The American Lighting Association’s Women in Lighting Committee invites women from all facets of the lighting industry at all experience levels to participate in the first round of Mentor Matching for 2023. Launched in 2020, this popular program matches new pairs of women together every four months to facilitate mentorship and networking.
Women who sign up for the program at LightingWomen.com by Nov. 30, 2022, will be paired with another participant for January through April 2023. During this time period, matches are encouraged to connect with one another at least monthly to convey knowledge and best practices, discuss issues and ideas, and share network connections to enhance personal and professional development.
“I couldn’t be more appreciative of this program and the time my mentor has spent with me,” said Martha Kahn, director of product management for Bulbrite, and Mentor Matching participant. “The history and learning she has shared with me about her career path and various work experiences have not only been enlightening, but inspiring as well. She has become a critical part of my support network and someone who offers real-life insights. It has been really helpful so far and I cannot wait to meet and grow with other members of the Women in Lighting team.”
The evolution of the ALA Women in Lighting Mentor Matching Program has included soliciting feedback from participants, regular check-ins to ensure engagement, and a revamped sign-up questionnaire to optimize the matching process. While matches are made with mentorship in mind, peers may also be paired to encourage women to expand their industry networks.
ALA membership is not a requirement for participation in the program, though participants do need to sign up for each round via the LightingWomen.com website to be matched. The next round of Mentor Matching will take place May through August 2023 with a sign-up deadline in the spring.