The Women in PR Mentoring Programme was set up in 2014 as a joint initiative with PRWeek UK to identify, nurture and inspire the next generation of female leaders. We are proud that, since its inception, the scheme has supported more than 100 ambitious women from a range of backgrounds, and with an array of career goals and challenges, to achieve their individual goals.
Women can face different challenges to men as they step up the PR career ladder, whether they are working in-house, in an agency or as a freelance practitioner. These include navigating a boardroom often dominated by men, negotiating equal pay or juggling work and family or caring responsibilities.
Our scheme ensures that women can confidently and successfully overcome their unique challenges in order to progress in their careers to achieve their ultimate ambitions. We do this by matching candidates with women who are operating in very senior positions within the UK PR industry.
Our Mentors
The mentoring line-up is refreshed every year to maintain a brilliant, motivated and diverse cohort of industry leaders, both female and male, keen to give back to the industry and support future female leaders. The diverse backgrounds and experiences of our mentors allow us to support the very broad range of needs from our mentees
The Impact
Graduates from the mentoring programme have gone on to secure top level positions in the industry. There is a great community of mentoring scheme alumni and the feedback we receive regarding the impact on individual careers is fantastic. For more information you can read many of their success stories on our blog and social channels. We are also thrilled that several of our mentees have since returned to give back, becoming mentors themselves.
Programme details
The mentoring programme lasts for 12 months and involves at least six full mentoring sessions plus ad-hoc discretionary support.
The programme is open to female practitioners of public relations with 5 or more years’ experience and/or are working at middle-management or director level or equivalent, who can demonstrate;
- Five years industry experience with leadership potential (demonstrable experience to date and signs of being a leader of the future).
- Clarity of career objectives and how access to a mentor will help get you there, including overcoming perceived obstacles.
- Industry engagement with demonstrable effort to engage in key issues and effect change – for example, being an active member of a trade body, or helping/driving new initiatives to help improve our industry.
- Commitment to actively engage in this highly sought-after programme and to drive the scheduling of mentoring sessions.
July UPDATE – 2024/2025 PROGRAMME
Women in PR Launches Flagship Mentoring Programme for 2024.
Expands mentee support through strengths-based approach
Tuesday 2nd July 2024: Women in PR (WiPR), in partnership with PR Week, launches applications for its flagship mentoring scheme – marking eleven years of supporting female comms professionals to reach senior leadership positions.
The 2024 scheme, offering 21 spots, will continue to focus on development of diverse female talent from across the industry, pairing successful applicants with inspirational female, and male, industry leaders across a range of sectors. This is the first year all mentees will get access to renowned coaching tool Clifton Strengths analysis in addition to existing programme interventions, made possible through sponsorship from leading PR recruitment agency Reuben Sinclair. The Clifton Strengths approach helps identify an individual’s natural talents and offers guidance on how to develop them into key leadership strengths and has been used in coaching for many years.
Successful applicants will commit to at least six, one-to-one mentoring sessions across 12-months and will also be offered opportunities for both in-person and virtual connection both with their individual mentor and with the wider mentor and mentee cohort.
Programme mentors are all acclaimed PR and communications leaders who volunteer their time and share their insight and expertise to help participants achieve their full potential. The scheme helps empower mentees to tackle key barriers women still face in the workplace – building new mindsets, skills and capabilities, overcoming personal or professional challenges and building confidence in their own leadership.
Women in PR hopes to attract applicants from diverse backgrounds, across a mix of agency, in-house and freelance professionals as well as practitioners based both in and outside of London. To further support this, the organisation has removed the requirement of membership for applicants to help ensure financial restraint is not a barrier to entry.
Jo Carr, president of WiPR said, “Our mentoring programme is a real cornerstone for Women in PR as we seek to increase both the numbers and the diversity of women reaching the very top of our profession. Real leaders in our book are those who make space and time for others to grow and so we are very grateful to our mentors for stepping up to the plate. We’re delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to help women working in communications build their confidence, network and skills so they feel empowered to reach new professional heights”
Several 2023 Women in PR mentoring programme participants shared their insight on the experience and encouraged others to take advantage of the opportunity.
