MENTORSHIP

Empowering Women Globally - Catalyzing Success

Women in Chemicals Mentorship Program is a global initiative that connects women mentees with women and male mentors across the Americas, EAMEI, and APAC.

Rooted in the WIC mission to create opportunity and visibility for women in chemicals and guided by our mentorship values — Connect • Empower • Exchange — the program fosters lasting relationships that drive growth, confidence, and industry impact.

Cohort 2026 - Apply
You must be a WIC member to apply. Not a member yet? Join in.

Key Dates

  • November 2025: Application Open

  • December 2025 - early January 2026: Matching & Program Admission

  • Jan - Oct 2026: Program Run

  • September 2026: WIC Mentorship Community In-Person

  • *September 2026 · WIC Conference · Miami (Open to all mentors and mentees from every cohort — Pilot through 2026).

*Attendance is optional yet encouraged. Secure your seat here.

Cohort 2026 timeline is designed to welcome participants from the Americas, EAME, and APAC, with scheduling that accommodates multiple time zones.

Download Full Calendar (PDF)

Program Structure

  • Duration Cohort runs for 9 months, matching mentees and mentors by goals, interests, and expertise to support focused development.

  • 1:1 Mentorship Mentors and mentees commit to at least one hour per month for 1:1 mentoring, with mentees driving the conversation around their growth needs.

  • Cohort Engagement Participants join cohort sessions throughout the nine months to learn, share, and connect across the cohort.

  • Virtual Format Program runs virtually to connect our global community, while encouraging in-person meetings if possible

Overview

The Women in Chemicals Mentorship Program is designed to support women at every career stage across the global chemical industry — regardless of role, function, or experience level — through meaningful, cross-regional connections.

More than guidance, it’s a safe space to grow, gain confidence, and amplify women’s impact through traditional, reverse, or peer-to-peer mentoring.

By pairing women mentees with mentors of all genders — including male allies — the program fosters shared learning, leadership development, and new opportunities within a supportive community that drives both personal growth and industry progress.

WIC Mentorship Fundamentals & Commitments

Fundamentals

Confidentiality • Ethics • Compliance

All mentor–mentee and the cohort interactions are strictly confidential.

Also, participants must not discuss non-public information, competition, markets, or pricing.

This ensures professional integrity, and maintains trust across our global community.

Commitments in Action

CONNECT Cultivate and nurture impactful long-term relationships that foster growth

EMPOWER Create a supportive and inclusive mentorship community where everyone feels like they truly belong

EXCHANGE Gain valuable insights and learn from shared experiences that inspire and empower.

WIC Mentor

A member of Women In Chemicals, female or male, a seasoned professional within the chemical industry, first-time or an experienced mentor. with good communication and active listening skills, and ready to support a mentee’s growth and development.


WIC Mentee

A member of Women In Chemicals, seeking guidance, support, and professional development within the chemical industry, open to learning and receiving feedback, and driving the mentorship journey.



How to Apply

  • Join Women in Chemicals — if you’re not yet a member.

  • Reflect on your goals for this nine-month journey and decide whether to participate as a mentee, mentor, or both.

  • Submit your application before the deadline.

  • Save the Cohort 2026 dates in your calendar.

  • Await confirmation — admission depends on finding a suitable match. We do our best to include as many applicants as possible, but matching outcomes depend on availability and fit.

Cohort 2026 - Apply

The Power of Joining WIC Mentorship

Becoming part of WIC Mentorship means more than joining a program — it’s joining a global network of women and allies shaping the future of the chemical industry.

You’ll gain:

Global connection — Engage with mentors and peers across the Americas, EAMEI, and APAC.

Personalized growth — Develop through 1:1 guidance and shared learning in your cohort.

Empowerment through exchange — Learn, share, and inspire across cultures and disciplines.

Confidence and clarity — Define your goals, enhance leadership skills, and accelerate your career trajectory.

Community impact — Contribute to an inclusive, visible, and connected

Each mentoring relationship is a two-way journey — mentors grow as much as mentees, and together they drive change.

Why Join the WIC Mentorship Program •

Why Join the WIC Mentorship Program •

Across the globe, the WIC Mentorship Program has connected mentees and mentors  who have grown, transformed, and built lifelong relationships.

Here, they share their experiences — stories of connection, courage, and empowerment that reflect the heart of our community.

Every testimony is a reminder that when we lift each other, we all rise.

  • "I am very satisfied with the mentoring program. The mentor I was paired with was incredibly supportive and provided valuable advice and guidance that proved very helpful in my work. The program itself was well-organized, and the supporting app was a great addition — it included meeting schedules, extra materials, and summaries from the online sessions. Many thanks to the organizers for their effort and dedication. It truly made a difference. It was a great experience!"

