Opening Doors Program

The Opening Doors Program provides those who identify as women with the skills to advocate for policy and systemic change in the Canadian digital workforce and engage with decision-makers from Canadian companies through reverse-mentoring. The program will be delivered in bimonthly virtual sessions with a leadership and advocacy development session, followed by a reverse-mentorship consultation between delegates and participating companies.

For DELEGATES this program will:

• Increase awareness of opportunities, pathways, and leadership development for young women professionals through leadership summits and training.
• Improve access to leadership development and advancement opportunities for young women professionals from underrepresented communities through recruitment, networking, and knowledge-sharing events.
• Curate tools, virtual learning and supports to equip young women professionals with resources and expertise through a comprehensive resource sharing hub.
• Empower young women professionals to create ongoing change within their workplaces through reverse-mentorship consultations and industry experience opportunities.

For COMPANIES this program will:

• Offer insight into effective diverse leadership best practices and how to instigate systemic change from within the tech industry.
• Foster understanding of cross-cultural organizational leadership and how leaders of today can instil confidence in the cross-cultural, underrepresented diverse leaders of tomorrow through reverse-mentorship consultation with delegates.
• Identify the critical elements of corporate culture that will foster gender equity and an environment where underrepresented communities can contribute diverse perspectives that will lead to success.

How it Works

The program cohort will meet for bimonthly sessions. These sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams from 3-5PM EST on Tuesdays. The first meeting of the month is a session focusing on topics related to leadership and advocacy. This is training opportunity amongst the cohort to develop skills and strategies to be the champions of policy and systemic change in the Canadian digital workforce. The second session is reverse-mentoring with the partnering companies.

Session 1:

The leadership and advocacy training component is focused on three main themes; attraction, retention and advocacy. Throughout the year long program these themes will be addressed through the following sessional topics; Hiring, Compensation, Performance Management, Career Development, Support Programs, Training, Allyship, Truth & Reconciliation, Analytics & Reporting and Governance.

Session 2:

5 delegates will be matched with a participating company to meet monthly. Together they will identify the critical elements of corporate culture that will foster gender equity, offer insight into effective diverse leadership best practices and instigate systemic change from within the tech industry.

Eligibility

The program is open to those who identify as women and are between the ages of 25-35. We strongly recommend that those who are in the early stages of their information, communications and technology sector careers apply, especially those from underrepresented communities. Those working in private, public and academia are encouraged to apply as cross-sector collaboration and exchange increases the value of the program.

If you have any questions about this program or your eligibility, please email ssears [at] wct-fct.com

Apply below to bring direct policy and systemic change to the Canadian digital workplace, and to be one of the select few considered for the 2022-23 inaugural cohort: