A recent survey conducted by Harvard Business Review, involving more than 600 HR executives worldwide, revealed that there is a near consensus among companies that coaching and mentoring are the most effective techniques in developing leadership skills and professionals in organizations of all sizes. The same logic has been applied to the Women in Tech program since 2023. This initiative, conceived by the Paulo Cunha Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub, has created a mentoring front that has already seen the participation of nineteen pairs.

 

According to Carolina Fouad, coordinator responsible for the Women in Tech project at Insper, the initiative not only connects students to experienced professionals but also creates a rich space for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and valuable guidance. Additionally, it fosters a female support network within STEM careers (which include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), areas known for having low female participation.

 

“For the mentees, it is a unique opportunity to develop skills, clarify career doubts, and build a network of contacts that can open doors in the job market. For the mentors, the impact is equally significant: sharing their experiences, guiding young talents, and contributing to the formation of future leaders,” says Carolina. “This mutual exchange strengthens both parties and helps create a more diverse ecosystem prepared for future challenges.”

 

The second edition of the mentoring program is underway with nine pairs of mentors and mentees. The duration is two months, with three meetings between each pair, and is usually conducted online. “The flexible format allows the pairs to define together the focus of the mentorship. Additionally, the model offers the freedom to address relevant issues for the development of personal and professional skills,” explains Carolina.

 

According to her, there are plans to conduct mentoring sessions semiannually in 2025, with the goal of continuously expanding and improving the program based on received results and feedback. “With this structure, the Women in Tech mentorships have the potential to continue growing and positively impacting their participants. Next year, we will invite Insper professors to help us give more structure and bring new methodologies to the new editions of the mentoring program,” she highlights.

 

 

Help to find the right path

 

Gabrielly Carneiro Susko, 25 years old, a student in the 4th semester of the Computer Engineering program at Insper, is one of the participants in the current mentoring group. According to her, when she joined the program, the main objective was to understand if she was indeed on the right path. “At times, I did not identify much with Engineering and did not know if there was a segment that made sense with the characteristics I have. The mentorship has been very important in this process,” she says.

 

For the student, the contact with her mentor Ilma Laurindo, Head of Product and Technology at Mimo Live Sales, has been important for a matter of identification. “She has already faced some of the difficulties I currently feel and shared how she overcame them. She also helped me understand how I can position myself to gain recognition among colleagues and professors and interact with other people to achieve my goals,” affirms Gabrielly. “The guidance helped calm me down and define my next steps,” she adds.

 

For Ilma, contact with the mentee is a way to give back for the opportunities she has had in life. “Mentoring women in the technology field is a way to make a difference and expand the impact of innovation. I have over ten years of experience as a mentor, guiding professionals and entrepreneurs on their personal and professional growth journeys. This experience has given me a broad view of different challenges and opportunities, as well as reinforcing my commitment to talent development,” she states.

 

 

Expanding horizons

 

According to Isabella Murakami, Growth Business Partner at Zallpy Digital, and one of the mentors of Women in Tech, the program is a powerful tool for expanding horizons, preparing future leaders, and promoting diversity. “The experience has been extremely enriching. Having contact with the perceptions, challenges, and ambitions of young people who have not yet entered the market, whether as collaborators or entrepreneurs, brought new perspectives on the transformative potential of the next generation,” she explains.

 

Isabella is the mentor of Luana Wilner Abramoff, 22 years old, a student in the 7th semester of Computer Engineering at Insper. The young student states that the motivation to participate in the program was to understand how she could enter the job market, given that she is enrolled in a full-time course and had few opportunities to connect. “My mentor has an incredible story and a background in corporations in the STEM field. She has a lot of attitude and a life vision that inspires me a lot. I am sure this encounter has made me more prepared for the job market,” says Luana.

 

 

Preparing students for the job market

 

Business advisor Renata Frischer Vilenky, who is also one of the mentors in the current edition of the program, says that the relationship with Insper is longstanding. “I am an alumna, a scholarship donor, coordinator of the Technology and Entrepreneurship Committee, member of the Health Committee, and mentor of various programs at the institution,” she says.

 

For her, the purpose is to help these young women prepare for the job market. “Planning and prior preparation are great mitigators of risk for frustration and rejection of the potential for positive societal impact. The professional gains are always in learning about the human being and in my own development with the questions that make me reflect on myself as well. Mentoring is a great exercise in gratitude,” she emphasizes.

 

Beatriz Borges Zackiewicz, 21 years old, is in the 6th semester of Computer Engineering at Insper and is paired with Renata in the mentoring program. For her, the main gains from the program are in increasing the perspective of possible professional paths before specializing. “The STEM field is still a place with gender bias. So, my focus is to be better prepared to face these challenges. The exchanges with Renata involve topics such as technology, innovation, and business and contribute to the professional I aspire to become,” she says.