The 2024 Fortune-US Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership
During the month of December, Vital Voices welcomed 19 talented business leaders from 16 countries across the globe as they began the Fortune — U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership. The program draws on the expertise of America’s most accomplished leaders to enhance the business and leadership skills of international women professionals. This mentorship journey included skills trainings, panel discussions, networking events and a tailored mentorship with top women executives. Some of this year’s mentors included Judith Batty, Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and former Interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, as well as Lorie Jackson, CEO and Executive Leadership Coach at Global Shift Coaching & Consulting LLC. Jackson formerly served as a mentor in the 2022 Fortune International Alumni Component in Cairo.
This year’s programming looked different to past cohorts. Mentees spent the week-long program in DC, engaging in group mentoring sessions with local women leaders and had the opportunity to offer their expertise as mentors to girls from a local DC high school. Mentees were also introduced to Vital Voices, took part in trainings with Vital Voices staff, held discussions with women leaders across sectors, and explored the culturally rich city of the nation’s capital.
An introduction session and opening dinner was held at the Vital Voices Global Headquarters for Women’s Leadership, where the Vital Voices team welcomed mentees by sharing about the Vital Voices Leadership Journey and the impactful experiences to come with the program.
The following days included a tour of Washington DC to some of the legendary monuments in the city. Mentees were able to meet women leaders from the US Department of State such as Stephanie C. Sutton, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Global Public Affairs and business leaders including Allison Shapira, CEO and Founder of Global Public Speaking. Her woman-owned small business empowers leaders around the world to improve their communication skills and grow their impact. Shapira’s sessions helped mentees build their confidence in public speaking and offered advice on how to transform networking conversations into potential opportunities. Shapira reminded mentees that “everyone needs these [public speaking] skills, but when we [women] lack them, it costs us more.” Furthermore, the mentees participated in sessions on the Vital Voices Leadership Journey, a model of leadership based off the experiences of women leaders in the Vital Voices network. Mentees spent their time identifying their driving force, a practice that focuses on the purpose and fuel that inspires leaders, even in the face of challenges. Alyse Nelson, cofounder and CEO of Vital Voices, reminded participants that “women lead differently, using their power to empower others.”
On the last days of programming, the mentees planned their holistic life map with Zoe Dean-Smith, Senior Vice President of the Leadership and Social Impact team at Vital Voices. Participants spent time setting goals focused on their personal development. Additionally, they were able to visit a local high school in Washington DC to play the role of mentor for young high school girls. After a fantastic week of programming and learning from other women leaders around the world, we wish the mentees luck as they reflect on their learnings and apply the leadership skills they have learned to the groundbreaking work that they do.
