​Whether you’re a young professional or a seasoned veteran, you can make a difference in a woman's life and career. Mentoring others can help you level up your leadership game, gain perspective, exercise emotional intelligence, and more.
All it takes is 1-2 hours each month to encourage and empower, share your wisdom, and make a huge impact on the lives and careers of women in our industry.
Both WiT members and non-members can participate as mentors.
THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT BECOMING A MENTOR
Light Commitment — Big Impact
Mentorship doesn’t have to feel like another to-do on your list—it’s something you can do in just an hour a month. That’s it!
Shared knowledge is key
Your experience is more valuable than you might think. The lessons you’ve learned, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the wisdom you’ve gained—your stories could be the key that unlocks someone else’s potential.
You’re already a mentor!
You might not realize it, but you’re already a mentor. Every time you offer advice, share your experiences, or encourage someone to take the next step in their career, you’re mentoring.
Questions? Contact us at mentorship@womenintoys.com.
THE PROCESS
Becoming a Mentor in The Ruth Handler Mentorship Program is an easy and rewarding experience. Here’s what you can expect your partnership, from start to finish, to look like.
STEP 2: Meet Your Match
Based on your profile, we’ll help match you with a mentee whose goals align with your interests and expertise. Once we find a match, you’ll receive their profile for review. If it seems like a good fit, you can accept and get ready to meet your mentee!
STEP 1: Sign Up
To become a mentor, the first step is to fill out our enrollment form. This will grant you access to the Torch mentorship platform, where you can create a profile and tell us more about yourself.
STEP 3: Prepare for your Mentee
Once matched, your mentee will schedule your first meeting through Torch. The platform makes it easy to find a time that aligns with both of your schedules. During that first meeting, start with a conversation about their goals, aspirations, and how you can work together.
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STEP 4: Meet Your Mentee
Once matched, your mentee will schedule your first meeting through Torch. The platform makes it easy to find a time that aligns with both of your schedules. During that first meeting, start with a conversation about their goals, aspirations, and how you can work together.
STEP 5: Mentorship Begins
Over the course of 4 months, plan to spend 1–2 hours a month with your match. The format of your mentorship sessions are up to you and your mentee—you can share stories, give guidance, answer their questions, and more!
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STEP 6: Option to Renew
As the mentorship period comes to a close, take some time to reflect on the progress you and your match have made. If you loved the experience, you can continue mentoring your current match, or find a new one!
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STEP 7: Congrats! You're Done!
Don’t forget to pat yourself on the back! By sharing your time, you’ve made a lasting impact on the future of our industry.
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WHAT PAST MENTORS ARE SAYING...
"My mentee is fantastic. I am loving the experience. If I don't have the answers she needs, I bring in other professionals for her to answer."
Mentor
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Explore our FAQ section to learn everything you need to know about joining the Ruth Handler Mentorship Program. From time commitments to the benefits of mentoring, we've got you covered. Ready to inspire and make an impact? Let’s get started!
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Need help? Email mentorship@womenintoys.com
Who can become a Mentor?
You don’t need to be a WiT member to be a mentor, and both women and men are welcome. Whether you’re a seasoned professional in the toy, licensing, or entertainment industries, or you simply have valuable lessons to share, you can make a difference.
What is the time commitment?
Just 1–2 hours a month! Over the course of 4 months, you’ll meet with your mentee as many times as you'd like, depending on what you both find useful and manageable. The Torch platform also has flexible scheduling tools built in, which will help you fit mentorship into your busy life.
What is Torch?
Torch is the platform we use to facilitate the Ruth Handler Mentorship Program. It’s where you’ll create your profile, get matched with a mentee, and schedule your meetings. Torch also offers helpful resources and training materials to support you as a mentor.
When can I sign up?
Right now! Enrollment for mentors is always open, so you can join whenever you’re ready. Once you sign up, we’ll get started on finding the perfect match for you.
How do I sign up?
You can sign up here. You’ll be asked to create an account on Torch and then share a bit about your background, expertise, and what you’re looking for in a mentee. Once you’re signed up, we’ll take it from there to find you the right match.
What happens after I’m assigned a mentee?
Once you're paired with a mentee, they will schedule your first meeting using the Torch platform. For your first meeting, prepare a few questions to help you get to know your mentee and their goals. The format of your mentorship sessions are up to you and your mentee!
What if my match isn’t a good fit?
No worries! If you feel the pairing isn’t the right fit, just let us know. We’re committed to making sure both mentors and mentees have a meaningful experience in the program, so we’ll work with you to find a better match.