Written by Mentee and Berlin Geekettes, Abby Carney.
The Berlin Geekettes Mentorship Program has officially begun, and the mentors and mentees will meet for the first time at the program kick-off next week. Originally geared toward students as mentees looking for someone to show them the ropes, the Geekettes receive support from profund an initiative at Freie Universität Berlin (FU) for helping FU students found their own company as well as Nele Hiller from Gründermagnet.
However, after an enthusiastic response from Geekettes of all ages eager to learn from a mentor with more experience, the Berlin Geekettes team decided to open the program up to everyone.
Denise Philipp, Program Manager for the mentorship program, “It’s amazing to witness the support these women give each other. I’ve found my role model Jess Erickson through Berlin Geekettes and she has already made me want to do better, be greater, and appreciate what these ladies have accomplished.”
Mentors and mentees have been matched with each other according to their areas of interest and expertise, and over the course of the program, mentors and mentees will meet with each other regularly to gain knowledge of their chosen field. There will also be networking events, discussions, and workshops so mentees can put their newly gained knowledge to use.
However, the program isn’t one sided. Mentor Nora-Vanessa Wohlert, Managing Editor at Gründerszene said, “When you take the time to develop a strong mentee-mentor relationship, you get access to knowledge and experience, but you also end up with a lifelong friend and potential future business partner. So being a mentor or mentee is a great opportunity for both sides.”
Getting started and getting your foot in the door can be a challenge, and with the mission of seeing more women succeed in tech, the Geekettes seek to do this through the mentorship program, as Geekettes Evangelista Lisa Lang said, “The first job after university, getting your foot in the door is the hardest step of all sometimes. Mentors can help here really well - explain the industry, the personalities and the mechanics, and - of course - the most important part, how to get your first break in the industry.”
It’s one thing to talk about wanting to see more women in tech, and quite another to do something about it. The Geekettes are taking their first step at actively helping women break into the scene and establish themselves through the help of women who have already, “been there, done that.”
Berlin Geekettes is grateful for all the support it has received in the Berlin tech community and we’d like to thank Wooga for sponsoring our kick-off party. Drinks and light catering will be provided.
Please RSVP if you’d like to attend: https://www.facebook.com/events/304073589703481/
Special thanks to:
