The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) has launched a pilot mentorship program focused on the retention and advancement of women in the outdoor and active sports industries. The pilot phase, which will run through the end of 2013, invests in five high-potential future industry leaders by matching them with C- and VP level women who will share leadership expertise.
“We started with a small group of mentees and mentors to fully and adequately develop a signature cross-industry, cross-company mentorship program that focuses on the development of women at the middle management level,” reports Amy Luther, OIWC Program Director.
Research demonstrates that this is where most businesses lose the highest percentage of high-potential women, and therefore their return on the investment, she says. “This program demonstrates a commitment by OIWC to a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable industry by focusing on retention and advancement of women.”
The pilot program was made possible by the support of Arc’Teryx, REI and The North Face, noted Luther.
OIWC will launch the full program in early 2014.
