2016 Pilot Mentoring Programme
As part of Women in Law Hong Kong’s commitment to enhancing the profiles, skills and networking opportunities to women in the legal field, we are delighted to introduce the WILHK Pilot Mentoring Programme.
TWF Partnership
WILHK is partnering with The Women's Foundation (TWF) to deliver best practice mentoring techniques and support to all mentees and mentors in the pilot programme. For further information about TWF, see www.twfhk.org.
Unique Programme and Objectives
A first
The WILHK Mentoring Programme is the first of its kind to create a cross-legal profession mentoring programme in Hong Kong, pairing legal professionals (including lawyers, in-house counsel and other legal support staff)with mentors from other law firms and companies.
Why?
Too often we hear of women taking themselves off the partnership/directorship path too early because they cannot see themselves making partner/director or balancing the demands. Law firms and companies on the other hand are committed to fixing the 'leaking pipeline' but in some cases are unsure of where to start or what the true issues are.
WILHK recognises that legal professionals do better and stay in the profession longer when they feel supported and can actually observe others achieving their professional goals and feeling fulfilled in their personal life.
How?
Benefits?
We have created the WILHK Mentoring Programme to empower the profession so that legal professionals feel understood and properly supported to reach the highest levels of the legal profession. The pilot programme will involve both male and female mentors and female mentees, recognising the importance that we all play in creating a successful solution.
WILHK will provide workshops, guidance and has a team dedicated to creating a network of support for the WILHK Mentoring Programme which will include:
One-one-one mentoring, matched based on preferences and a "speed match" event;
A structured event programme, with regular formal and informal networking events, seminars and soft-skill workshops to engage and strengthen skills.
This unique programme has been designed to achieve:
Openness, for mentees they will receive guidance from more experienced practitioners outside of their own firm/company so they can be more open about their professional issues,
Understanding, for mentors as well as giving back to the profession, they can also mutually benefit as they will be able to better connect and understand the types of issues that may be facing more junior employees in their own team,
Flexibility, for mentors and mentees, they to choose how and when they will interact and what will be discussed; and
Confidentiality, all discussions between mentors and mentees will be strictly confidential to ensure trust, honesty and openness and will not refer to individuals or case names.
Calendar of Events
Our 2016 Calendar of Events includes:
Thursday, 14 April: Speed matching event hosted by Mina Park of Sook Private Kitchen at the offices of Jones Lang La Salle. Sponsored by Deacons. Photos from speed matching cook-off event.
Wednesday, 18 May: Kick-off luncheon with guest speaker Jane Lewis of Thomson Reuters. Sponsored by Thomson Reuters.
Wednesday, 8 June: Summer Networking and Wine Tasting Event hosted by Essential Fine Wines. Sponsored by Ashurst.
Photos from summer networking and wine tasting event
Wednesday, 6 July: Mentor/Mentee Lunch Workshop on Difficult Conversations, presented by Divya Ahluwalia of Templar Advisors. Hosted at the offices of and sponsored by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Photos from lunch workshop on difficult conversations
Wednesday, 3 August: Creative Conversations, a workshop combining creativity and exploration hosted by HK Art Tutoring. Sponsored by Oldham Lie & Nie.
Thursday, 22 September: Evening junk trip and dinner. Sponsored by Hogan Lovells.
Wednesday, 19 October: Perceptions of Women Panel Session with panelists Sandra Marco Colino of Chinese University Hong Kong, Paul Jebely of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Yibing Mao of Marriot International, Yea Ji Sohn of Uber Technologies, Donna Wacker of Clifford Chance and moderated by Erika Evasdottir of Folger Hill Asset Management. Hosted at the offices of Clifford Chance. Sponsored by Clifford Chance.
Event Programme from Perceptions of Women Panel Session
Wednesday, 30 November: Closing Dinner. Sponsored by Deacons.
2016 Pilot Mentoring Programme Sponsors
THE APPLICATION PERIOD FOR THE 2016 PILOT MENTORING PROGRAMME IS NOW CLOSED. THE 2017 MENTORING PROGRAMME APPLICATION PERIOD WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER 2016.