Apply for Mentoring Women in Business Programme

Deadline Date: October 11, 2024

 Donor Name: Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

 Grant Size: Not Available

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is inviting applications for its Mentoring Women in Business Programme which matches women entrepreneurs with men and women mentors from around the world and help women entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses.

As a mentee, you could find yourself being mentored by a knowledgeable, friendly professional from anywhere in the world and any sector, from a director of a major global corporation to a fellow successful woman entrepreneur, and as a mentor, you’ll play a pivotal role in an entrepreneur’s growth during a critical stage of her business.

Benefits

• For Mentees
  • Increase business profits or improve communication skills
  • Determine personal goals and work towards these with support
  • Improve self confidence
  • Gain skills in business planning and strategy expertise
  • Grow professional networks
  • Enhance businesses, going on to be better off and to achieve dreams
  • Participants who successfully complete the programme receive a certificate from Cherie Blair CBE KC, access to useful resources and our online community and more.
• For Mentors
  • Share your experience and expertise with another person to support their own journey 
  • Enhance your leadership, problem solving and communication skills 
  • Gain insights into different cultures and industries 
  • Understand challenges faced by women in low and middle income countries 
  • Inspire and motivate others, making a lasting impact on a business’s growth 
  • Completing the programme also earns you a certificate from Cherie Blair CBE KC, access to valuable resources and our online community, and more. 

Eligibility Criteria

• For Mentees
  • A woman from and living in a low or middle income country
  • Running their own business (meaning at least 51% ownership or decision-making authority) or about to launch their own business in the next three months
  • Proficient in English (at an intermediate level or above), both written and spoken
  • Able to commit to the programme for twelve months
  • Able to access the internet and meet with their mentor online for a minimum of two hours a month
  • Able to complete several feedback questionnaires by the stated deadline
  • Willing to work with a mentor to build their business and personal development skills and confidence
  • Nominated by one of our local mentee referral partners where possible
• ForMentors
  • Professional Experience: Minimum 7 years in business. 
  • Language: Fluent in English. 
  • Commitment: Able to engage for 12 months. 
  • Sharing Expertise: Willing to mentor a woman entrepreneur in launching, developing, or growing her business. 
  • Affiliation: Either a member of a corporate partner or self-funded.

Expectations

• From Mentees
  • Meet online with their mentor for two hours minimum per month, for a year
  • Be proactive in driving the mentoring relationship and setting its direction
  • Participate in around 1.5 hours of pre-matching training
  • Complete interim and end-of-programme surveys
  • Develop and submit goals to be worked on with their mentor
  • Adhere to our Mentoring Women in Business programme Code of Conduct
• From Mentors
  • Monthly Meetings: Minimum of 2 hours online with mentee. 
  • Training: Complete 1.5 hours of pre-matching training. 
  • Surveys: Participate in interim and end-of-programme surveys. 
  • Code of Conduct: Adhere to our Mentoring Women in Business programme guidelines. 
  • Financial Contribution: Donate £1,100 to cover participation costs, unless sponsored by a partner company or applying through our scholarship fund as a Cherie Blair Foundation for Women alumna. 

Donation Requirement

• Mentoring is a valuable and enriching experience for both you and your mentee. To ensure the programme’s success, a donation of £1,100 is required for all mentors. If you’re part of a partner company’s workforce, your employer will cover this cost. 
• This contribution is essential for your participation and covers both your involvement and that of your mentee. It supports the following:
  • One-to-one support from our dedicated team
  • Operation of our online mentoring platform and app
  • Development of training resources and learning content 
• You can fund this through personal means, fundraising efforts, or by seeking a donation match from your company. Additionally, you may consider using your company’s learning and development budget to cover (part of) the cost. Our mentoring programme is gold accredited by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. 

For more information, visit Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.