Six months. We suggest you meet at least once a month. Your first meeting should be within four weeks. If you are the mentee, you will follow up with your mentor to set up the time for your meetings and all follow ups afterwards.
We have poured our love, mind and experience into this program guide- just for you! You can also find the short link in our MentorWIN group.
Yes, we have our MentorWIN group! When you join the program, we ask that you join this group. You can post your questions, suggestions or recommended readings all in this group. Here is the link!
Yes! Our rockstar braintrust member Selin Üstüner gave us a MentorWIN Program Refresher Training.. Here is the training video. Enjoy!
TurkishWIN Learning Center is a well-kept secret in our digital platform. You can find book and video recommendations to accompany you in your learning journey to reach your goals, brush up competencies and to fully engage in our programs.
MentorWIN Program Videos are at this link.
MentorWIN Book Recommendations are at this link.
(Avrupa Koçluk ve Mentorluk Konseyi): https://www.emccglobal.org/
Your mentoring relationship will thrive when you actively listen, ask effective questions, give or get feedback, and recognize contributions.
Recognition of skills, strengths, experiences, and commitments is an invaluable part of your mentoring journey. We recommend that both of you, mentors and mentees, recognize and give positive feedback to each other.
Video Suggestion: We recommend Christopher Littlefield’s TEDX talk, “What do you want to be acknowledged for?” for a fresh perspective.
Exercise: The ability to give recognition serves us and others. The more we can recognize our accomplishments, the more we can recognize others. We leave you with two precious questions:
Your mentoring relationship will thrive when you actively listen, ask effective questions, give or get feedback, and recognize contributions.
Mentoring involves key skills like active listening, using a range of questions, challenges, and support.
Common challenges and barriers to becoming a good listener:
Your mentoring relationship will thrive when you actively listen, ask effective questions, give or get feedback, and recognize contributions.
Two of the most important parts of a mentor/mentee relationship is giving and receiving feedback.
To give, get and reflect on constructive feedback, we recommend using the nonviolent recommendation method. You can learn more about this life-changing method by reading the book: “Nonviolent Communication,” by Marshall B. Rosenberg.
Six months. We suggest you meet at least once a month. Your first meeting should be within four weeks. If you are the mentee, you will follow up with your mentor to set up the time for your meetings and all follow ups afterwards.
Of course! Mentor/mentee relationships continue based on the mutual interest of both parties. Officially, the program ends after six months, but best mentoring relationships continue well afterwards as a sisterhood relationship.
Every good thing comes to an end. As you get ready to celebrate this amazing mentoring journey, we suggest you review the following:
We ask that you fill out the check in survey in week four of your mentoring journey. Unless you reach out to us individually at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., only then will we know you are having difficulties meeting up!
If you both agree that you cannot set a reasonable flow for your meetings, you can request to be unmatched. Just let us know! We want both of you to have the best mentoring experience ever.
You can share this information with us in our surveys or drop us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject ‘mentoring issue’. We will try our best to get you in touch with your mentor/mentee to resolve the matter.
Chemistry is a critical issue in a mentoring relationship. We expect your mentoring journey to end in six months and after 6-10 hours in meeting time. Well, life happens and you may decide to end the relationship earlier. To give you some guidance, we encourage you to end your mentoring relationship when the following happens.
Life happens: You have a family, health issue, or may have gotten a sudden promotion- the best kind of disruption. Whatever the reason, if you feel you are overwhelmed and will not be able to invest your time and energy in this precious relationship, we suggest you check out.
Breach of confidentiality: Confidentiality is at the center of a mentoring relationship. Both the mentor and mentee should respect this safe space and not share anything that is discussed during mentoring sessions. If there is a breach of confidentiality in your mentoring relationship, you have every right to terminate the match.
Breach of the EMCC or Your Code of Ethics: If you feel there is an ethical conflict (conflict of interest etc), we suggest you end your mentoring relationship.
Your unmatching will take place in two steps: 1) Please let your mentor or mentee know re: your reason for terminating the relationship; 2) Please send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will assist you re: the next steps.
Privacy is at the center of a mentoring relationship. Both the mentor and mentee should respect this safe space and not share anything that is discussed during mentoring sessions. If there is a breach of confidentiality in your mentoring relationship, you have every right to terminate the match.
If you are looking for further guidance, please review EMCC’s Code of Ethics here.
We suggest that you formalize your mentorship partnership with an agreement form. It is best to discuss and execute your mentoring agreement in your first meeting with your mentee/mentor. A sample form is provided here and in our mentoring guide.
If you feel there is an ethical conflict (conflict of interest etc), we suggest you end your mentoring relationship.
If you decide to end your mentoring relationship, we are always here to support you. Your unmatching will take place in two steps in this order: 1) Please let your mentor or mentee know re: your reason for terminating the relationship; 2) Please send us an email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will assist you re: the next steps.
We would love to know if you are on track in your journey! Did you start your meetings? Are you working towards your goals? Would you recommend this experience to a friend? Would you like to be featured in our newsletters and social media channels with your testimonials? We would love to know! If you are not receiving your check in surveys, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We follow all the process by the surveys we send for the mentor and the mentee after 4, 8 and 12 weeks as well as at the end of the mentoring journey (24 weeks after the match). These short surveys help us to learn and grow.
You can access the shortcut of these surveys in the mentoring hub in your TurkishWIN profile.
You can fill out your mentor application in four quick steps:
It is easy breezy!
Your profile is now listed under TurkishWIN mentors here. And, you will directly hear from a TurkishWINner who would like to become your mentee. If you think your experience matches with her mentoring objective, say yes! If not, please say no:-)
If you have any questions about our mentoring program, please reach out to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You can unmatch your mentoring match by going to the Mentoring Hub in your Profile and completing the unmatching step. Please make sure you act quickly so that your mentee does not get a lot of planning and preparation underway.
If you have trouble with this step, you can reach our team with your unmatch request at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The sooner you let us know about your request the better for both parties.
Yes, please! If you have time, you can take on more than 1 mentee. Simply edit your mentor form and increase your capacity. You can find your mentor form under “edit profile.”
For starters, wait for your mentee to reach out to you. It is her responsibility to take the first step to schedule the first meeting.
We suggest that you set up your mentoring communication preferences- communication channels and meeting dates- together with your mentee in your first meeting.
We know you are excited about your mentoring journey with your mentee. Who wouldn’t!
Joining you in your excitement, we have created a short checklist for you re: your first meeting:
You can simmer on these questions while getting ready:
Asking good questions is not simply an effective listening technique; it is also helpful in encouraging problem-solving and keeping the mentoring relationship-focused and on task. Let's explore the use of three different types of questions: investigative, discovery, and empowering. These open-ended questions, when used correctly, encourage dialogue.
Investigative Questions: Because they seek information and objective facts to provide enough background to move the mentoring conversation forward, they should be used on a limited basis. Examples are:
Discovery Questions are used to tap into your own knowledge, experience, and insight and lead you into drawing your own conclusions and learning from experiences. Examples of these types of questions are:
Empowering Questions: These questions call upon taking ownership and making plans for the next step by asking "what happens next." Empowering questions push for action and ask for commitment. Examples are:
You are a rockstar and an investor in another woman's career development. Thank you for participating in our mentoring program as a mentor.
We would love for you to stop and reflect from time to time as this journey is a learning and development journey for you as well. We invite you to reflect on these questions:
Mentors are gatekeepers in keeping a safe and trusted space for the mentoring relationship to deepen and flourish. When in doubt, always be on the conservative side to maintain confidentiality.
And... you are awesome! Never forget that-)
We know. Sometimes you do not have enough hours in a day. Life happens! No worries, you can change your mentoring status at any time by updating your mentor form in your Profile. Simply change the “Active” field to “Passive”.
We will nudge and check back to see when you are ready to get back to our mentor pool from time to time.
You can fill out your mentee application in four quick steps:
It is easy-breezy!
The best time to have a mentor is always now. Because mentoring is a learning relationship, it is beneficial to all people regardless of age or stage. It is never too early for learning and goal development, and it is never too late. Mentors too, want to be mentored!
Work backwards from your mentoring goal. What do you want to accomplish? Then, you can search and find a mentor who has had similar experiences and has faced the same decisions. Since we are a cozy network, you can schedule a 1:1 meeting with members you have identified for an informal chat to get to know them better to find the perfect match for you.
You can surf the TurkishWIN mentors at this link.
