Professional Mentoring Programme

Launched for the first time in the 2020/2021 academic year, the BPW-USI Professional Mentoring is a programme aimed at female Masters and PhD students at USI that offers targeted and individual professional counselling with the aim of supporting mentees in the stages of entering the world of work, providing support in facing challenges in the professional sphere and reconciling private and working life.

The professional mentoring programme is implemented by Business Professional Women Club Ticino in cooperation with the Equal Opportunities Service.

A selected group of female professionals (Mentors) belonging to the BPW network, on a voluntary basis, offer professional advice to USI Master's and PhD students (Mentees) on a one-to-one basis (Mentor/Mentee).

2026-2027 Edition

• From May 19 to October 9, 2026, registration is officially open for the new edition of the BPW–USI Professional Mentoring Program 2026-2027. You can register at the following link: REGISTRATION. Spots are limited.
• The program is aimed at Master's and PhD students at USI who are interested in receiving individual professional support from experienced mentors who are part of the BPW network. Students who have already participated in the program may also apply; however, priority will be given to new applicants.

The Program offers:

• Individual meetings (4–5) from October 2026 to May 2027, either online or in person with professional women.
• Support in defining professional goals, managing work-related challenges, and balancing private life and career
• Company Visits: two site visits between October 2026 and May 2027
• A thematic workshop on the topic of Women's Leadership

What is Professional Mentoring:

Professional Mentoring consists of a fruitful exchange between two persons defined as:

• A professionally experienced person (Mentor, BPW member) and
• A professionally less experienced person (Mentee, USI Student).
• A mentee benefits from her mentor's experience for her own professional development. In turn, the mentor experiences the passing on of her knowledge and experience to the mentee as a personal enrichment.

Possible topics covered during a professional mentoring session;

• What are the first steps to take when starting a career?
• How best to prepare for the start of a career?
• How to move in a male-dominated working environment?
• How to negotiate one's salary conditions?
• How to reconcile family and professional commitments?

How professional Mentoring works:

• Mentoring lasts 6 months, with a frequency of meetings (virtual or in person) jointly established by mentor and mentee (usually 4-5 meetings).
• The mentoring programme is voluntary and can be discontinued at any time by either party, provided the organisers are informed.
• The mentoring process ends with the mentee completing a final report.