Women in Tech mentorship program completes its first cycle

The first cycle of the new Women in Tech mentorship program closed with mentors and mentees meeting face-to-face for the first time on campus after their four months of virtual communication.

IE Business School Dean Martin Boehm and IMBA Associate Dean Jose Esteves were on hand to celebrate the success of the program that pairs female students International Master in Business Administration (IMBA) with women mentors from top tech companies for guidance.

“Offering this program for female students highlights our commitment to supporting women not only in the business world, but specifically those focused on tech-related fields,” Boehm said. “We have an all-star line-up of mentors that is each supremely equipped to guide our female students to success.”

“Female role models in tech are especially important because they can show to the mentees the path and opportunities that are out there.”
IMBA Associate Dean Jose Esteves

Program coordinator Alessandra Aloisio, who previously worked in the tech sector at Microsoft and Nokia, engaged the current mentors in her current role as Director of Global Recruiter Relations for IE’s Talent & Careers. The Women in Tech mentors include Coia Pons from Amazon, Elisabete Ramalho from Google, Elena Yndurain from IBM, Juana Fernandez from Microsoft, Blanca Ferrero Rodriguez from MasterCard, Elena Alfaro from BBVA, Carolina Fabregas from Telefónica, Leticia Alvarez from Gartner and Elena Bris Nieto from Amazon.

The pioneering program was the brainchild of Esteves when he started as dean of the IMBA earlier this year and who said there is no substitute for strong female role models.

“The women and tech program partners female students with female leaders in the industry, who act not just as mentors but as role models for how to succeed in tech,” Esteves explained. “Female role models in tech are especially important because they can show to the mentees the path and opportunities that are out there, and also share experiences, provide inspiration and motivate mentees to pursue a career in tech because they are proof that it is possible.”

The mentors who meet online in virtual one-on-one sessions during the four-month program are women with senior positions in companies like Google, Telefonica, Amazon and Ikea. The program is offered exclusively to female IMBA students interested in developing a career in technology focuses on clear business goals, interviewing techniques, career guidance and networking.

“Establishing a mentoring relation with a successful female leader helps students to navigate career options in tech companies and build confidence in their career decisions. On the other side, there are also tangible benefits for companies when they increase the percentage of women at their executive level,” states Alessandra Aloisio, Director of Recruiter Relations and Partnerships.

Mentors applauded the program as an important tool for young women.

“The mentoring program can help female students take the leap into a tech-career by getting first-hand information on how to navigate the tech world, learn about different work paths to build confidence and trust in the leadership journey,” said Elena Yndurain, Global Strategy Consulting for Financial Sector, IBM Q.

Mentors and mentees enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation at the closing event, discussing teamwork and career-related objectives. Afterwards, mentors reviewed the students’ CVs and handled mock interview session, where the students got direct feedback.

Students said they benefited from the program and gave them confidence in themselves.

“The Women in Tech Mentoring program paired me with a mentor who inspired and encouraged me,” said Erdoo Tor-Agbidye. “Through sharing her success as a leader, my mentor, enabled me to see myself in the world of tech and guided me on how to be a part of it through my own skills.”