You are awesome! You are carving time and energy to invest in your personal development.
A mentee's journey flows, when three magical elements are in her mentoring relationship: Passion for self-development, openness, and trust.
The first step to self-development is self-reflection. We invite you to take a moment to simmer on these questions:
How did you feel completing this exercise?
We know you are a rockstar- keep on shining!
Goal-setting is most effective when it is done in the context of a greater vision. This requires taking the time to think clearly about what the purpose of your mentoring is and where you want to be at the conclusion of the mentoring relationship.
What skills, competencies, experiences, and knowledge will you need to have to reach your goal? Which of these do you have now? When you identify the gap between where you are and where you want to be, the goals will emerge. Empowered with this knowledge, you can seek the mentoring relationship that works for you.
We highly recommend that you set SMART goals. Remember you have 6 months in this journey.
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound.
We would like to share a few articles that may help you set SMART goals:
Fabulous, you have completed the first step and set a goal by completing your mentee application. Now, it is time for you to pick your mentor and apply for a match! Surf the available turkishwin mentors at this link and send your request. When your request is approved by your mentor, your mentoring journey will begin!
We give our mentors a grace period of three weeks to confirm applications. You will hear back soon, no worries! You can always email our team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any questions you may have.
If it has been over 3 weeks, which sometimes can happen because it may not be a good time for her, you can apply for a new mentor. We have amazing TurkishWINners, who are waiting to meet you. If you would consider finding another mentor, you can follow this link.
Yes! Please visit your Mentoring Hub in your profile and cancel your request. After cancellation, you can apply to a new mentor!
Easy breezy! You can update your mentoring form from your TurkisWIN profile (edit profile/mentee form).
No, you can have only one mentor at a time. We have set this restriction based on experience. When WINNers commit to a goal, they focus on it 100% which leaves almost no room for a second engagement.
That said, we highly recommend that you build your personal board of advisors with amazing women you meet at TurkishWIN. There is absolutely no limit to how many rockstar women you can meet in our sisterhood.
Yes! As the mentee, we ask you to lead in defining your relationship boundaries, meeting agenda, communication channels, meeting dates, defining what makes this relationship safe for you, work style, etc.
In particular, we recommend that you ask your mentor re: the frequency of your meetings and her preferred channels of communication. Some mentors stick to a monthly meeting schedule with recurring calendar invitations and set agendas. Others may be open to constant WhatsApp banter and bi-weekly meetings.
Your first meeting will be special. Are you ready?
Here is a short checklist for you:
You can simmer on these questions as you prepare:
Yes! Every one of us is the master of our own universe and has something to offer. You can fill out both applications at the same time.
The TurkishWIN mentoring program matches TurkishWINners with peer-to-peer, senior-to-junior, Diaspora-Turkey, or loca- local mentor/mentee connections.
We recommend that our matched mentors/mentees have at least 6 meetings in this six months long program and meet more frequently in the first couple of months. After six months, you will decide whether to continue or end the program.
You can watch this introductory video to get a deeper understanding of the program.
Our mentoring program is for our members-only.
Mentoring paves the way to a rewarding experience for the mentor and the mentee to exchange knowledge, lessons, and business acumen.
Mentoring is:
Mentoring is not:
You can also find more details about mentoring in our mentoring guideline.
You are not alone. Period. Someone else had overcome a similar challenge, felt the same pain, had similar gains and stood where you are- in your shoes- thinking about the next steps. This is where sisterhood and our collective wisdom comes to play. In short, do not reinvent the wheel and benefit from the wisdom of our sisterhood universe.
For those of us who had great mentors, it is time to pay it forward. You know what it felt like to be in a transition and you have experienced the magical power of a friendly nudge. Give a sister a hand now.
So, for all these reasons, we think mentoring is important.
This mentoring program wiki and our MentorWIN Program Guideline includes information on roles and responsibilities, a cheat sheet of questions for you to get to know each other, tips in structuring your partnership, and suggestions for your first meeting.
We can always add your recommendations! If you see something, say something. We cannot wait to hear your input at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
It's essential to have experience in the area you are mentoring someone in. Indeed, you can't teach well if you haven't experienced, learned from practice, and applied the same principles yourself. It's also important to have people skills.
