Global initiatives: Australia: My Mentor (2nd edition)
CD/DVD self-study programme challenges women to step up
The Australian firm offers its women a technologically based educational programme designed to help them build the careers that they want.
Called My Mentor: Challenging Women to Step Up, the programme was designed by top Australian business woman Maureen Frank. Winner of a Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award in 2004, Maureen's work is focused on inspiring women to believe that they can achieve in the business world. The programme is based on the most up to date global research relating to issues that affect women most—and where women need to build some core strengths.
This initiative was initially rolled out nationally to all female directors and partners at the Australian Women’s Forum in May 2008. In 2009 some of these partners and directors received further up-skilling in the programme and are now acting as My Mentor facilitators for selected groups of managers and senior managers across the Australian Firm.
The programme is self paced and is divided into 12 easy modules which come in a kit containing 12 CDs, 3 DVDs and a workbook. Modules include:
- Lead like a woman
- Stop procrastinating – it’s time for action
- Personal brand – understand what you are selling
- Building a plan – for life and career
- Taking calculated risks – shift your mindset
- Raising one’s visibility and selling oneself
- The power of networking
- Communicating to be heard
- Understanding male and female style differences
- Influence and negotiate win-win outcomes
- Striking the balance
- Go for the KNOCKOUT and make it happen!
My Mentor peer groups were also set up in each office, so that participants have the opportunity to meet regularly with other female managers / senior managers going through the programme to discuss each module of the programme.
A participant of the programme commented, "I listened to the mentoring lessons instead of music on my daily walks for a week.... which happened to be the week just before my presentation of a key piece of research to a senior team. I needed a little confidence boost at the time, and the sessions reminded me of stuff that's easy to forget when you're feeling a bit vulnerable".
My Mentor has been so successful in PwC Australia that it is now being piloted by our women in both PwC India and PwC South Africa.
"My Mentor has given me a new appreciation of the impact your communication style can have on people. It's made me focus on my own brand and consider how I might be perceived, but it has also given me skills to help in communicating with different styles of people. I feel more confident armed with this knowledge".
— Caroline, Director, Financial Services
