Agro Woman Mentoring 2024 is a program aimed at supporting the professional development of women in the agri-food sector, particularly those involved in crop production, animal husbandry, or food processing. It also seeks to create a space for discussion on innovation, management, the role of sustainability, and future challenges.
The pilot edition of the Program offers 16 places—one for each voivodeship in Poland. The Program allows for mentoring sessions to take place either in person or online, which can be an incentive for women for whom traveling to in-person meetings may not be feasible. Participation in the Program is free of charge for all Participants.
The mentors in the Program are representatives of the largest and most innovative agri-food companies in Poland, as well as industry experts. The current list of Mentors can be found on this page.
NOTE: Applications for the 2024 edition are now closed!
Key Dates
The Program runs for 6 months. Key dates include:
- March 19, 2024 – Start of the application process
- Publication of the Mentor list
- March 31, 2024 – Application deadline
- April 15, 2024 – Program kick-off
- Announcement of accepted Participants
- Mentoring sessions (at least once a month)
- Expert sessions (at least once every two months)
- October 15, 2024 – Program conclusion
- Final conference in Warsaw with the participation of Mentees, Mentors, the Program Council, and Program Partners and Patrons
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can participate in the Program?
The Program is open to women living in rural areas who run or co-run a business related to food production or processing. The farming activity should have a positive impact on the environment and climate in at least one of the following areas: water resource protection, air pollution prevention, or soil conservation (e.g., through regenerative practices). A list of sustainable agricultural practices is available on this page.
How can I apply?
Fill out the online application form. The final selection of Participants is made by the Program Council. Information about the Council members is available on this page. You will be informed about the results of the selection process by April 15, 2024, at the latest.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring is a relationship between a master – the Mentor – and a student – the Mentee. It is based on sharing the knowledge and experience of a more experienced person. However, in practice, the mentoring relationship benefits both sides. They learn from each other, gain inspiration, and can look at their daily responsibilities from a completely different perspective.
Who are the Mentors?
Mentors are representatives of the Program’s partners and experts approved by the Program Council. The list of partners is available on this page, as is the list of Mentors. Mentors are professionals with experience in management, allowing them to share valuable insights and practical knowledge with Participants and support them on their individual career paths. Their involvement is voluntary and unpaid, yet highly valuable and instrumental in providing meaningful learning experiences for Mentees.
How often will mentoring sessions take place?
Regular meetings between Mentors and Mentees will take place as part of the Program. Each mentoring pair can agree individually on the frequency and format of meetings—either in person or online. The minimum requirement is one meeting per month.
What are expert sessions?
As part of the Program, there will be online sessions with external experts. Mentees will be informed of the dates and frequency of these sessions in advance via email. At least three such sessions are planned over the course of the Program.
Program Regulations
The current version of the Program Regulations can be downloaded via this link.