A mentor is a trusted counselor or guide. Your activities could include giving technical assistance, clarifying roles and responsibilities; identifying and analysing learning experiences, opportunities and gaps; encouraging analysis and reflection; structuring learning and work and confronting through questioning, listening and giving feedback.
In the beginning, we ask that you develop a safe and protected environment and be a supporter, protector and guide. As the mentee develops confidence and becomes less dependent and more autonomous, we suggest you develop a more analytical, reflective, critical, challenging role.
After you read the mentoring guideline, please check out our learning center for book and video recommendations. You will also receive bi-monthly newsletters and event invitations to sharpen your mentoring skills. Please join our MentorWIN group to stay in touch.
Mentors play different roles according to the needs of the mentee. A mentor wears all these hats listed below. Observe your mentee and decide what she needs at each meeting.
Mentoring skills can be divided into organizational and interpersonal skills.
The mentor’s activities could include giving technical assistance, clarifying roles and responsibilities; identifying and analysing learning experiences, opportunities and gaps; encouraging analysis and reflection; structuring learning and work and confronting through questioning, listening and giving feedback.
You can read up more on these skills in our program guide here.
We would be missing out on something if we did not prepare a do’s and don’ts list for you!
Here you go:
Do's:
Don'ts:
Yes, we do!
Read the mentoring guideline!
Make sure your mentoring meetings take place within the framework of the EMCC Global Ethics Code.
Add "This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." to your safe list to receive our program emails in a timely way.
Be prepared for your first meeting and think about how you will present yourself to your mentee.
Communicate your expectations to your mentee. What would you like to accomplish? What is your mentoring objective?
Learn your mentee's expectations from you and the mentoring relationship.
Your mentee is in the driver's seat of this relationship. But if you feel she needs guidance, please step in and contribute to the flow.
If your mentee has questions about the mentoring journey or milestones, you are her first stop for answers. Please guide her.
Discuss your relationship's confidentiality principles with your mentee. Assure her that you will not share any information from your meetings with anyone without her permission.
Make sure you are on time and fully present at your scheduled meetings. If you need to make changes, inform your mentee, explain the reason and propose a new date.
Discuss and execute your mentoring agreement in your first meeting with your mentee.
Remind your mentee that she is responsible for her development during this mentoring relationship and it is important to come to the meetings with the agenda.
Encourage her to question her current situation and the targeted one. Make her think with your questions and reflections.
Share the fact that it is extremely important to be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses for being able to improve.
You may need to give examples from your own experiences. Be prepared to share:-)
At the beginning of each conversation, follow up the actions taken from the previous meeting, but do not make her feel she is reporting to you. No judgments please:-) “Where are you regarding that? What went well? Where did you have difficulties? What do you need?" You can follow up with questions like these.
At the beginning of each meeting, turn the agenda of your mentee into a clear meeting goal. "What do you want to achieve in this meeting?
Avoid teaching or giving advice and direction; Try to listen, ask, encourage and guide.
Notice, reflect, and appreciate her progress and strengths.
Make sure you are not the one who speaks more in the session.
At the end of the meeting, ask her to clarify the first step she will take to reach her goal after the meeting.
Make sure you set the date for the next meeting; This is your mentee's responsibility but a gentle reminder always works.
Throughout your mentoring relationship, behave in accordance with the agreement regarding each other's boundaries.
Glad you asked! A mentee invests in her future. She seeks feedback, both positive and constructive. She is committed to demonstrating professional growth and advancement within her development plan.
As a mentee, you will work toward building your skills and achieving your goals with the help of your mentor. You will lead and manage your mentoring partnership. All meeting scheduling chores and follow-ups are your responsibilities.
We will support you in every step of the way! After you read the mentoring guideline, please check out our learning center for book and video recommendations. You will also receive bi-monthly newsletters and event invitations to sharpen your mentoring skills. Please join our MentorWIN group to stay in touch for updates.
We have a world of suggestions in our program mentoring guideline but here is a short list for you to simmer on.
Do's:
Don'ts:
Yes, we do!
Our mentoring program has been active since 2012. We give back and share our know-how to build networks that support women.
You can read about our biggest give back programs, EBRD Women In Business Mentoring Program and The Million Women Mentors, in detail. Here is what we were up to!
