Women leadership programme
The EIC Women Leadership Programme supports, inspires, and empowers female innovators. This training will provide the selected entrepreneurs with a set of trainings and networking events, as well as business coaching and mentoring opportunities for career development.
TimeLine
Women Leadership Programme in a nutshell
The programme is open to female researchers and entrepreneurs from the EIC Community and EIT female entrepreneurs.
Each cohort consists of both virtual and in-person training sessions, led by high-profile experienced trainers who challenge participants’ leadership approaches with inspiring case studies and use participatory approaches to encourage active engagement.
Participants benefit from individual coaching and personal mentoring. Through dedicated networking events, they also engage with peers and inspiring role models.
Why Women Leadership Programme?
We have identified that not only is technical training important, but also the development of personal skills. Having access to a coach and mentor at different stages of your entrepreneurial career is essential. To provide this training opportunity, we have partnered with the European Innovation Council to create this program. Female entrepreneurs who are EIT or EIC alumni will have the opportunity to apply and get the necessary training in soft skills, delivered by top professionals in the ecosystem.
How?
Alumni Group
Programme’s participants are included into an exclusive alumni group on the EIC Community Platform to maintain an active contact with fellow participants, network, share events and relevant news.
Personal Mentoring and Business Coaching
The mentors, ranging from experienced CEOs and investors to serial entrepreneurs, are matched with participants based on career challenges faced by the participant. Participants meet with their mentors on a regular basis to receive support on their career goals and challenges.
In addition, participants have the opportunity to work with an expert EIC business coach. These experts support participants with business related goals and challenges, such as identifying new business opportunities.
Trainings
Participants have access to training sessions on topics such as negotiation, pitching, leadership styles, and public speaking, that address the participants needs. The trainings take place during business days, with a duration of 2-3 hours each. Sessions are led by experts from the industry and are designed to be interactive, offering hands-on exercises and case studies to help participants put their leadership skills into practice.
Networking
Dedicated networking events take place throughout the programme to increase the participants’ network and heighten their visibility with key stakeholders in the European innovation ecosystem. During the training sessions, keynote speakers provide testimonials and facilitate networking moments. WLP fosters and promotes the exchange of experiences between its cohort participants and provides speed-dating activities with mentors.
Who is it for?
EIC Women Leadership Programme’s recurring cohorts target female members of EIC and EIT beneficiaries, separately:
EIC and EIT female (co)founders and managers (CEOs, CTOs, CFOs, COOs, CCOs, etc.) who want to strengthen their skills and expand their network.
EIC female researchers involved in research projects aspiring to lead the transition of their research into businesses.
The 6th WLP cohort, starting in September 2024, is specifically designed for female entrepreneurs -(co)founder and managers. One more cohort for researchers will be launched in 2024, one for researchers and one for entrepreneurs.
Eligible candidates can apply to open calls launched on the EIC Community Platform.