Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walks Held Across India

Commemorating International Women’s Day at the Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walks were held across India - A historic 150+ Global Mentoring Walks took place in over 60 countries around the world on the 10^th of March this year.

As they walk, each established leader guides, advises and supports an emerging leader as they discuss professional challenges and triumphs.

Each year, members of Vital Voices’ Global Leadership Network organize Global Mentoring Walk events in their communities around the world, convening established and emerging women leaders to walk together and form mentoring relationships. As they walk, each established leader guides, advises and supports an emerging leader as they discuss professional challenges and triumphs. Held on the same weekend in countries around the world, the Mentoring Walk activates the power of the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network. The Global Mentoring Walk is one of the most inspiring ways for members of the Vital Voices networks to give back to their own communities and encourage women leaders to support and mentor younger women.

JAIPUR EDITION: Vital Voices Mentoring Walks

PUNE EDITION: Vital Voices Mentoring Walks2018

DELHI EDITION: Vital Voices Mentoring Walks 2018

MUMBAI EDITION: Vital Voices Mentoring Walks 2018

Thanks to the incredible partnerships of the network, the 2018 Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk was  the largest to date. We are counting 151 walks in 61 countries, and thousands of women will be a part of this global movement for International Women’s Day.

The Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walks is an opportunity to highlight the importance of women’s leadership, and to accelerate the impact of women leaders through mentoring.

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. Mentoring is proven to be one of the most important steps to a successful career; it opens doors to new networks, collaboration, and opportunities. Mentoring is a particularly effective support system for meeting challenges that women face in common or that affect women in particular. Women who are mentored are more likely to become mentors themselves and “pay it forward.” Host of the Bangalore walk, Manjula Dharmalingam said, “We were actively trained on how to create a unique place where mentors can pass the friendly advice to mentees and build stronger communities."

BANGALORE EDITION: Vital Voices Mentoring Walks 2018

The concept for this initiative derived from American media icon, founder and former CEO of Oxygen Media, Geraldine Laybourne. Her busy schedule did not allow for her to meet with the dozens of young women who were eager to learn from her and receive her advice. Instead of rejecting these meeting requests, she offered the young women the opportunity to join her on her morning walk each day in New York City. This quickly became a regular occurrence. Eventually, she launched the Mentoring Walks in cities across the United States as a means for emerging women leaders to meet with top women leaders across sectors. Since 2008, the annual Global Mentoring Walk has reached thousands of women in over a dozen countries across the globe.

The Global Mentoring walk is a movement to promote women mentoring women. It is true that shared
power expands. With more than 150 walks across the globe, women, male champions and young girls
join hands together to inspire, support and encourage each other" says Sarika Bhattacharyya, CEO, BD
Foundation.

“A mentoring walk is a great opportunity to spend some enriching one on one time with role models. The
brief but intense interaction is a unique way to get a powerful dose of advice which can have long term
benefits" says Apurva Purohit, President, Jagran Group; who is a mentor to Sarika Bhattacharyya and
looks forward to pay-it-forward every day.

Shaili Chopra, founder of SheThePeople.TV noted this was a most effective way to connect women and make a beginning for them to find mentors.

Over 20 walks were held across India this year, led by inspiring women leaders from India – all Vital Voices alumni - including Archana Surana, Smita Mankad, Sarika Bhattacharya, Rashmi Tiwari, Vaishali Neotia, Priti Patkar, Elsa Marie, Sohini Chakraborty, and others.

Smita Mankad, Vital Voices (Fortune, GAP & VV100) alumni and LSR Alumni, "The Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk is an amazing platform to bring together women from all walks of life, to network in a fun and informal way. It not just expands their horizons but builds relationships for life. FICCI FLO, Arch Academy of Design and the LSR Alumni Association brought together 3 powerhouse groups of women whose impact will be exponential! Looking forward to a growing community of women mentoring women."

Founder of SheThePeople, also a Vital Voices fellow said, "These walks are a meeting ground for paying it forward. Women who do can connect with mentors and seek guidance and even partnerships."