How networking impacts personal development

 

PWN Romania is giving a lot of thought on how networks impact on personal development, as it relates to be a strong human capital asset to an organization. We are determined to make networks really count for members, companies and society, much beyond mere box ticking. How do network tools, informal coaching, business contacts, mentoring programs, expert speakers on leadership skills, really impact the development of women’s skills, visibility and leadership roles within your organization? Are you more confident, informed, determined, bold, active, happier due to your involvement in a network? Is there any measurable quanty or qualitative ROI? Is the cause and the effect of your engagement in women’s networks too complex to measure?

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Connecting, creating and contributing – these are the three core tasks that make or break a global leader!

Leaders possessing a global mindset are able to interpret and to decode situations from multiple, even competing, points of view. They have an insatiable interest to learn about other cultures. They care to understand other people’s perspectives and suspend their judgment to do so. They are aware of the economical and political issues around the world and can grasp the inherent complexity of international affairs from multiple national perspectives. Finally, they nurture relationships with associates and friends around the world and have a unique ability to transcend cultural barriers and cultivate trust.

How are these competencies split between men and women in an organization? How can networks build leadership resources related to these global leadership competencies in both short and long term?

We find these questions incredibly important as we continue to add value to women’s advancement in decision taking roles.

We all have a busy agenda and finding time to be active in networks is an ongoing struggle. Our goal is to make the time invested in networks matter today and in the future.

Workshop program

The Mentoring Committee initiates a new project this year (2014). We want to create “defining moments” beyond a one-in-one relationships, via one-to-many and many-to-many meaningful connections.
We are launching the Defining Moments Workshop Series by which we aim to give you valuable teaching and interactions. The series are structured in three clusters:

  • Professional development
  • Personal development
  • Leisure

We aim to bring you 8 of the most interesting themes on each cluster. We need you to define 8 most interesting themes and help us make them happen! Please click below to make your choice.

Mentoring program – Defining Moments workshops – Topics survey

Wide research studies show that once women land leadership positions they excel because they have developed soft skills necessary for effective leadership. Traits like empathy, communication, and listening are qualities that serve women well when in management positions. Research suggests companies with an inclusive culture are six times more likely to be innovative. By staying ahead of changes, they are twice as likely to hit or better financial targets.

Organizations need to ensure there are enough rungs on the ladder to help women climb into management positions. In a period of constant flux, organizations that prioritize a diverse and inclusive culture will be better placed to solve the problems of the future.

Gender diversity in corporate boards it has associated a broad set of business benefits. The advantages include improved financial performance and a shareholder value, increased customer and employee satisfaction, increased confidence of the investor and a better market knowledge and reputation. Currently, women occupy only 15% of non-executive management positions in listed companies in the European Union and only 2% of them are CEOs. In Romania even fewer women, around 12% are breaking the glass ceiling and are promoted as Directors in Boards in the listed comapnies.

A holistic approach is required in order to support women into overcoming barriers and pursuing their careers. Multiple stakeholders may contribute to this:

  • Companies should promote knowledge transfer, follow best practices and lead by example and inspire others within this process,
  • Different programs supporting women in their careers, such as mentoring and coaching projects,
  • Raising awareness among women about their potential and enabling them to develop self-empowerment and assertiveness,
  • The government is an essential partner that can provide the best support through policies aimed at facilitating women’s access to top positions.

PWN Romania follows a systemic approach into supporting its individual members in this process of accelerating their careers.

  • We provide professional development through educational programs developed by Women on Boards Academy, such as “How to become a successful Board member” and ”The Competency Lab for Board Members”.
  • We organize workshops and seminars on major topics for future or current Board members
  • We identify eligible candidates to become Board members and build a data base. We further promote the selected ladies through the Board Ready Women Initiative.
  • We engage men and, with the support of the Mentoring team, we develop mentoring programs with the support of the Menbassadors in order to teach our candidates leadership competences and skills,
  • We advocate and lobby in order to promote gender diversity in Boards,
  • We prepare research and studies in partnership with other relevant institutions, in order to draw attention to gender diversity within Boards of Directors.
 

 

PWN Romania’s mentoring program brings members closer together and enables experienced professionals to be part of the growth and development of those who are at the beginner level of a successful career. Each member interested in becoming a mentor or a mentee (advice recipient) must fill in a standard form stating her goals, expectations and areas of expertise.

The committee of mentoring angels matches candidates according to their strengths and areas of expertise. This is a 6 months program, consisting of monthly meetings held either face-to-face or via phone/ Skype.

PWN Romania’s Mentoring program ran for the fist time as a pilot project in 2013 and took off. The first full-fledged program was in 2013-2014, creating life-changing impact and memories for both mentors and mentees. So far, the program had 6 full editions, creating a community of over 250 mentors and 350 mentees. The 7th edition of the Mentoring program will start this fall, in an online format – to keep our members safe – and will address the challenges created by the pandemic crisis in order to better guide the mentees to reaching their goals.

 

WHAT IS PWN’S MENTORING PROGRAM

As a dynamic non-profit international network of professional women, the Global Professional Women’s Network uses the mentoring program as a tool to promote the professional progress of women in each phase of their career and helps them follow professional career paths.

