The issue of diversity is indispensable in order to originate healthy and holistic decision-making mechanisms in economies as well as in democracies. Turkey’s first and only certificate program accredited by respected academic organizations in the field of Board Membership, "The WOB Turkey Cross-Company Mentoring and Independent Board Membership Certificate Program” has been carried out by WOB Turkey since 2012. With this program:
- The pool of senior executive women candidates in Turkey, having the required level of competence and experience to become Board Members, is enlarged,
- Female executives with high potential are brought together and connected with the decision-makers who elected/appointed members to the Boards,
- with the recommendations and guidance of the Mentors, the mentees are equipped with the right resources for being a Board Member,
- it is ensured that the Chairpersons of the Boards of our country’s leading companies get to know female executives with various qualifications and recommend them for appropriate positions.
WOB Turkey Program has completed a total of 5 program terms since 2012.
WOB Turkey Program Terms
- 1st Term: April 2012 - October 2013
- 2nd Term: January 2015 - June 2016
- 3rd Term: January 2018 - July 2019
- 4th Term: January 2020 - October 2021
- 5th Term: January 2022 - June 2023
WOB Turkey Mentors
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Top leaders of the business world, including the chairpersons of the Boards, CEOs, and independent Board Members, are invited by our Advisory Board to act as mentors.
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The role of the mentors is to provide insight and guidance to their mentees in light of their own experiences. The way to be a good Mentor is to be an analytical listener, have emotional intelligence, and a desire to share life-long experiences with their Mentees.
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Mentoring meetings are designed in an interactive format. Mentors and Mentees specify the contents, timing and working areas of their meetings themselves. Interviews are held 9 times in total, on average every 2 months for 18 months. Our Mentors and Mentees are also expected to participate in different activities organized to bring them together.
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Although our Mentors are so experienced chairpersons of Boards and CEOs, and have undertaken this role many times outside of this Program, WOB Turkey provides support to them with its experience and expertise if needed throughout the process.
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In the 2012-2021 period, 103 business people contributed to the WOB Turkey Program as Mentors.
WOB Turkey Mentees
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WOB Turkey Mentees are the top female executives of their institutions who work in the closest positions to the Board Member. Leading women who are General Managers and Deputy General Managers are included in the WOB Turkey Program to improve themselves in their Board competencies. They are either recommended by the chairperson of the Board of their institutions or apply themselves with the knowledge and support of their institutions for participation in the program. Individual applications are not accepted for being a WOB Turkey Mentee. The application and financial support of their institutions are essential.
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During the application process, Mentee candidates meet with the WOB Turkey Mentee Committee which they share information about their CV, personal and career goals, experiences and personality characteristics. As a result of this meeting, their participation in the program is ascertained.
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Considering her professional and personal characteristics, a Mentee is matched with a Mentor from a different institution in a way that does not create a commercial conflict, and the program journey begins. WOB Turkey Management Team and related committees work to achieve the most efficient match through detailed interviews with Mentees and Mentors.
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Mentees are expected to be open to sharing with their Mentors, take into account the advice, feedback and suggestions of their Mentors and to be proactive for the successful execution of the program. For an efficient meeting, Mentees are asked to specify the contents of the interviews they will make with their Mentors in advance, to plan these meetings regularly and to follow up the appointments seriously. Besides, they need to fully participate in the developmental activities, assessment and certification processes prepared for them. Mentees meeting these conditions can successfully graduate from the 18-month program.
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In the 2012-2021 period, 137 female leaders graduated from the WOB Turkey Program. With our 60 Mentees currently participating in the 4th Term Program, the total pool has reached approximately 200 women Board member candidates.
Participating Institutions to the WOB Turkey Program
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Institutions apply to the WOB Turkey Program to benefit from an important development platform for senior female executives training for their Boards.
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The institution must determine the director/s to be included in the Program among the candidate/candidates closest to the position of a Board Member.
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The institution can determine one or more candidates in the same period.
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After the application evaluation process, if the participation of the candidates as a Mentee is clarified, the institution becomes a Participant of the WOB Turkey Program.
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