Mentorship

Mentorship is one of the most powerful ways we support women building careers in maritime operations. The maritime industry is built on knowledge, experience, and relationships, and mentorship helps ensure that insight and opportunity are shared across generations of professionals. Through the WIMOs mentorship program, experienced leaders and emerging professionals connect to exchange guidance, expand networks, and strengthen the community of women working across maritime operations. By creating meaningful connections between mentors and protégés WIMOs continues to grow a strong network that uplifts women and supports long-term success throughout the industry.

Program Purpose

WIMOs mentorship supports all of our main goals: to educate, engage, and elevate women in maritime operations. Through mentorship we match mentors and protégés to help our early career members to achieve her desired level of leadership and achievement in her career. Mentors are guided through the process and gain access to mentor-only networking events.

Mentoring Program Overview

The WIMOs Mentoring operates in three 16-week cohorts each year, offering a structured yet flexible experience designed to support professional growth. Participants are matched into mentor/protégé pairs and receive:

Monthly themes to guide discussions
Flexible conversation frameworks
Reflection prompts
Action-oriented exercises

This balance of structure and flexibility allows participants to engage in a way that fits their schedules while still driving meaningful progress.

Who Can Be a Mentor?

Mentors must be a WIMOs Member who is available to volunteer her time and is willing to share her industry knowledge and experiences.

Who Can Be a Protégé?

Women who are contemplating or starting a career in the maritime industry
WIMOs and non-WIMOs members
Female active military and veterans
Female college students

Become a Mentor

Serving as a mentor through WIMOs is an opportunity to shape the future of the maritime industry while strengthening your own leadership and professional network. Mentors share their expertise, help guide career development, and play an important role in encouraging the next generation of women in maritime operations.

Give back by supporting emerging professionals
Share knowledge and real-world industry experience
Expand professional networks across WIMOs chapters
Strengthen leadership and communication skills
Help build a stronger pipeline of women in maritime careers

Become a Protégé

Protégés gain valuable insight from professionals who understand the unique challenges and opportunities within maritime operations. Through mentorship, members gain insight, encouragement, and connections that help them grow with confidence in their careers.

Through the program, you will:

Receive career guidance from experienced maritime professionals
Expand industry network
Gain confidence navigating the maritime industry
Learn practical skills and insights from real-world experience
Build relationships that support long-term career growth

Matching Process

Participants in the Mentoring Cohort are thoughtfully paired based on experience level, career interests, and goals to ensure meaningful, productive relationships. The goal of the matching process is to create mentor/protégé partnerships where both individuals can engage in relevant, insightful conversations that support real professional growth. Whenever possible, matches are made to align with shared industry interests, career trajectories, or specific areas of development, while also encouraging exposure to new perspectives. Each pairing is designed to foster open dialogue, mutual respect, and a strong foundation for learning over the course of the program.

Commitment

The Mentoring Cohort is designed to be flexible while still encouraging consistent engagement over the 16-week program. Participants are expected to meet approximately 1–2 times per month, for a total of 4–8 meetings, and come prepared to actively participate in discussions, complete reflection prompts, and follow through on agreed-upon action steps. While the structure provides monthly themes and guidance, the success of the program depends on each participant’s willingness to prioritize the relationship, communicate openly, and stay accountable to their goals. A shared commitment to showing up, staying engaged, and investing in the process ensures a valuable experience for both mentor and protégé.

Mentoring Program Guidelines

A person can be both a protégé and mentor

Matching via online questionnaire

Protégés and mentors will not be matched if they work at the same company

Mentors and protégés can either be local or from different geographic areas

Mentoring can last for many years or only a few months, depending on the needs of the protégé and/or time commitment of the mentor

There should be a means for both protégé and mentor feedback

Mentoring can end at any time for any reason at the discretion of the protégé and/or mentor

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Be a Mentor?

Mentors must be WIMOs members who are willing to volunteer their time and share their industry knowledge and experiences.

Who Can Be a Protégé?

Women who are contemplating or starting a career in the maritime industry
WIMOs and non-WIMOs members
Female active military and veterans
Female college students

Do you offer mentors?

Yes. WIMOs offers a mentorship cohort program that participants can apply to join. The current cohort begins in June 2026 and lasts 16 weeks.

I'm already a registered Mentor/Protege; do I have to register again for each Cohort?

Yes. Participants must register separately for each mentorship cohort.

How old do you have to be to participate in the mentoring program as a Protege?

Participants must be at least 18 years old and interested in, or currently pursuing, a maritime certification, degree, or career.