2021 - ongoing I EIB (Aegean Exporters Associations)'s Export-Up Mentorship
Export-Up Mentorship Program's goal is to support young or female entrepreneurs in achieving their export-oriented business goals by meeting with a successful business person (mentor) who will convey their own experiences. We brought together EMCC Turkey and EIB together in this #WinTogether program. We #giveback in sharing our network and know-how to support EIB reach its goal.
2018 I MEF University Mentoring Pilot
We have worked with the Career Center team to design and support a pilot mentoring program.
2018 I Gedik University Mentoring Pilot
We have worked with the Career Center team to design and support a pilot mentoring program.
2016 I Antalya Women Entrepreneurship Network Mentoring Pilot
In this active NGO, we have trained the program managers, gave the kick-offtrainings and shadowed the team during their pilot mentoring program.
2016 I EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program
We have contributed to the design of the mentoring experience of this program.
2015 I Yeditepe University Alumni Network Mentoring Program
We have worked with the Alumni Office to design and launch a mentoring program that connects students with alumni. Today, this program is growing strongly.
We have two co-creation partners and an amazing braintrust to help in giving back.
Co-Creation Partner: EMCC Turkey
TurkishWIN Mentoring Program has been designed and executed in accordance with EMCC International Standards for Mentoring and Coaching programs, acknowledged by EMCC Turkey. EMCC Turkey is also an important partner of the Milyon Kadına Mentor program as well. You can find out how you can take advantage of the EMCC Turkey programs here.
Co-Creation Partner: Evolve
We are grateful to the amazing Evolve team, Evrim Yerli and Selin Üstüner for their support during the design of the Mılyon Kadına Mentor program.
We are the proud partner of the EBRD Finance and Advice for Women in Business Programme, funded by the European Union (EU), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Republic of Turkey.
We manage the Mentoring program end to end i.e. offer training, manage the selection and matching process, and offer follow-up communication. The program launched in March 2015.
We have matched 120 entrepreneurs across Turkey throughout the program and it is still ongoing. For more information, here is the link.
We ask for your participation to join the program as a mentor twice a year. If you missed the call and are interested, please drop us an email!
The Million Women Mentors program connects private, public, and NGO sector leaders with young women (15-25-year-old) for mentorship opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.
The program goals are:
The program was founded together with the U.S. Chamber’s U.S.- Turkey Business Council and its Women in Business Initiative, alongside the project partners TurkishWIN's BinYaprak platform and TOBB. The program convenes STEMConnector’s global expertise and TurkishWIN’s wide network of mentors and mentees and is supported by our Founding Circle partners: Beba Foundation, Limak Holding, Logo Yazılım, PepsiCo Turkey, and Petrol Ofisi.
You can join the movement by:
We would be delighted to meet with them! Please drop us a note at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or grab a team member at a meeting.
We work with EMCC Turkey on a pro-bono basis to help set up one mentoring network that supports women. In this new program, the launch of the EIB (Aegean Exporters Associations)'s Export-Up Mentorship was our first collaboration in 2021.
In 2022, we will post an official call for application for our next sister network intake. Stay tuned! If you have nominations, send them our way at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For entrepreneurs
EBRD Women In Business Mentoring Program -you find out more here.
EIB (Aegean Exporters Associations)'s Export-Up Mentorship- you can find out more here.
Ernst & Young Turkey Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program accepts applications annually. In 2021, the application criteria for the business were:
You can learn more about the program here.
Cherie Blair Foundation for Women’s Mentoring Women in Business programme matches women entrepreneurs from low and middle income countries with professional mentors of any gender elsewhere in the world. You get a dedicated business Mentor for one year, meeting online for two hours a month to work on personal and business goals. You can learn more about the program here.
For business professionals
Yönetimde Kadın Derneği (Women on Board Association) has an 18-months program has 4 main components:
As of 2021, the program participation fee was 75,000 TL + VAT. You can find out more at this link.
The program’s enrollment is open every two years for a new cohort of 50 women.
TurkishWIN is a global community of women with cultural, professional or family ties to Turkey. Sign up to our newsletter to hear about our updates or join an event.
We imagine a world where every woman can realize her potential. We exist to inspire, support and celebrate women in their journey for self actualization in Turkey and abroad in a global sisterhood. We live by our motto:"If she did it, so can I!"