The WIIS Brussels mentoring programme is a professional development scheme for women active in the fields of international relations, security and defence. It offers women professionals the opportunity to enhance their skills, seek advice, and discuss the challenges and opportunities they encounter in their professional lives. The programme seeks to help participants grow in their line of work with the support of seasoned professionals. The group of WIIS Brussels mentors consists of experienced officials from the EU institutions and NATO, as well as experts from academia, the private and public sectors. The individual mentor-mentee and group meetings during the programme serve as a vibrant platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience.
Mentoring programme starts (exact date tbc)
October 31, 2025
What to expect?
Our mentoring programme runs for six months and is built around individual meetings between Mentees and their Mentors. Participants in the mentoring scheme also enjoy access to a range of additional workshops and networking sessions offered by WIIS Brussels, aimed at further enriching the overall experience. Selected candidates must become WIIS members and pay a membership fee ranging from €25 to €75 per year, depending on their profile (rates indicated at the WIIS Brussels website). This fee includes access to all events, training workshops, and networking happy hours. The mentorship itself is free of additional charges; mentors are volunteers who are experienced professionals from diverse backgrounds, eager to share their knowledge with motivated mentees. We recommend to each mentoring pair to meet at least once per month. The individual meetings will be supplemented by a set of gatherings with the full group. The selection for the mentorship program includes the following 4 phases. Preselection (1): Candidates complete a standard questionnaire to establish their profile, interests, and objectives. This phase is crucial due to the high number of applicants compared to available mentors. Eligibility Interview (2): Preselected candidates are interviewed by the WIIS mentoring program coordinator to confirm their eligibility. Matching Interview (3): Candidates meet with their proposed mentor to ensure a good fit and mutual expectations. Agreement and Mentorship (4) Upon mutual agreement, the mentee and mentor sign a convention outlining the mentorship duration (up to 6 months), meeting frequency (in-person and virtual), and expected outcomes.
"The mentoring programme helped me confirm previous career choices and my future career path. I have learnt to appreciate what I have and where I am now."
"I have been a mentee and a mentor. The long-term, development-driven, relation-oriented nature of these mentoring programmes are key to my career."
"The programme has changed me, my mentality, my conceptions and expectations of the working world. It has made me tougher and more resilient."
27
Mentees
Benefit for Mentees
- Gain a Clearer Career Focus: Develop a more precise understanding of the steps needed to advance in your field.
- Receive Constructive Feedback: Obtain essential feedback in critical areas such as subject knowledge and soft skills.
- Learn from Experienced Professionals: Benefit from the mentor’s wealth of experience and insights, helping you navigate your career path more effectively.
27
Mentors
Benefits for Mentors
- Develop New Skills: Enhance your own skill set through the mentoring experience.
- Refine Leadership and Management: Improve your leadership and management style by mentoring others.
- Share Expertise and Experience: Pass on your knowledge to the next generation, contributing to their growth and success.
Past editions
2022-2023
30 Mentors
30 Mentees
2021-2022
27 Mentors
27 Mentees
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