WHAT EXACTLY IS “MENTORING”?

Mentoring activity is a developmental partnership in which a person with relevant knowledge and experience (a mentor) shares knowledge and skills in order to support other people (a mentee) in their personal and professional development.

WHY BE INVOLVED?

From an individual perspective, mentoring programs facilitate learning and mutual supporting relationships between the mentor and the mentee. The former contributes to the success of the latter by sharing lessons learned in the past and by providing insight into today’s business reality. In exchange, the mentor improves his communication skills and acquires professional recognition through the selection system. Essentially, the mentor provides professional potential development support, as well as access to professional networks which offer further opportunities. The mentee benefits of guidance in establishing and achieving professional goals. Therefore, he gains greater self-confidence and motivation.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER BENEFITS ?

Beyond the individual level, the mentoring program is beneficial also for organizations as it extends business networks and enhances business opportunities. It also improves strategic thinking in HR management (selection of high-potential employees, professional and personal development, more in-depth understanding of the organization).

 

ROMANIA MENTORING PROGRAM

WHO MANAGES THE PROGRAM?

The mentoring program is developed and implemented by the Mentoring Committee (Mentoring Angels):
Chairman: Paula Bușe, Vice-President Mentoring of PWN Romania

Members: Ana Maria Gergely, Raluca Nedelcovici, Mădălina Rădulescu, Paula Bușe, Ximena Reyes, Georgeta Dendrino, Petra Müller Demary.

 The mentoring program consists of four steps:

  • Registration in the program by filling the application forms – Mentee profile or Mentor profile – where the mentor and the mentee describe their profile and the match they are looking for. All profiles will pass among applicants for a first orientation in choosing their match.
  • Program launch – within a special Launch event, where mentors and mentees will gather together for the first time.
    • the mentors will introduce themselves and the mentees will finalize their mentor choice (three choices, in order of preferences);
    • the Mentoring Angels will describe the process and will inform participants about basic skills and best practices;
    • the latecomers will have their last chance to join on the spot.
  • Mentoring sessions will be held between mentors and mentees, online or face to face, depending on conditions.
  • Program Evaluation and Closing Celebration Event will take place in June 2021 and will sum up the program’s results.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Mentoring Program involves at least  6 sessions’ commitment over a period of six months, either face-to-face or online. The duration, the structure and the content of these sessions is set by the two participants, Mentor and Mentee. Relevant best practice information, mid-course status summary and overall evaluation report will reflect the program’s achievements.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

  • If you are a potential Mentee:
    Fill in the Mentee profile form, stating your goals, expectations and little information about yourself.
  • If you would like to become a Mentor:
    Send a CV at the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and fill in the Mentor profile form.

The Mentoring Angels Team will pair Mentors and Mentees by using the steps described above. The Mentoring Angels remain at the disposal of every interested person and provide Mentors and Mentees with required information. They also answer questions and make suggestions regarding further improvement.

 

For women entrepreneurs, PWN Romania is the ideal place for you to learn and share their experiences! At the same time, this is where you could get inspiration and mentoring, if you feel ready to make the big step into becoming an entrepreneur! Moreover, if you took a chance and you are in the start-up phase, we can also offer you support and coaching!

Our vision: Business opportunity. Remote support. Exposure.

We strongly believe that the women entrepreneurs from PWN Romania can extensively benefit from the association’s inner capital knowledge and from PWN Global network’s exposure. Moreover, they can become an inspiration for women outside our organization.

Toolkit for Beginner Entrepreneurs

The program targets women entrepreneurs in general, both PWN members and non-members, however, membership status is compulsory for enrolment. It consists of 13 seminars that provide the basic knowledge to becoming an entrepreneur:

·       Strategy aspects

·       Legal aspects of the business

·       Operational management

·       Tax and accounting aspects

·       Personal Branding

·       Online & Social Media strategy

·       Marketing aspects

·       Sales strategy

·       The negotiation processes

·       Financing solutions

·       The Business Plan

·       Business plans presentations & input

The Toolkit has run for 6 editions so far, incumbing more than 100 hours of volunteer work, more than 30 speakers and over 100 participants. The seventh edition of the Toolkit will begin this fall, in an online format – to ensure the safety of all our participants – and will adapt the content of its curriculum to address the challanges generated by the pandemic crisis for entrepreneurs.

Networking events

We encourage sharing and networking through business events within and outside the community. We also invite Top Romanian entrepreneurs to share their experience and knowledge with the PWN Romania community.

With the help of the Membership Experience team we have also designed networking events on relevant issues for women in Romania, where the PWN Romania members could meet specialists in different areas – Women Get Together – and where the women of PWN could get in contact with leaders in various fields – Inspiring Leadership Moments. 

The PWN Virtual Entrepreneurship Program 2017, certified by the EU Business School

This is an 8-month program covering aspects such as: personal needs, values, wellbeing and health, how to move forward with an idea and to develop an unique business model, strategies and competencies, marketing and sales, and how to take the business to the next level finding the right partner.

PWN Romania is involved in this project alongside other PWN City Networks - Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, Munich, Vienna.

Join and meet us within networking events and discover the power of a strong community!

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