As we encounter more inspiring mentoring initiatives – some of which have been created in response to the pandemic – we wanted to share our findings with you all. Since we found so many, we’ve decided to share them with you under various categories to make the list easier to digest, and find something that’s right for you.

In this second list, we’re sharing seven initiatives created especially for womxn and non-binary creatives. As with last week’s list, we don’t have first-hand experience of all of them, so we can’t guarantee the level of quality for everything listed here; but we hope they can be helpful in seeing what’s out there.

We’re also open to your suggestions if you feel we’ve missed something out; and do stay posted for schemes like this via our Opportunities Board.

I Like Networking

Discipline: Creative
Location: Global

Although not currently taking on new mentees, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for upcoming opportunities on I Like Networking. The scheme pairs womxn and non-binary creatives with a mentor for four meetings, over a three-month period to help define goals, finesse skills and refine CVs. We also recommend checking out their events and podcast.

Find out more here.

She Says: Who’s your Momma?

Discipline: Creative
Location: Global

An award-winning organisation, She Says runs a free mentorship and events programme, called Who’s Your Momma? – with the primary aim of creative greater diversity within creative leadership positions.

Find out more here.

OK Mentor

Discipline: Creative
Location: UK

This training and mentorship programme is designed to help emerging creatives equip themselves for the realities of working life. It’s free and available to current undergraduates or postgrads in their final year, or those with equivalent work experience and aged between 21 and 27.

Find out more here.

You Make It

Discipline: Cross-discipline (not just creative)
Location: London, UK

You Make It offers a creative and inspiring programme for young womxn who are unemployed and underemployed in East London, aged 18–30. It provides access tools, networks, experiences and the confidence to transform lives through personal empowerment. This includes one-on-one mentoring sessions, work experience and start-up support, along with pastoral care and counselling to ensure those involved are given the chance to thrive.

Find out more here.

Females in Film

Discipline: Film and digital media
Location: London, UK

Do you have a script or film project you are working on and want to push it forward? Eastside’s Females in Film mentoring scheme offers ten young female filmmakers (aged between 17 and 25) the opportunity to be professionally supported on an independent filmmaking project with a £200 production budget for five months.

Applications for this year have just closed, but it's worth keeping an eye out for Females in Films’ series of workshops, talks and panel discussions, which is launching in 2021. Due to the pandemic, these will be a mix of online and offline sessions, and there will be a separate application form for this next year.

Find out more here.

The Fellow App

Discipline: Advertising
Location: US, Global

Fellow is an app-based community that connects womxn with more relatable mentors throughout the advertising industry. This platform aims to facilitate the exchange of hard-earned knowledge. There are different price bands for individuals and agencies, but students can use the app for free.

Find out more here.

WEST

Discipline: Tech (including engineering, data science, UX research, product design)
Location: US

Created for early to mid-career self identifying womxn in technical roles, WEST creates connections with inspiring leaders from their network that best matches specific goals and background. In addition to the mentoring partnership, the WEST experience incorporates learning across peer groups, access to the WEST community, and learning activities aligned with the mentee's identified development areas. Applications for the 2021 cohort are currently open.

Find out more here.