The Importance of Mentoring Young Women Coming Up In the Industry

Women Who Code and its members understand the importance of representation and mentorship and have several networks with mentoring programs. Each network's mentorship is different.

We asked our WWCode Merida network to share why they created their mentorship program to help university students. The director of the network, Grisel Ancona Martinez, explains their objective for developing a mentorship program for girls studying to be software engineers, why it was important, and the benefits it has had on the mentees.

Women Who Code Merida started the mentoring program for university students because we realized when we studied attended university for a career in technology, some of the girls who started with us dropped out in the first semesters. As software engineers ourselves, we also considered dropping out at the beginning of our bachelor's, but we had the necessary support at the time and decided to continue pursuing a career in tech. However, we're aware that not all girls have this support or resources to prevent them from abandoning their interest in technology. 

While setting the network's goals for 2019, we realized that it was necessary to create a program to provide these students with the necessary support system so they don't abandon their career goals. Finally, in 2020, Women Who Code Merida collaborated with the Faculty of Mathematics of the Autonomous University of Yucatán to launch the first edition of the mentoring program. 

A mentor is a person who shares knowledge, skills, and experience to help others progress in their own lives and careers. During the program, a mentor is assigned to a student to help them define and achieve objectives, face challenges, solve problems, develop knowledge and skills during monthly sessions. In addition, WWCode Merida offers workshops that help them in their training.

Through the program, the following objectives are expected to be achieved:

• Reduce the dropout rate in the early years of the career
• Increase the confidence of female students in the IT field.
• Provide support to overcome difficulties during their first years.
• Strengthen the sense of community among women in the IT field.
• Provide an overview of job opportunities nationally and internationally.

We send surveys to get feedback about the experiences and objectives defined between the mentor and the student. According to the data obtained, among the most outstanding goals that the students seek advice on are:

• Academic advice
• Technical advice
• Soft Skills' Advice
• Leadership skills development
• Industry advice

Some of the experiences captured in the surveys about the benefits of having a mentor are:

• "I really liked her, I identified with her, and the advice I received was useful to me."
• "The program seems like an excellent idea to me. I was delighted to meet a girl with experience in the field and who gladly transmits her knowledge."
• "My mentor gives me a lot of information about work in companies, internships, and experiences."
• "I have been able to clarify my doubts about technical things and even organization in my life. It is pleasant and motivating to have someone with whom to consult doubts and talk about things for the IT career."
• "Very enriching; I have learned many things that I didn't know, and that will serve me a lot during university and after graduation."
• "I was able to solve my doubts regarding the professional area to which I want to dedicate myself."

So do not hesitate to look for a mentor in the technology area. It doesn't matter if you're studying, just graduated, or want to switch to a tech career path. There will always be a woman willing to support you. If you are a woman with experience in these areas, we encourage you to support other women studying a tech career, so they don't abandon it. Remember: Dear women, we need you in the Technology Industry!