Women in Business Wagga Wagga supports the ongoing personal and professional development of women in the Wagga community. Photo: Jack of Hearts Photography/Jackie Cooper.
Business NSW regional director Serena Hardwick was wrapping up a youth leadership program when one of the participants approached her with the words that inspired a new mentorship path.
“She told me she had just finished the Women in Business (WIB) Wagga Wagga Annual Mentor Program, and it had given her the courage and confidence to attend my program,” she said.
“I thought, ‘Isn’t that wonderful? There’s a mentorship program that young women are actively participating in, and it’s giving them the confidence to further their own pursuits’. That’s a very valuable thing in our community.”
The Annual Mentor Program sees WIB facilitating one-to-one mentoring relationships between its members and successful Riverina women. The free program is one of the ways the organisation supports the ongoing personal and professional development of women in the Wagga community.
Serena signed up hoping to enable personal and career growth for her mentee, but as a seasoned mentor, knew the arrangement would be mutually beneficial.
“That’s the beauty of it – whether you’re a mentor or mentee, getting someone else’s perspective on any issue is always helpful,” she says. ”Some of the conversations I’ve had with my mentee made me reflect on my own experiences and that has been illuminating.
“The program also introduces you to people you may not have otherwise met. For anyone in business, but particularly women, and certainly women in regional areas, the value of networking cannot be overstated. It’s essential to success.”
The program works on a structure around defining what mentees want to achieve from the arrangement before they are “matched” with the mentors best placed to help them achieve those goals.
Serena Hardwick says the Women in Business (WIB) Wagga Wagga Annual Mentor Program is mutually beneficial. Photo: Matt Beaver.
From there, participants can take it, and make it their own.
“There’s great flexibility for participants in how the relationship works – how often you meet and what you discuss is very much driven by the mentee,” Serena says.
“With my mentee, we talked a lot about branding. That included things like social media and marketing but also one’s own personal brand, what that means and how we define it.
“It’s not about coaching, we don’t give business advice. There’s very much a focus on soft skills – how you can better promote yourself and ready yourself for opportunities that can help you achieve your career goals.”
As well as supporting high-potential women to realise their career and leadership goals, the program provides current leaders with the opportunity to develop their mentoring skills.
In return, they gift mentees with their skills, knowledge and networks, but also something a little less tangible.
“We see women coming into the program who aren’t particularly confident they have what they need to achieve their goals, or perhaps need clarity around what those goals are, or who have a need to draw on the skills, experiences and networks of others to build on what they already have and get where they want to be,” Serena says.
“That builds capability and capacity in our business ecosystem. I think the flow-on effect of that is so significant to our business community and the community at large.”
Program participants self-nominate, and with only 10 spaces available annually, there are always more nominations than places.
For more information, visit Women in Business Wagga Wagga.
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