Expanding Impact: ITWomen’s Mentoring Program Grows with Support from the Akamai Foundation Empower Grant
At ITWomen, our mission has always been clear: inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of women in technology. While scholarships have long been a cornerstone of that mission, we know that financial support alone is not enough. True transformation happens through connection, guidance, and community.
We are proud to share an exciting milestone in our journey. Thanks to a generous Empower Grant from the Akamai Foundation, ITWomen is significantly expanding its mentoring program, deepening support for our scholars and broadening access to mentorship across our growing network through the ITWomen NextGen Program.
From Scholarships to Lifelong Support
For years, ITWomen has paired scholarship recipients with dedicated mentors, women who have walked the path before them and are passionate about giving back. These relationships have been instrumental in helping our scholars navigate college, build confidence, and pursue careers in technology and engineering.
With this new support, we are evolving from a mentoring program into a scalable mentorship ecosystem, one that ensures every scholar has access to meaningful, structured, and impactful guidance throughout their journey.
What This Expansion Enables
The Empower Grant allows ITWomen to strengthen and expand mentoring in several key ways:
1. Scaling the ITWomen NextGen Mentoring Program
We are expanding beyond our scholarship recipients to support a broader community of young women through the ITWomen NextGen Program. This means:
- More mentees gaining access to experienced mentors
- Increased opportunities for early exposure to careers in technology
- A stronger, more connected pipeline of future female tech leaders
2. Enhancing the Mentor Experience
Mentors are the heart of this program. With expanded resources, we are:
- Providing structured onboarding and guidance
- Creating clearer engagement pathways and expectations
- Offering more opportunities for mentors to stay actively involved through events, speaker sessions, and group mentoring
3. Investing in Program Infrastructure
To support this growth, we are building a more robust operational foundation, including:
- Improved tracking and engagement through platforms like CRM
- Dedicated program coordination to ensure consistent communication and support
- Scalable processes that allow us to grow without losing the personal touch that defines ITWomen
4. Creating Meaningful Connections at Scale
We are introducing more structured touchpoints, including:
- Bi-monthly Scholar & Mentor virtual sessions featuring industry speakers
- Quarterly check-ins to ensure alignment, engagement, and progress
- Opportunities for mentors and mentees to collaborate on real-world challenges, including initiatives like the AI for Good Challenge
Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever
In today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, where AI, data, and digital transformation are reshaping every industry, access to guidance and real-world insight is critical.
Mentorship helps bridge the gap between education and opportunity. It provides:
- Confidence to navigate complex career paths
- Exposure to real-world challenges and solutions
- Access to networks that open doors
For many of our scholars, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, this support can be life-changing.
A Community Effort
This expansion is not just about program growth, it’s about community.
We are incredibly grateful to the Akamai Foundation for their belief in our mission and their commitment to empowering young women in technology.
We are equally grateful to our mentors, partners, and supporters who continue to invest their time, expertise, and passion into shaping the future of our scholars.
Looking Ahead
As we scale the ITWomen mentoring program, our focus remains the same: creating meaningful, lasting impact, one connection at a time.
We invite our community to be part of this next chapter:
- Become a mentor
- Volunteer as a speaker
Together, we are not just supporting careers, we are shaping futures.
Learn more about ITWomen’s mentoring program, and how you can get involved.