    Mentee

  • "I've truly enjoyed serving the past 2 years as a Mentor in WIC and have had the privilege of providing guidance, support and encouragement to 2 Ladies in the Chemical Industry. The experience has been deeply rewarding, not only in allowing me the opportunity to help others, but allowing me to listen openly and gain insights that contribute to my own growth, both professionally and personally."

    Mentor

  • "A good mentorship program is driven by a good mentee... and I had one!"

    Mentor

  • "The WIC Mentorship program has helped me tremendously. As a new participant, I didn't know what to expect. I joined the program as a mentor and a mentee and had an impactful experience with both relationships. I shared my personal goals with my Mentor, and she supported and guided me through different scenarios helping me to look at the topic from various viewpoints. She was open to sharing her experiences, struggles, and introduced me to others within her network."

    Mentee & Mentor

  • "Loved the program and match. I had a good connection with my mentee and we were able to learn from each other."

    Mentor

  • "It was wonderful to take some time for personal development! With scheduled regular meetings with my mentor, I was able to focus on personal growth and not just day to day tasks. Reading a book together was a great way to develop strengths!"

    Mentee

  • "This program came at a time where I was struggling to come to grips with what I wanted further in my career and which direction to take. Connecting with my mentor and setting goals at the start, that then changed in between, was a challenging but rewarding experience. I was allowed to: make "mistakes" in a trustful environment, change my mind, go back and forward and was given a space in which I could build confidence and clarity of direction. Much needed and much appreciated!"

    Mentee

  • "The connection provided an opportunity to embrace a new relationship with an open mind. It was an opportunity to build a meaningful relationship. in partnership with WIC mentors. Thank you."

    Mentee

  • "Being part of the WIC Mentorship Program has been an incredibly enriching experience. The mentorship sessions provided a safe and supportive space to reflect, grow, and challenge myself both personally and professionally. Through meaningful conversations and practical guidance, I gained greater self-awareness, improved my leadership skills, and learned how to approach challenges with more empathy and perspective. The program truly helped me align my professional goals with my personal growth journey, and I’m grateful for the network of inspiring women I’ve met along the way."

    Mentee

  • "My WIC Mentee experience has been transforming. I am so grateful for this opportunity and hope to take with me all I have learned in order to share with more people. I can not say enough of the professionalism, human touch and guidance that has been provided to me by my mentor."

    Mentee

  • "Signing up for the program, my goal was to learn more about business, management and tools used in the chemical industry, to be able to help both my company and my customers grow together. I wanted to develop competencies like solving problems, making decisions, taking risks, resolving conflicts, strategic thinking or building relationships. Little did I know, that my Mentor would turn out to be the biggest support in my position change within the company."

    Mentee

  • "I enjoyed getting to know my mentee, and she was making great progress before she quit responding to communications."

    Mentor

  • "It was a very well structured program, with lots of resources and support. The experience in my case got cut short since my mentee went on maternity leave, thus, we stopped."

    Mentor

  • "This was my first time as an official mentor. I’ve unofficially mentored other people throughout my career, but going through the WIC program was a great experience. I enjoyed the website that kept everything in one place. It made it easy to keep track of goals and meetings."

    Mentor

  • "I believe the WIC mentorship program is an excellent initiative and I am pleased to be a mentor in the program and support the growth of women in the chemical industry."

    Mentor

  • "I felt that the mentorship was inspiring. Hopefully my mentee felt the same way."

    Mentor

  • "I appreciate the opportunity to connect with others outside of my company."

    Mentor

  • "It was great speaking to someone with incredible experience outside of my company/field. I found my mentor very relatable and easy to talk to. I learn quite a lot from her and got some very useful tools and perspective to help long-term"

    Mentee

  • "The WIC mentorship program has been such a rewarding experience—not only does it allow me to build meaningful connections, but it also gives me the chance to reflect on my own career journey and growth as I support others in theirs."

    Mentor

  • "I have enjoyed the program, it has been a very good opportunity to connect with others in related industries. This is not something easy to do in my local area. The connection with other mentors has been helpful to know their experiences and suggestions that could be used with my mentee."

    Mentor

  • "The WIC Mentorship program has profoundly impacted my perspective, highlighting the shared nature of challenges, both professional and personal. I've learned that true understanding often comes from direct experience, and my mentee has been an invaluable teacher in this regard. I am deeply grateful for this enriching opportunity and eagerly anticipate future participation."

