Now accepting applications for the 2021 – 2022 mentorship cycle!
The deadline to apply is August 1, 2021. Pairs will be announced in September 2021.
The National Hydropower Association is pleased to support the Women in Hydropower Mentorship Program, which provides an opportunity for women to connect, generate new friendships and networks, and share experiences in a supportive environment that highlights the powerful contributions women from around the world make in the hydropower industry.
The goal is to create a meaningful connection where the mentor and mentee become collaborators in each other’s success. The mentor brings her life experience and a willingness to listen, give counsel, and provide network connections that support the mentee. The mentee brings her growth and development goals, opportunities, and challenges with a willingness to openly discuss them. This program is open to all women from around the world involved in the hydro industry, including agency, stakeholder and tribal representatives.
Our program provides an opportunity for women to connect, generate new friendships and networks, and share experiences in a supportive environment that highlights the powerful contributions women from around the world make in the hydropower industry. The goal is to create a meaningful connection where the mentor and mentee become collaborators in each other’s success.
“Many women—both in North America and around the world—are participating in this program, providing a unique opportunity to learn from each other, establish relationships, and contribute to each other’s success in the hydroelectric workforce. This past year dealing with the challenges of COVID19 presented an opportunity for our mentorship pairs to reach out and check in on how other women were addressing these work and life challenges,” says Kelly Schaeffer, Kleinschmidt Associates, who serves as Co-Chair of the Women in Hydropower Mentorship Program Steering Committee.
A current mentee noted, “My mentor is one of the most important relationships in my life. This program has activated me to make advances in my career and to be prepared for opportunities as they come.”
“The feedback about women’s experiences in this mentorship program has been overwhelmingly positive and illustrates how critical women-to-women mentorship is.”
-Nora Rosemore, Minnesota Power, Chair of the Women in Hydropower Mentorship Program Steering Committee.
A volunteer Steering Committee, passionate about mentorship and supporting women in the hydro industry, matches applicants into mentorship pairs/groups. Each mentorship pair/group is unique and adapts to a relationship style and meeting format that works best for them, typically meeting once a month for eight months, October to May.
The mentorship program is open to women active in the hydropower industry around the world.
The Steering Committee is also seeking volunteers to serve a minimum 2 year term on the Committee. Visit the website of one of our supporting hydro organizations or email the steering committee at womeninhydropower@gmail.com for an application. Applications will be accepted through August 1, 2021
The initiative is also supported by the International Hydropower Association (IHA), Northwest Hydroelectric Association (NWHA), and Midwest Hydro Users Group (MHUG).
