The Vital Voices Mentoring Walk brought together mentors and mentees in an informal setting to impact new ideas and innovation. It was an educative experience not just for the mentees but also the mentors who got to explore a gamut of new ideas and understand the new thinking emerging amongst entrepreneurs.
The walk, organised by Safecity and Vital Voices Mumbai chapter was partnered by SheThePeople.TV and Grand Hyatt, Santacruz. "Most of us were amazed by the focus and the clarity that these girls had. Many of them had grown up much before their time (the girls from Prerana) and had an immense desire not just to make something of their own lives, but also to help others--social work was a field some were immensely keen on. One girl had even narrowed down her niche to social work with the transgender community," shared Kiran Manral, Ideas Editor of SheThePeople.TV
The mentors were delighted to not just work with the mentees assigned to them, but were open to working with mentees who had been assigned other mentors if they had interest/aptitude in their area of specialisation.
Elsamarie DSilva of Safecity shared, "The Vital Voices Mentoring Walk is a global tradition." The mentors constituted of amazing and accomplished women from the Corporate, The US Consulate Mumbai, Media and Development sectors and have been path breakers in their own right - Kirthi Jayakumar, Poulomi Pal, Kiran Manral, Latha Sankarnarayan, Anupama Kapoor, Aditi Tandon, Sapna Moti Bhavnani, Jaishri Shivaram, Ashwini Syed, Supreet K Singh and Tania Fernandes.
"There is no replacement to mentoring when you are out there building a business or sowing a plan. Mentors appraise you of realities," said Shaili Chopra, Founder, SheThePeople.TV and Vital Voices Fellow.
Kiran Manral added, "Every woman who has been able to carve a path for herself owes it to the women who are starting on that path to guide them in any way they can. Paying it forward through mentoring is the best way to do so."
The Global Mentoring Walk is an opportunity to highlight the importance of women’s leadership, and to accelerate the impact of women leaders through mentoring. Surveys show that individuals who have been mentored are 59% more likely to pay it forward in the same fashion than those who have not been mentored. In fact, women are more likely to mentor others—when compared to men, 65% of female mentees continue the cycle.
Heidi Hattanbach from the US Consulate Mumbai gave a very inspiring keynote address on the challenges women face and the support systems that need to be in place to nurture their aspirations. She encouraged everyone to keep moving forward even though they may be facing roadblocks.
Views from attendees.
Today’s event was wonderful. It touched the lives of everyone present in so many ways. It showed that female mentors offer an important perspective that we simply can't get from any other source - Zarine Mathias, Head L&D, OE and TM
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I had a great time and think this an impactful way to build a link towards seeding a mentor – mentee relationship -Mabel Abraham, Larsen & Toubro
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