Brock's Women in Leadership Program Open for Applications

Following the success of its initial session last spring, Brock University's Deborah Rosati Women in Leadership Mentorship Program is preparing for its second cohort. The program, named for its generous sponsor Deborah Rosati, a corporate director and Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant, is taking applications for the new cycle from January to May.

Deborah, a Brock alumni (BAdmin '84), launched the initiative in 2022 with a substantial contribution to her alma university. She hoped to inspire and encourage the next generation of women leaders at Brock after seeing the transforming effect of mentorship in her own career. The program draws on the success of Rosati's Women Get On Board Inc., a social purpose organization that offered a similar mentorship effort for ambitious female corporate directors.

The program's initial cohort got favorable comments, building connections and mentorship links both inside the university and beyond the community. Ingrid Makus, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and a founding member of the Women in Leadership (WIL) program, underlined the necessity of developing a trusted network of mentors to help Niagara's women develop their leadership ability.

The mentorship program, a WIL project extension, offers both individual and group mentoring. It encourages mentors to share their skills, experiences, and advise with mentees, therefore building a diverse mentoring community. Monthly group sessions with guest speakers are held to supplement one-on-one interactions between mentors and mentees.

Courtney Falardeau, a Med Plus Advisor in Co-op, Career, and Experiential Education and a mentee in the first cohort, emphasized the program's significance. "It was great to be mentored by someone I might not have had a chance to meet in such a large institution, especially during a transitional time to a new role," Falardeau remarked.

Self-identifying women from the Niagara region or the Brock University community are welcome to apply for the mentorship program. Mentors must presently have a leadership position, whereas mentees are people who want to improve their leadership abilities and connect with trustworthy role models who can help them achieve their life and professional objectives. The initiative aspires to continue establishing meaningful relationships, bridging the gap between seasoned leaders and rising community stars.