Cloud talent firm Tenth Revolution Group has launched the MentorMe programme to help solve gender inequality in tech; launching this week, it will see “experienced IT leaders guiding newer tech professionals to retain and attract more women to the industry.”
With cloud platforms “facing a critical skills shortage”, MentorMe aims to not only attract more women into the industry but to make them stay too; currently, 50% of women leave the tech sector by age 35, according to research from women’s skills-building organisation, Girls Who Code.
Mentees of all levels will be matched “with a professional working within the same ecosystem,” ensuring they “benefit from a platform-specific experience.” They will be given experience on platforms including AWS, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Mentors are asked to support their mentees for six months, with an option to extend the mentorship further if both parties agree.
The cost-free initiative will include guidance from Tenth Revolution Group throughout the programme’s duration. They will also put on “a full induction session that will help mentors create a tailored programme to the individuals they work with, meaning mentees get the specific support they need.”
The company’s “Diversity Matters committee” will manage the mentorships for the initial period, including “supervising feedback sessions and ensuring the relationships are positively structured.”
The aim is for the mentorships to continue informally after the official period ends, thereby enabling “organic network building”, and the facilitation of “new partnerships as the programme expands further.”
Dal Bamford, Chief Customer Officer at Tenth Revolution Group, said: “I’ve seen first-hand the difference that a mentor can make for ambitious professionals. Careers in technology can often feel isolating. In an industry that is traditionally male-dominated, many women can inadvertently feel excluded. It’s important that we provide resources and mentorship for women and other underrepresented groups to establish a strong foothold that translates to a long-term career in the industry.”
Zoë Morris, President of Tenth Revolution Group, added: “There’s a real shortage of talent right now, exacerbated by the fact that organisations are expanding their digital footprint more than we’ve ever seen before. At a time when the industry has a critical labour shortage, we need to be creating the infrastructure for our industry to be more inclusive toward women.”
Tenth Revolution Group is asking potential mentors and mentees interested in the programme to submit a short application via its website.
