The Cherie Blair Foundation is Mentoring Women in Business Program
A unique opportunity
Through a partnership with the Cherie Blair Foundation, we nominate outstanding women entrepreneurs for their distinctive Mentoring Programme each year.
Starting in November, you could receive a year of personalised business support and be matched with an accomplished business mentor who has expertise in areas you’d like to work on.
The programme is all done online, which allows for great flexibility.
You’ll have access to trainings, resources and advice from experts. You will become part of a supportive community of over 1,000 accomplished, inspirational entrepreneurs and professionals from around the world.
Check out the Foundation’s impact wall or blogs by Yang Yang, Shilpa, Julian and Nicola.
What it takes to be admitted
The key to success is in your commitment.
You must be running (or about to launch) a business, keen to set business goals to work on with your mentor, able to access the internet weekly, able to meet with your mentor online two hours a month and proficient in English.
You must be able to commit for one year, from November 2013 to November 2014, and able to meet online at least two hours a month during that time.
Benefits
Becoming a mentee is a responsibility that requires time and dedication, but also yields a wealth of rewards. If you work with your mentor and make use of the tools and support from the programme, you could see great results, both personally and for your business.
There are also endless opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing with other participants.
The women in this programme come from over 55 countries. They are running enterprises in a variety of sectors and at many different stages and sizes. Mentors come from over 45 countries and bring expertise and diverse perspectives on board.
Application process
 First, review the selection criteria and FAQ below.
 If you meet the requirements, complete the online application by 7 October.
 If successful, you’ll be invited to complete a multimedia training by 27 October.
 After that, the Foundation will match you with your mentor and you’ll start a mentoring relationship in early November.
Selection criteria and FAQ
Selection criteria and FAQ
- The “November 2013 group” will start in early November 2013 and finish in November 2014.
- The programme:
o Is conducted online (using Skype, Google Hangouts, email, etc.)
o Lasts for 12 months, starting in early November
o Includes one-on-one meetings with your mentor at least two hours a month
o Focuses on short- and long-term development of your business
o Offers professional development and training opportunities
o Grants membership in a vibrant online community where you can network with businesspeople from around the world
o Gives you access to a private online platform and resource centre
o Provides you with support from the Foundation team and Mentoring Women in Business Community
o Honours participants with a special title, certificate from Cherie Blair, local events and the chance to be featured on the Foundation’s website
o Requires a commitment to meeting with your mentor and setting goals for your work together
o In exchange for receiving these resources for free, you will be required to complete four short feedback questionnaires during the programme
- Are you:
o Able to meet with a mentor at least two hours each month? This is the basic requirement. In addition, you’ll want to take advantage of the online forums, e-library and monthly webinars.
o Able to access the internet and a computer weekly? This could be at an internet café or computer centre, but regular internet access is needed to participate in the Mentoring Programme and communicate with a mentor using online tools.
o Running your own business or about to launch your own business?
o A woman who is from – and living in – a developing or emerging country?
o Affiliated with a programme partner (that’s us)?
o Proficient in both spoken and written English (at least at the intermediate level)?
o Able to commit for a minimum of 12 months, starting in November?
o Able to complete feedback questionnaires?
o Motivated to develop ICT and business skills?
If the link above doesn’t work, please go to: http://www.cherieblairfoundation.org/mentee-application-and-selection-process/
Mentee Nomination and Recruitment Guide
As a partner, you play a vital role in helping the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women enable women in developing and emerging economies to gain economic independence and have a more influential voice in their communities. We’re delighted to have you on board and thank you for your participation!
By combining mentoring with technology, the Mentoring Women in Business Programme is pioneering a new way of supporting women entrepreneurs. We match women entrepreneurs from developing and emerging countries with male and female mentors around the world. Using our online platform, they spend 12 months working one-on-one to achieve key business goals.
We work in collaboration with local organisations that have an intimate knowledge of the needs of women entrepreneurs in their countries. This often provides a unique opportunity that partners can offer their beneficiaries, a follow-on to their own trainings, a way to offer mentoring without the associated costs or an extra layer of support for the women they work with.
Selection criteria for mentees
The key is in the commitment. In order to succeed and benefit from mentoring, mentees should be committed to their year-long mentoring relationships and to the mentoring community.
We welcome applications from women entrepreneurs who meet the following criteria:
 Able to commit for a full year, starting in either November or May.
 Able to meet with their mentors at least two hours each month. This is the basic requirement. In addition, they might want to set aside additional time to take advantage of the online forums, library and monthly webinars.
 Able to access the internet and a computer weekly. This could be at an internet café or computer centre, but regular internet access is needed to participate in the Mentoring Programme and communicate with their mentor using online tools.
 Running their own business or about to launch their own business.
 Women who are from – and living in – a developing or emerging country.
 Affiliated with one of our programme partners (that’s you).
 Proficient in both spoken and written English (at least at the intermediate level).
 Willing to complete the online training and feedback questionnaires.
 Motivated to develop their ICT and business skills.
How do mentees benefit?
The benefits of a mentoring relationship are tremendous – for both mentees and mentors. Participants build business skills and digital literacy through our trainings and platform, and receive personalised support from a dedicated mentor. They share knowledge with people from around the world and join a community of entrepreneurs who are invested in each other’s success.
Of mentees who have finished the programme to date, 94% of respondents noted that they were satisfied with their experience. They attribute progress on tailored goals to the mentoring, including everything from keeping their business afloat to obtaining financing and launching new products.
Visit our impact wall to hear directly from mentees and mentors or check out blogs by Yang Yang, Shilpa, Julian and Nicola.
Who are the mentees?
To date, over 700 driven women entrepreneurs have joined the Mentoring Women in Business Programme from 55 countries, such as Rwanda, Malaysia, Honduras, China, Palestine, South Africa, Pakistan, Morocco, Kenya and more.
Connect with us!
They run businesses that vary in size and stage and are in diverse fields, including everything from bee-keeping to travel/tourism, cassava and cayenne production, e-commerce, beauty spas, cake decorating, psychometric testing, a children’s charity and beyond.
This programme offers support that is personalised and tailored to each mentee’s needs and goals, so women entrepreneurs from a variety of backgrounds and fields are invited to apply.
Who are the mentors?
We believe there is a value in intercultural, international mentoring. Mentors currently come from over 45 countries and are highly-skilled entrepreneurs and professionals from a variety of backgrounds, including marketing, communications, technology, accounting and finance, HR and more. Mentors are thought partners who help to build the mentee’s confidence and encourage her to find her own solutions.
Connect with us!
Visit our website, watch our video or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