    Mentor

Upcoming Events

Events
Mentorship Program Cohort 2026 Kickoff
Jan 22
Mentorship Program Cohort 2026 Kickoff

This event is exclusively for the participants of the 2026 Mentorship Cohort.

Read More →

Our Sponsors

Thank you to Coalition for sponsoring Chronus, our mentorship software.

Coalition is the executive management team responsible for creating and developing the growth of Element Chemicals, Mission Chemical. Our team serves small to mid-sized companies in the chemical industry to achieve their operational goals. Coalition takes pride in providing the best possible solution to our customers by starting with the customer in mind and leveling up industry expectations.

Element Chemicals is a premier specialty wholesale chemical manufacturer serving the energy and water treatment industries. Backed by cutting-edge manufacturing and laboratory assets, our expertise spans high-performance chemicals for various sectors enabling rapid formulation and application solutions. With a commitment to excellence and collaborative care, we deliver innovative solutions tailored to our partner’s needs.

Mission Chemical pioneers chemical supply chain solutions through strategic partnerships, comprehensive manufacturing and laboratory assets, and extensive chemical distribution expertise. With a global network and in-house resources, we swiftly tailor comprehensive supply chain solutions to address industry challenges. At Mission Chemical, redefining excellence drives our commitment to innovation and collaborative problem-solving.

Help Topics and Frequently asked questions

Applications

  • Yes you can. Select the option to join as both mentor and mentee at Chronus and your application will cover both.

  • Apply at https://wicmentoring.chronus.com/ and select Join As Mentor. You will be asked if you are applying as a male ally in the application.

  • To complete the application, provide detailed information about your development needs, career aspirations, experience and what you hope to achieve through the program. The more specific you are, the better we can match you with a mentor or mentee who aligns with your goals.

  • All applicants will receive an email from Women in Chemicals Mentorship acknowledging their application has been received.

  • Applicants will receive an email from Women in Chemicals Mentorship confirming their application has been accepted.

  • Yes you can! Members will be notified when applications open for our next cohort and announcements made on our social media. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Matching

  • Partners will receive an email from Women in Chemicals Mentorship confirming their mentor / mentee connection, names and next steps.

  • We also have male ally mentors. You will be asked for your preference in the application and matches will be based on your comfort level.

  • Only if you are comfortable with it. You will be asked for your preference in the application and matches will be based on your comfort level. It is important to note that, regardless of the pairing, mentors and mentees are expected to uphold professional ethics. This includes not sharing proprietary or confidential information about their respective employers without the explicit permission of those employers.

  • Only if you are comfortable with it. You will be asked for your preference in the application and matches will be based on your comfort level.

  • You will be asked for your manager’s name in your application to prevent this from happening.

  • Connections will be virtual but you are welcome (and encouraged) to meet in person if both partners are interested and available.

Mentors

  • Yes you can. See role expectations to determine if you qualify.

  • Participants must be willing to commit a minimum of 1 hour per month to support the mentorship. In addition, we will organize three one-hour interim sessions for the entire group to share experiences and learn from each other.

  • Mentors are expected to offer a minimum of one hour of support and interaction per month to their mentees. They contribute to others' success by providing guidance for personal and professional development, sharing their expertise and experiences. Mentors inspire, encourage reflection, set objectives, and offer constructive feedback. They collaborate with their mentees to understand their goals, determining the specific guidance that will be most beneficial for achieving their full potential. Upholding confidentiality, mutual trust, honesty, respect, effective communication, and maintaining a positive outlook are of utmost importance.

  • Our program offers opportunities for traditional, peer-to-peer and reverse mentoring. What matters most is that mentors bring valuable experience or expertise from which others can learn.

  • If you encounter challenges in the mentorship relationship or have concerns, we encourage you to communicate with your mentee about the situation, if possible. Additionally, please don't hesitate to contact your Mentorship Program Chair. We are committed to providing full support to resolve any issues in a positive and satisfactory manner.

Mentees

  • Participants must be willing to commit a minimum of 1 hour per month to support the mentorship. In addition, we will organize three one-hour interim sessions for the entire group to share experiences and learn from each other.

  • Once matched, the mentee should take the first step by initiating contact and setting up the introductory meeting with their mentor. It should take place between the Kick-Off session and a week after Onboarding at the latest.

  • If you encounter challenges in the mentorship relationship or have concerns, we encourage you to communicate with your mentor about the situation, if possible. Additionally, please don't hesitate to contact your Mentorship Program Chair or Admin via Chronus. We are committed to providing full support to resolve any issues in a positive and satisfactory manner.

Question not answered in our FAQs?

If you have any questions not listed in our FAQs, please contact our Mentorship Program Chair kasia@womeninchemicals.com.