Translated with DeepL
The Swiss TecLadies mentoring programme not only enables young women to discover a variety of technical professions - it also empowers them on their personal and professional path. The need for such initiatives was emphasised by an introductory video clip: According to studies, many girls stop believing that they can become a president, engineer or astronaut at the age of 5. Dreams give way to reality. That's why they need to be reminded of them again and again. This requires a lot of willpower, but above all support from one's own environment and from the education and support sector.
The participants took the message as an incentive to defy this and other role and gender clichés. Various workshops, discussions and presentations were met with enthusiasm and interest in all language regions. Whether it was an imaginary trip into space with Galactic Chloé in Yverdon, encounters with female physicists and engineers at the Ideatorio in Cadro (Lugano) or as creative STEM makers at the #wetechtogether conference in Zurich, everyone agreed that much more female pioneering work is needed in the field of technology and that a more diverse working world is also a better one.
Furthermore, if only around 10-15% of young women continue to study or learn a technical profession, we will not be able to eliminate the shortage of skilled labour. According to the latest estimates, there will be a shortage of around 40,000 skilled workers on the ICT labour market in 2030. The 120 mentees in this year's programme are taking important steps against this development - also as technology ambassadors and empowerment role models for other young women in their environment.
After the final votes, the three Welcome Days were full of smiling mentoring couples: all the mentees and mentors have found each other, exchanged contacts and planned their first meetings, both as part of the programme and as a couple. 120 journeys under the banner "Shaping the future" have only just begun.
Now it's time for mentoring meetings, visits to interesting institutes or employers, and many other activities. For each workshop or company visit, 1-2 mentees are asked to write a short report about it. This will then be published on the TecLadies website. Throughout the mentoring programme, each mentee must attend at least 5 events and/or mentoring meetings in order to receive a certificate of participation. In addition, each mentee writes the final paper "my personal highlights", either as a collage, drawing, list or with photos.
More about the Swiss TecLadies Mentoring Programme in German
More about the Swiss TecLadies Mentoring Programme in French
Most of them liked getting to know their peers and having a personal sparring partner, comparing life plans, ideas and goals the most. The following statements from three mentoring pairs are representative of the participants from all regions:
Mentor Tina: Managing Director and engineer (left) with her mentee Tuana: "In the 'Building prototypes for 2030' familiarisation workshop, we worked with another team to think about what would be really practical in the household: a laundry robot! We could really use Tuana's computer science skills to develop this machine."
Mentee Tuana: "I liked the planning and designing - we discovered a lot of common interests. Having a mentor is almost like suddenly finding out you have a big sister you didn't know before - great!"
Mentee Sarah: We got on straight away, even though Marie isn't quite at my eye level - physically. That looks fun and encouraged a mutual change of perspective!
Mentor Marie: Postdoc in biotechnology: Yes, we're a great match. Fun fact: I've always had female role models, always female bosses. That may have something to do with the fact that in the GDR, where I grew up, practically all women were in the labour force. It's nice to be able to show a young woman an event like this, where women are in the vast majority and take everything into their own hands.
Mentor Christine: Urban planner, Professor of Urbanism and Mobility at Bern University of Applied Sciences: "I've been involved in the programme since the beginning. A lot of heart and soul goes into it every time, every young woman has different ideas and I also learn something new every time. My experience is a gift that makes me happy. It's also very good to get to know other mentors and to realise that our task is spread over many shoulders.
Mentee Fee: I've always been interested in technology. It's easier to live that out if you're in a maths and science class like me. Christine asked me why I didn't pursue my design engineer dream (as a 5-year-old). I said, well, as a woman...? Then she said: you're on the right programme. Believe in yourself and your abilities!
