6-MONTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM · UNITED STATES · FRANCE · BELGIUM
A structured pathway
to the next level of leadership.
Our flagship program pairs mid-career women with 10+ years of experience with senior leaders (VPs, executive directors, C-level executives, and executive coaches) for six months, supported by a WAE program lead from the first meeting to the last.
NEW IN 2027
First cohort open in Europe.
Participants in France and Belgium join a cross-border cohort with peers andmentors in the United States.
6
months of structured coaching
4
Q&A sessions with C-suite guest leaders
3
progress checkpoints: start, mid-point, close
2
dedicated guides alongside your mentor
3
countries: USA, France, Belgium
WHY THIS PROGRAM
Talent is not the
gap. Access is.
Mid-career women often reach the point where performance alone no longer determines advancement. Promotion decisions increasingly depend on sponsorship, visibility, and access to the people who shape them. The WAE Mentorship Program addresses these structural barriers directly. Each participant works with a senior executive mentor on a defined set of goals, with structured checkpoints that keep progress measurable and remove roadblocks early. The program is designed for women preparing for their next leadership role, or establishing themselves in a new senior position, within their current company. This includes those on or returning from maternity leave.
WHO CAN APPLY
Built for experienced women advancing where they are.
The program is designed for mid-career women who are currently employed and want to advance, or succeed in a new senior role, within their current company.
This program
is for you if
-
You are currently employed.
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You have a bachelor degree and at least 10 years of professional experience.
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You want to grow within your current company, toward a promotion or your next role there.
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You have recently stepped into a senior role, such as director, and want executive coaching to succeed in it.
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You want to strengthen the soft skills that leadership roles require, such as
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communication, influence, and decision-making.
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You are on or returning from maternity leave and want structured support to reestablish your trajectory. You can apply during your leave if both you and youremployer agree.
This program
is not designed for
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People who are currently unemployed
-
People in an active job search
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People looking to move to another company
-
People planning a career change into a new field or industry
-
Professionals with fewer than 10 years of experience
Not sure the program fits your situation?
Contact us before applying.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Three components,
one six-month pathway.
Each component serves a distinct purpose: individual guidance, collective learning, and accountability for outcomes.
INDIVIDUAL
1:1 executive coaching
Six monthly one-hour sessions with a senior leader matched to your goals, industry, and next role, scheduled at times that suit you both.
COLLECTIVE
Four Q&A sessions with a C-Suite Leader
The full cohort meets four times for a virtual Q&A with a C-suite guest leader on how decisions about leadership, promotion, and succession are made in practice.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Three progress checkpoints
Structured reviews with your corporate coach and WAE program lead at the start, mid-point, and close of the program.
The six months at a glance
February 15 to August 2, 2027. Q&A and checkpoint dates are confirmed at enrollment and scheduled at times compatible with CET and ET. Your final 1:1 with your mentor can be scheduled until August 13, 2027.
Month 1
Positioning
Where you stand today: your role, your stakeholders, how decisions are made in your company, and how you are currently perceived.
Kickoff checkpoint.
Goals defined and ranked.
First 1:1 session.
Month 2
Build the Plan
Turn your goals into a concrete development plan with clear milestones.
Second 1:1 session.
Q&A session 1.
Month 3
Roadblocks
Identify what is slowing your progress and decide how to address it.
Mid-point checkpoint. Third 1:1 session.
Q&A session 2.
Month 4
Visibility & Influence
Make your contribution visible to decisionmakers and build support for your next step.
Fourth 1:1 session.
Q&A session 3.
Month 5
Strategy
Strengthen your executive presence and prepare the conversations that will shape your next step with senior leadership.
Fifth 1:1 session.
Q&A session 4.
Month 6
Next Step
Consolidate what you have achieved and set your plan beyond the program.
Closing checkpoint. Sixth and final 1:1 session.
YOUR SUPPORT TEAM
You are not navigating this alone.
Your executive mentor
A VP, executive director, or C-level executive who provides strategic guidance, sponsorship insight, and perspective on how organizations make advancement decisions.
Your executive coach
A professional coach who supports goal-setting, tracks progress across the three checkpoints, and helps translate mentorship into concrete action.
Your WAE program lead
A member of the Women Advancing Equity team who keeps the mentoring relationship on track and is your point of contact throughout.
WHAT YOU GAIN
Outcomes you can carry into your next role.
Leadership readiness
A clear assessment of where you stand and a plan to lead at the next level, whether you are working toward it or have just stepped into it.
Access to leadership pathways
Direct exposure to senior executives and to how leadership and succession decisions are made.
Strategic visibility
Strategies to build influence and make your contribution visible to decision-makers.
A transatlantic network
Lasting connections with mentors and peers across the United States, France, and Belgium.
KEY DETAILS
Who it is for
Currently employed, mid-career women with at least 10 years of experience, preparing to advance into leadership and decision-making roles, or newly appointed to a senior role, within their current company. See full eligibility. Participation can be sponsored by your employer, and we provide a sponsorship brief to support that conversation. Self-funded participants can pay in three monthly installments.
Duration
6 months
Program dates
February 15 to August 2, 2027
Location
United States, France, Belgium
Format
Virtual / Hybrid
PROGRAM INVESTMENT
Receive the financial details by email.
Leave your details and we will send you the program investment, payment options for employer sponsorship or self-funding in monthly installments, and invoicing details for your country. Questions? Write to us at info@waequity.org.
HOW TO APPLY
Five steps to your cohort.
1
Submit your application
Upload one PDF with your motivation letter and resume, making the case for why this program is the right next step for you in your current company.
2
Interview
If your application is selected, we invite you to an interview with the WAE team.
3
Confirm funding
Share our sponsorship brief with your manager or HR team, or choose the three-installment payment plan.
4
Get matched
We match you with an executive mentor based on your goals, industry, and location.
5
Begin at kickoff
Set and rank your goals with your coach and WAE program lead.
In your motivation letter, address the following:
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Your current role. Your position, your company, your scope of responsibility, and your years of experience.
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The next position you are working toward. The role you aim to reach in your company, and your intended timeline.
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Your goals for the six months. The specific outcomes you want to achieve by the end of the program.
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What stands in your way. The barriers or skill gaps that have slowed your advancement so far.
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Why executive coaching, and why now. How executive coaching would benefit you in your current company, and what support you need that is not available to you internally.
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How you will apply it. How you will put what you learn into practice, and how you will know you have progressed.
YOUR APPLICATION
Make the case for your next step.
Your motivation letter is where you advocate for yourself. We select participants who can show clearly where they are going, what stands in the way, and how executive coaching will help them advance within their company.
FORMAT
2 PDF files containing your motivation letter (2 pages maximum) and your resume. Selected applicants are invited to an interview.