When the New York Women in Communications Foundation decided to move ahead with a plan to promote mentoring, the Board looked at a number of different programs and approaches. Some were too time-consuming for busy members, others didn't seem effective enough. Then it found one that was just right.

 Apply to be a mentor.

The NYWICI eMentoring program is the brainchild of Beth-Ellen Keyes, the founder of Speaker Space (a corporate communications and conference development consulting practice), current member of the NYWICI Foundation Board and Co-chair of the Matrix Awards. Three years ago, Beth-Ellen signed on to mentor a high school student under the auspices of iMentor, an organization that matches mentors with students in the NYC public school system. Through iMentor, she participated in weekly guided e-mail sessions with a student at the Bronx High School of Arts & Letters.

Beth-Ellen’s role with the NYWICI Foundation put her in close contact with students and young professional NYWICI members. As she met with them, she realized that these young women could also benefit from a mentoring program.

The key was to make the program as easy to use as iMentor. She went straight to the source, and NYWICI became one of the first organizations to license New York City’s iMentor program.

Although the new program has been adapted for NYWICI’s needs, it maintains iMentor’s carefully matched mentors and mentees, training process, guided weekly e-mail conversations and occasional in-person meetings. You can learn more about the program here.

The Benefits of Mentoring

Freelance Public Relations Consultant and NYWICI member Hannah Molette is another veteran of the original New York City school program. She says the gratification of seeing her experience benefit someone else was only part of the story. “It made me focus my own thoughts,” she says, helping her zero in her personal career goals in a new way.

Catherine Carlozzi has been mentoring aspiring communicators informally for years. Catherine is a professional speech and business writer who serves on the NYWICI Foundation Board and is a former member of the NYWICI Board. Like many experienced NYWICI members, she entered the workforce at a time when woman mentors were as rare as double-stamped coins. She w

as fortunate enough to find two in the early days of her career.

“I don’t know what I would have done without some female role model,” Catherine says. “And that is part of my motivation.” Another part: “When you mentor young women like this they keep you in tune with things. You get an ear on what’s of interest to younger people, what the trends are.”

Catherine also sees mentoring as an excellent way to provide younger NYWICI members “with the kind of development that will make them leaders in the organization.”

Calling All Mentees

Katie Corrado, a Fordham University freshman majoring in broadcast journalism and a NYWICI Foundation scholarship recipient, is one of Catherine’s current mentees. The relationship began when Katie — then still in high school — came in for her scholarship interview, and Catherine realized they lived in the same New Jersey town. Katie calls Catherine for advice on everything from what to include in an internship submission to directions to NYWICI events. “Catherine is always there for me,” says Katie. “It’s awesome to know someone is guiding me.”

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” NYWICI’s new iMentoring program is a chance for mentors and mentees alike to make a life. Apply now to be a mentor. If you're a student, go to that section to apply to become a mentee!

By Michele Hush

The Foundation's Mission

New York Women in Communications Foundation, the philanthropic arm of New York Women in Communications, Inc., cultivates leaders in our field by providing financial support, opportunities for professional development and mentoring, and entrée to a diverse community of communications professionals. We are the largest foundation for women’s communications scholarships in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut-Pennsylvania region.