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Women in Tech mentorship program completes its first cycle

The first cycle of the new Women in Tech mentorship program closed with mentors and mentees meeting face-to-face for the first time on campus after their four months of virtual communication.

The first cycle of the new Women in Tech mentorship program closed with mentors and mentees meeting face-to-face for the first time on campus after their four months of virtual communication.

IE Business School Dean Martin Boehm and IMBA Associate Dean Jose Esteves were on hand to celebrate the success of the program that pairs female students International Master in Business Administration (IMBA) with women mentors from top tech companies for guidance.

“Offering this program for female students highlights our commitment to supporting women not only in the business world, but specifically those focused on tech-related fields,” Boehm said. “We have an all-star line-up of mentors that is each supremely equipped to guide our female students to success.”

"Female role models in tech are especially important because they can show to the mentees the path and opportunities that are out there."

IMBA Associate Dean Jose Esteves

Program coordinator Alessandra Aloisio, who previously worked in the tech sector at Microsoft and Nokia, engaged the current mentors in her current role as Director of Global Recruiter Relations for IE’s Talent & Careers. The Women in Tech mentors include Coia Pons from Amazon, Elisabete Ramalho from Google, Elena Yndurain from IBM, Juana Fernandez from Microsoft, Blanca Ferrero Rodriguez from MasterCard, Elena Alfaro from BBVA, Carolina Fabregas from Telefónica, Leticia Alvarez from Gartner and Elena Bris Nieto from Amazon.

Women in Tech mentorship program completes its first cycle
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JUANA FERNANDEZ AND COIA PONS

The pioneering program was the brainchild of Esteves when he started as dean of the IMBA earlier this year and who said there is no substitute for strong female role models.

“The women and tech program partners female students with female leaders in the industry, who act not just as mentors but as role models for how to succeed in tech,” Esteves explained. “Female role models in tech are especially important because they can show to the mentees the path and opportunities that are out there, and also share experiences, provide inspiration and motivate mentees to pursue a career in tech because they are proof that it is possible.”

The mentors who meet online in virtual one-on-one sessions during the four-month program are women with senior positions in companies like Google, Telefonica, Amazon and Ikea. The program is offered exclusively to female IMBA students interested in developing a career in technology focuses on clear business goals, interviewing techniques, career guidance and networking.

“Establishing a mentoring relation with a successful female leader helps students to navigate career options in tech companies and build confidence in their career decisions. On the other side, there are also tangible benefits for companies when they increase the percentage of women at their executive level,” states Alessandra Aloisio, Director of Recruiter Relations and Partnerships.

Mentors applauded the program as an important tool for young women.

“The mentoring program can help female students take the leap into a tech-career by getting first-hand information on how to navigate the tech world, learn about different work paths to build confidence and trust in the leadership journey,” said Elena Yndurain, Global Strategy Consulting for Financial Sector, IBM Q.

Women in Tech mentorship program completes its first cycle
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ELENA YNDURAIN & BLANCA FERRERO

Mentors and mentees enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation at the closing event, discussing teamwork and career-related objectives. Afterwards, mentors reviewed the students’ CVs and handled mock interview session, where the students got direct feedback.

Students said they benefited from the program and gave them confidence in themselves.

“The Women in Tech Mentoring program paired me with a mentor who inspired and encouraged me,” said Erdoo Tor-Agbidye. “Through sharing her success as a leader, my mentor, enabled me to see myself in the world of tech and guided me on how to be a part of it through my own skills.”

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Coia Pons | IE Business School

"It has been an amazing experience, I have learned much more than what I had expected!"

Coia Pons

SEU Head of VFlex, Head of External Fultfilment for Itali and Spain (Amazon)

Blanca Ferrero | IE Business School

"It is very gratifying to see how talented and self-driven new female generations are. And it is more gratifying to see that my own experience can be of help to these high potential women"

Blanca Ferrero

Vice President, Product and Innovation- Mastercard 

Alessandra Aloisio | IE Business School

"Establishing a mentoring relation with a successful female leader help students to navigate careers options in Tech companies and to build confidence in their career decisions. On the other side, there are also tangible benefits for companies when they increase the percentage of women at their executive level"

Alessandra Aloisio

Management in sales, business and global responsibility (Microsoft, Nokia), Director Recruiter Relations and Partnerships-IE Talent and Careers

Elena Alfaro | IE Business School

"Having the opportunity to contribute to young women career development is in fact a chance to influence our future, where they will definitely have a key role. Also, It has been very enriching for me and I expect to continue learning from new mentees in the future"

Elena Alfaro

Global Head of Data and Open Innovation - BBVA

Carolina Fabregas | IE Business School

"As a mentor, I’ve been able to pass on my knowledge and experience while learning about others. As a mentee I have received invaluable insight into all aspects professionally and personally."

Carolina Fabregas

Global Digital and Marketing Leader - Telefónica 

Elisabete Ramalho | IE Business School

"Helping Emerging Leading Women in Tech Achieve Full Potential"

Elisabete Ramalho

Head of Business Relationships, global brands - Google 

Juana Fernandez | IE Business School

"Mentoring is more than the transfer of advice, knowledge and insights. I am strongly committed to the cause of have more women in technology business and through mentorship we can encourage them to embrace a career in tech"

Juana Fernández

EMEA Parter lead - Microsoft 

Elena Yndurain | IE Business School

"The mentoring program can help female students take the leap into a tech-career by getting first-hand information on how to navigate the tech world, learn about different work paths to build confidence and trust in the leadership journey"

Elena Yndurain

Global Strategy Consulting for Financial Sector - IBM Q

Elena Bris Nieto | IE Business School

"I'm an 8 year Amazonian that enjoys starting programs from scratch and problem solving, balancing strategy and day-to-day operations, managing multiple stakeholders globally and country expansion"

Elena Bris Nieto

Amazon 

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