Professional Mentoring Programme

What it is:

The Professional Mentoring activity consists of a beneficial exchange between two people defined as:

• A professionally experienced person (Mentor, BPW member) and
• A less experienced person (Mentee, USI student)

The professional development of the mentee benefits from the exchange with the mentor. In turn, the mentor’s personal experience is also enriched by this precious exchange.

Possible topics covered during the Professional Mentoring:

• The first steps to be taken to start a career
• The best way to prepare for the start of a professional activity
• Moving in a male dominated industry
• Negotiating salary and conditions
• Reconciling family and professional commitments

How the Professional Mentoring works:

• Mentoring lasts 6 months. Attendance is scheduled according to the mentor and mentee’s needs (usually 4-5 meetings, virtual or in presence).
• The mentoring programme is voluntary. Interruption of the programme is possible only if motivated by both parties.
• The mentoring process ends with a final report written by the mentee.

Enrolment and admission:

To enroll, students meeting the above criteria may:

1. Fill in the appropriate form attaching your CV and a motivation letter by the 31t October 2024. 
2. Fill in the online form that will be sent by the Career Service October (on the 31 October) by the 5 November 2024.

-> The selection of students admitted as Mentees will be made in concert with the relevant Master's Degree Director contingent on the number of available places.
-> The selected students will be notified by the Career Service and invited to attend a Kick-off Meeting with BPW Mentors.
-> Matching of the Mentee with the Mentor will be carried out by BPW.

Participation requirements for Professional Mentoring:

In order to participate in the Professional Mentoring programme as a Mentee, one must meet the following requirements:

• Be regularly enrolled in a USI Master or PhD programme at the time of application for the Professional Mentoring programme
• Motivation to commit to professional mentoring
• Female students will have priority

Edition 2023/2024:

• Mentees List
• Kick-off Meeting
• Closing Event

Edition 2022/2023:

• Mentees List
• Mentors List (Companies/Sector)
• Professional Mentoring USI/BPW: Kick-off Meeting
• Professional Mentoring USI/BPW: Final Meeting

Mentees Interviews:

• The experience of Shahzard Ajoudani, USI Mentee 2020, mechatronics engineer with a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence from USI: "When art meets artificial intelligence"
• The experience of Martina Di Paoloantonio, USI Mentee 2022, student of the Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication (ESIR) and Patrizia Keiser, BPW Mentor: Testimony Professional Mentoring USI-BPW

Edition 2021/2022:

• Mentees List
• Plenary Meeting Professional Mentoring Programme 13.12.2021
• Flyer USI-BPW Professional Mentoring Program Plenary Meeting

Edition 2020/2021:

• Mentees List
• Professional Mentoring USI/BPW
• Professional Mentoring Chart USI/BPW 20/21

Mentees Video Interview:

• Nadia Younis - Master in Management & Informatics
• Ivana Pallister - Master in Finance
• Lisa Mwaiseghe - Master in Financial Communication
• Elena Bonfiglio - Master in Economia e Politiche Internazionali
• Benedetta Scotto di Santolo - Master in Lingua, letteratura e civiltà italiana