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The 2024 Mentoring Program

Each year, the WTS-DC mentoring program creates partnerships between mentors and mentees where they exchange knowledge, skills, experiences, and expertise to support personal and professional growth and development. An effective mentoring relationship benefits both the mentor and the mentee. Applications are now closed.

For more information, please contact the WTS DC Mentoring Committee at  [email protected].

Benefits of Participating in WTS-DC’s Mentoring Program

For Mentees:

• Growth: Seek opportunities to grow professionally, especially in specific capabilities
• Information: Gain access to the knowledge and wisdom of experienced leaders
• Networking: Learn how to create opportunities for networking
• Confidence Building: Encourage curiosity and build confidence by being exposed to new ideas, opportunities, and challenges
• Support: Stimulate growth and enhance achievement by gaining an open and supportive environment
• Goal Setting: Define and attain personal and professional goals
• Advice: Obtain advice in reaching academic, career, and personal goals
• Role Model: Gain access to experts and pioneers who have changed the transportation industry

For Mentors:

• Development: Provides development opportunities and enhances leadership and management skills
• Growth: Seek opportunities to grow professionally and improve your performance—view your performance through an outsider’s perspective
• Strength: Contributes to the strengthening of the transportation community and future women leaders
• Information: Learn the viewpoints of women from different backgrounds and generations
• Role Model: Become a role model to an up-and-coming professional and give back to the industry

How the Program Works

The program will kick off in April and consists of regular events (panel discussions or speaker presentations) for all mentees and mentors, happy hour events for informal networking, and one-on-one meetings between assigned mentees and mentors. The WTS-DC Mentoring Committee will select mentors and mentees to work together, but it will be the responsibility of mentees and mentors to define and build their professional relationships.

Who Should Apply

For Mentees:

• You are a junior to mid-level professional
• You are interested in your professional and personal growth
• You are open to feedback and coaching
• You have a strong desire to enhance your professional development
• You are able to have a call with your mentor once a month
• You attend at least 2 of the 3 regular events
• You are a WTS-DC Chapter member
• You are willing to become a board member or volunteer for a WTS committee the following year

For Mentors:

• You are a mid-level to senior professional
• You are willing to guide others by offering your professional perspectives
• You have a genuine interest in the mentee’s success
• You have a desire to practice and improve your coaching and leadership skills
• You are able to have a call with your mentee once a month

Expectations and General Timeline

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The program will last from April through November 2024. Each month, there will be a group workshop or happy hour. Mentors and mentees will be responsible for meeting at least once a month on their own during the program, with mentees taking the initiative to schedule conversations. While we will provide a virtual option for workshops, we will conduct most of them in person and encourage participants to attend in person.

If you have any questions or want more information, please contact the Mentoring Committee at [email protected]. We look forward to working with you this year!