Last Minute Tips for the TechWomen Mentee Application

With the TechWomen application deadline less than one week away, we thought we would offer several tips as candidates put the final touches on their applications. Remember, the deadline for submitting applications is 23:59 Cairo time, February 15, 2012.

Exceptional candidates will excel in all the areas of consideration: professional and academic qualifications in technical fields, demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to professional development, English language proficiency, exemplary letters of recommendation, record of voluntary or public service in their communities, and evidence of adaptability and motivation.

Mentor Recruitment Events

We are thrilled to be hosting two great events for the TechWomen program on February 13^th in San Francisco and Mountain View. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Professional and Cultural Exchanges, Lee Satterfield, will speak at the events to share the Department of State’s vision and objectives for its TechWomen initiative. The events will focus on providing current and prospective TechWomen partner companies and Mentors with an overview of the TechWomen 2012 program. We will have a panel of TechWomen 2011 Mentors at each event. This will also be a great networking opportunity for those in attendance.

Thank You TechWomen Mentors

Mentor Larissa Shapiro visits orphanage with TechWomen delegation in Morocco

Today, as a part of National Mentoring Month, we would like to offer a warm and heartfelt thank you to our TechWomen Mentors. These women were an integral part of the program as they guided and encouraged Mentees from across the Middle East and North Africa in their cultural immersion and professional growth.

Here are just a few quotes from our Mentors about their experience with TechWomen:

• The Mentees were clearly deeply inspired by their time in the states, and we Mentors learned more than we expected, by a lot! I am left feeling passionate about new issues, reinvigorated in my own work, and looking forward to next year.

Yahoo! Change Your World – Cairo 2012: Revolutionary Minds in Action

Guest Post by Fabiola Addamo

Fabiola preparing for her panel at the "Change your World Cairo 2012" conference.

Ebele Okobi opened up the Yahoo! Business & Human Rights Summit on Women and Social /Digital Media in Cairo with a powerful statement – “A determined woman is a force of nature”.  Simple words (but so eloquently said) have the ability to touch people’s core feelings deeply; and yes, if you did not know, feelings do matter especially when you pair them with facts, that are lived realities for the global women I had the honor to meet in Cairo.

The summit displayed a carousel of progressive voices. Women from across the globe (Egypt, Middle East, North Africa, the U.S., Europe) gathered and spoke about human rights/social justice activism, blogging, journalism, entrepreneurship, safety online, and shared views on how to use technology and media platforms to support virtual communication without borders.

Application Deadline 3 Weeks Away! Some Last Minute Advice

TechWomen Mentees share their experience at event hosted by Google

The application deadline for the 2012 TechWomen program is about than three weeks away. As you put the finishing touches on your application, be sure to follow this advice. It will help ensure you have a competitive application for the selection committee to review!

Make sure your essays clearly answer the questions provided.
Take the time to think through your essays and write meaningful responses. Write integrative and comprehensive essays that clearly answer all of the questions asked. When you finish writing your essays, take a break. Then, go back, read each question, and see if your essay provides a sufficient response. You should have friends, colleagues, professors, or recommenders read your essays. Listen closely to their suggestions!

TechWomen Frequently Asked Questions

Interested in learning more about the TechWomen program? Below, read some of our most frequently asked questions. Do you have a question that’s not listed? Let us know by posting a comment, and we’ll be sure to respond!

What is TechWomen?

Harnessing the power of business, technology and innovation, TechWomen brings emerging women leaders in technology sectors from the Middle East and North Africa together with their American counterparts for a professional mentorship and exchange program at leading companies in the United States.

Project Based Mentorships in San Francisco Bay Area

The TechWomen  program will occur over five weeks from early September through October 2012. The program will commence in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and will conclude in Washington, D.C.

TechWomen Mentees will take part in three-week project-based mentorships at leading companies in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. Each Mentee is matched with a Professional Mentor who partners with the Mentee on a technical project at the host company and provides professional guidance and support.