The American Lighting Association (ALA) Women in Lighting (WIL) mentoring program is set to launch its third year of pairing together women of various experience levels in all segments of lighting to encourage networking and expand industry contacts and knowledge sharing. The latest round of mentor matching is open to all who sign up by March 31 and runs from May to August 2023.

“The Mentorship program from WIL has been amazing," says Alyson Martin, director of marketing at Eurofase, who is currently participating in the program for the first time. "Since the first day I connected with my mentor, we have had many fantastic conversations — really thought-provoking ones that have helped me so much in my everyday thinking at work and home. She is not only a brilliant businesswoman with great ideas, but she really does care about helping others and guiding me on my career journey," Martin added. "I am so happy to have been matched with someone that can make such an impact on my career in such a short amount of time."

The program was borne out of a desire to develop a support network for women in the lighting industry while also providing resources for best practices and professional development. Once matches are made, frequent connections are suggested to motivate the partnership, and connecting at least once monthly is highly encouraged.

Responding to feedback from previous rounds, the WIL mentorship subcommittee follows up with participants to provide guidance and ensure pairings are compatible. Starting next month, discussion topics will be posted to the WIL Facebook group page to encourage conversation and outreach. These social media platforms are also a great resource for industry topics and updates. 

ALA membership is not a requirement for participation in the program, but registration for each round is necessary to be matched, even if someone has participated previously. There will be one more opportunity for participation in 2023 which will begin in September with a registration deadline in the summer. Connect with other members and check in for updates on the Women in Lighting Facebook Group and Linked In Group or follow @ALAWomenInLighting on Instagram.