, the demand for mentors isn’t just originating from women in corporations. As more and more women leave the corporate world to embark into entrepreneurship, aspiring business owners are looking for mentorship too.

Join Valerie Ryder and Monique Svazlian, the driving forces behind mentoring at PWA, for an evening of “Women Leading Women.” After a brief presentation of the program and an initial analysis of the mentoring needs expressed, a selection of PWA Mentors will share their inspirational stories and past experiences with mentoring. We will hear from the following top corporate executives and successful business owners:

• Isabella Chiodi, Vice President and member of the Italian Women Leadership Council, IBM
• Barbara Cominelli, Planning Director, Tenaris Dalmine
  
• Giovanna D’Alessio, Managing Director, LifeCoachLab and President of the International Coach Federation
• Francesca Patellani, Client Partner (Banking Clients) and Inclusion & Diversity Lead, Accenture
• Lee Smith, Director, InStoreFactor
• Nicoletta Zappatini, Managing Director, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank

About Valerie Ryder and Monique Svazlian: Executive Coaches, Valerie and Monique are passionate about developing leaders both in the corporate world and in entrepreneurship. They share the common conviction that the most effective way for women to advance professionally is to take advantage of mentoring, coaching, networking and other leadership development resources. Read more about them at www.ryderassociates.com and www.highestpath.com

Read more about the PWA Mentoring Program here

Grand Hotel et de Milan
Via Manzoni, 29 (MM Montenapoleone)
Networking Cocktail: 7 – 8 pm
Presentation 8 – 9:30 pm

Entrance free for members, 20 euro for guests, payable in cash at the event.
Members, please register in the calendar section of EPWN.
Guests, please send an email to speakers@pwa-milan.org

All professional women welcome whether members or guests

Join us as we launch the first annual PWA Mentoring Program for a stimulating and informational evening. We’ll hear inspiring testimonials from our PWA Mentors and Honorary Mentors alike, and discuss the objectives, structure and future of the program.

Participants of the Mentoring Program will have the opportunity to meet their match. This event is open to all professional women and we invite you to attend and learn more about our premier initiative for 2010.

Cocktails 7-8 p.m. / Presentation 8-9.30 p.m.
Grand Hotel et de Milan, Via Manzoni 29 (MM Montenapoleone)

Free for members, €20 for guests, payable by cash at the event.
Members, please register on EPWN

For guest reservations please email speakers@pwa-milan.org

All professional women welcome whether members or guests.

For more information on the Mentoring Program contact Valerie Ryder, PWA Professional Development Director, at professional@pwa-milan.org.

by Valerie Ryder, Mentoring Program Leader and Professional Development Director

We are currently accepting applications for Mentors and Mentees who would like to participate in the first edition of the PWA Mentoring Program. For more information on this initiative, please see the articles and brochure posted on the “PWA Mentoring Program” page of the PWA Milan web site (click here).

This opportunity is available to all PWA members, as an additional benefit of membership. Not a member yet and would like to participate in the Program? Click here to join PWA Milan now.

We have already received confirmation from a number of experienced and highly successful professional women who are PWA members, of their willingness to serve as Mentors. To name a few:
• Rosanna Cella – Global Leadership Development Director, Nokia
• Barbara Cominelli – Director of Strategy & Marketing, Tenaris Dalmine
• Francesca Patellani – Partner at Accenture, in charge of Inclusion & Diversity within their Human Capital program
• Nicoletta Zappatini – Corporate and Investment Bank Managing Director Fixed Income, Crédit Agricole Calyon

Further, we are pleased to announce that the following internationally-renowned women will serve as Honorary Mentors:
• Giovanna d’Alessio – President of International Coach Federation Global, Founder and Chief Executive Coach of Life Coach Lab
• Avivah Wittenberg-Cox – Founder of EuropeanPWN, CEO of 20-first, Executive Coach

If you have been considering applying as a mentee or a mentor but have not yet done so, now is the time! There is still availability in the program for both roles. The deadline for submission is Friday, 16 April 2010. Download the forms here: Mentee application form and Mentor application form. If we are able to identify an appropriate match, you will be notified via email by the first part of May.

Important dates to note: The official launch of the Mentoring Program will take place on the evening of Wednesday, May 19. This will also be the occasion for successfully paired participants to meet their mentoring match. The Mentoring Skills Workshop will take place on Saturday, May 29.

For any questions or concerns you may have, please contact us at professional@pwa-milan.org

• Valerie Ryder, Mentoring Program Leader and Professional Development Director
• Monique Svazlian, Mentoring Program Coordinator

All professional women welcome, whether members or guests.

Wednesday 7 April 7-9 p.m.

Location: Grand Hotel et de Milan
Via Manzoni 29
MM Montenapoleone

Whether or not you believe you have the skills to be a Mentor, this mini-workshop will help you identify the useful experience, background and training you have which can be potentially helpful for others. Our expert coaches will help you recognize your “Inner Mentor”, pinpoint your individual expertise and get us geared up for the PWA Mentoring Program. Beneficial for members and guests of all levels.

The evening will be facilitated by Valerie Ryder and Monique Svazlian, certified professional coaches, PWA members, and the driving force behind the Mentoring Program.

Valerie Ryder, ACC is an Executive Coach and Consultant specialized in career progression, value-based leadership development, and management competencies for women in international environments. She is recognized for her insight, supportiveness and practicality in assisting the women with whom she collaborates to clarify and achieve their professional objectives. Visit www.ryderassociates.com for more information.

Monique Svazlian, CPCC is a Leadership & Business Coach, focused on growing emerging women leaders and high potentials within organizations. Her passion for creating positive social change coupled with her background working for Fortune 500 technology companies gives her unique insight to the innovative working strategies needed to compete in today’s global climate. For more information, go to: www.highestpath.com.

Drinks 10 euro each, buffet included

Guests, please send an email to networking@pwa-milan.org