VBA Women’s Mentorship Program
Knowledge. Empowerment. Motivation. Connection

Post Kristen Reid Laurie Milligan

 The VBA created the Women’s Mentorship Program to assist our member banks with preparing the talented women within your banks for future senior leadership positions. 

 

In this program, mentor/mentee pairs will participate in a 10-month experience involving one-on-one interaction and discussion combined with training and regional networking opportunities.

This program is designed to help:

  • Motivate women to explore their potential and focus on their development within the bank
  • Enhance their knowledge of bank management and their role in the success of the organization
  • Empower women to set goals and develop a path for achievement
  • Connect with peers in the industry

Register Now

    Program Components: What the VBA Provides

    In-Person & Virtual Sessions

    • November 30, 2022: In-Person Kick-off at the VBA 
      • Mentor/Mentee Training
      • “Creating Goals that are Worthy of You” session
    • April 2023: Career Development (live, virtual training)
       
    • May 2023: Meet-ups with local VBA Executive Women in Banking Peer Group Members (lunch – each attendee will cover the cost of their lunch and enjoy a conversation with other Mentorship program participants and executive women bankers)
       
    • September 2023: Closing Session at the VBA Office (Agenda TBD)

    Bi-Monthly Industry and Development Focus Themes 

    Every other month, the VBA will send an email with a specific theme.  These emails will serve as a resource to help guide conversations between the mentor and mentee. The themes for 2023 include:

    • Bank Financial Management (December 2022)
    • Confidence, Motivation and Resiliency (February 2023)
    • Personal Branding (April 2023)
    • Advocating for Yourself in the Workplace (June 2023)
    • Dealing with Conflict (August 2023)

    Each email will include the following:

    • Discussion Guides
    • Resources and Templates
    • Suggested Readings 

    Book Club Discussion – Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Travis Bradberry and dr. Jean Greaves

    The Women’s Mentorship Program participants will be encouraged to read and discuss Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Travis Bradberry & Dr. Jean Greaves. Throughout the course of the Mentorship program, participants will receive discussion questions in their bi-monthly emails to help guide conversations around the book.  

    Each participant will receive a copy of the book as part of their registration at the opening session on November 30.

    VBA Conference Discounts!

    December 1, 2022 – Women in Banking (Hermitage Country Club, Manakin Sabot, VA)

    • Mentee Registration Rate: $225
    • Mentor Registration Rate: $395

    January 12, 2023 – VBA/VA Chamber Financial Forecast (Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA)

    • Registration fee waived for mentor/mentees participating in the 2022-2023 VBA Women’s Mentorship Program

    Identifying Mentors/Mentees

    • Banks will identify Mentor/Mentee partners within the organization and will register them together for the program.
    • Mentors can be men or women.
    • Mentees will be women.
    • The Mentor/Mentee partners will attend the opening and closing events together and will meet separately and one-on-one back at the bank on a mutually agreed upon schedule over the course of 10 months from December through September.

    Mentors/Mentees should be:

    • Ready to learn from each other
    • Supportive of the idea of building a network of women in banking
    • Committed to learning and applying lessons from this experience for the benefit of the organization and each other
    • Driven with a focus on growth, both personally and professionally
    • Prepared to spend time as a team before, during and after each one-on-one meeting

    Important Program Dates

    In-Person & Virtual Training Sessions

    • November 30, 2022: In-Person Kick-off at the VBA 
    • April 2023: Career Development (live, virtual training) (exact date TBD)
    • May 2023: Lunch Meet-ups with local VBA Executive Women in Banking Peer Group Members (exact dates TBD)
    • September 2023: Closing Session at the VBA Office (exact date TBD)

    Additional training Opportunities

    • December 1, 2022: Women in Banking (reduced registration fees apply for mentee and early bird registration rate applies for mentors)
    • January 12, 2023: VBA/VA Chamber Financial Forecast 

    2022-2023 Program Pricing

    $425 per participant ($850 per mentor/mentee duo)