The American Lighting Association’s (ALA) Women in Lighting Committee has launched a new Mentor Matching program, which is open to any woman who is an ALA member. All segments of the industry and all experience levels are welcome to join.
This new program will randomly pair participants with each other to encourage networking and expand members’ industry contacts. Pairings will change each quarter to rotate mentors and help to establish more one-on-one contacts between members.
Pairs will be encouraged to have a call with each other at least once a month. As a reminder to connect with your mentor, Women in Lighting will post suggested conversation topics each week to the Women in Lighting Facebook Group page. These reminders will also be e-mailed to participants in the program.
“We want to be the conduit to make connections between women in the industry, but we also want to get out of the way and let relationships form organically,” said Women in Lighting Co-Chair Laura Van Zeyl. “Once contact is established, even after the mentorship assignment rotates, that’s one more person to tap when there’s a question or a need. It’s also an opportunity for individuals to introduce a new contact to their existing networks to further expand the reach and value of the program.”
Sign up for the mentor matching program on the Women in Lighting landing page on the ALA website. While supplies last, any woman who signs up for the program will receive a complimentary Women in Lighting reusable fabric face mask.
Watch that same page and the Women in Lighting Facebook Group for details also about an online Women in Lighting event that will precede ALA’s Sept. 14-16 Virtual Symposium.
The first Mentor Matching pairings will be assigned in September from participants who sign up by Aug. 15. The next round of pairings will have December deadline for new participants, with pairing assignments commencing January 2021.