Jess Farmery, PR Lead, Account Director, SomX and current mentee shared, “If you’re serious about improving your performance and progressing your career as a PR leader, I’d highly recommend applying for the Women In PR / PR Week Mentoring Program. Having almost completed the program, I’m now noticing a significant impact on my confidence and on my approach to client work and team management. My mentoring sessions are an opportunity to explore solutions to the biggest challenges I’m facing, informed by my mentor’s wealth of experience. They also provide a space for supported reflection on my own professional goals and long-term ambitions in PR. Undoubtedly, joining the program was one of the best self-development decisions I’ve made in my career to date, and it will continue to pay dividends in years to come.”
Bal Gill, Founder of Serani Comms and current mentee said, “The Women in PR mentoring programme has been a great opportunity for me in so many ways.Firstly, I was super impressed with the pairing, my mentor and I really hit it off and they have been my go-to when navigating my career in what has been quite a pinnacle year. The most standout benefit for me has been having someone neutral who can give honest advice and advise with a wider perspective that I have had before.”
Hayley Mace, Head of Communications and Advocacy, University of East Anglia and current mentee offered her insight, “I have loved being involved in this programme. Having a mentor has given me time to reflect, valuable insight and a sounding board for both strategic and operational discussions. With my mentor’s support and encouragement I have made a number of improvements in my practice, helping to better raise my profile at work. He was hugely supportive as I applied for a more senior role and gave me the confidence to see the value I was already delivering.”
Curious about the programme? WiPR will host an in-person networking evening and kick-off for the 2024 programme, celebrating the outgoing mentee cohort and celebrating successful applicants in September.
Following a rigorous judging process, conducted by the Mentoring Board (which includes Women in PR Committee and shadow committee members, mentors, mentees and PRWeek), offers will be made to final-stage candidates offers in August.
To be eligible, potential mentees must:
- Have a minimum of five years of industry experience with leadership potential (demonstrable experience to date and signs of being a leader of the future).
- Have clarity of career objectives and how access to a mentor will help get you there, including overcoming perceived obstacles.
- Have demonstrated that effort has been made to engage in key issues and effect change– for example, being an active member of a trade body, or helping/driving new initiatives to improve our industry or organisational culture.
- Commit to actively engage in this highly sought-after programme, and to drive the scheduling of mentoring sessions.
How to apply
Applications can be made using this link and applications close on Friday 26 July:
*** DEADLINE EXTENDED TO TUESDAY 6th AUGUST 6PM BST***
Mentors for the 2023-2024 programme include both returning* and new mentors:
- Amy Campbell, Corporate Marketing Director, Samsung
- Angela Balakrishnan, Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, Information Commissioner’s Office*
- Avril Lee, Head of Health & Wellness Europe & UK at Zeno, and CIPR Board Member & Chair D&I Network
- Clara Biu, Head of PR, Events and Social Impact, Just Eat*
- Doyel Maitra, Director of Communications, Retail Banking, NatWest*
- Effie Kanyua, Founder LILA Assistant and We are Warriors PR
- Emily Luscombe, Chief Client Officer, Instinctif Partners Group*
- Holly Mitchell, Head of UK PR and Public Affairs, easyJet
- Jo Chappell, Executive Creative Director, Fever*
- Kamiqua Lake, CEO, Coldr and Founder UK Black Comms Network*
- Kathryn Martino, Managing Director, Mindfully Wired
- Kirsty Leighton, Founder and Group CEO, Milk & Honey*
- Lauren Pogson, Head of PR and Social, EVRI
- Martin Fewell, Chief Communications Officer, London Business School*
- Mary Hinks-Edwards, Director, Communications & Government Affairs, European Partnership Markets, GSK
- Nicole Yost, Founder Spotted Tiger Coaching and Consulting, Previous CEO Havas Just & MD Porter Novelli
- Rachel Roberts, Founder of spottydog communications and Co-CEO Leopard Co
- Rebecca Sinclair, Chief Communications and Brand Officer, Penguin Random House
- Satyen Dayal, Managing Director Technology, Edelman*
- Shayoni Lynn, Founder and CEO, Lynn Group
- Suzanne Morris, Chief Operating Officer, Headland*
For any questions please get in touch with us at info@womeninpr.org
