The W.net Mentoring Program, a means by which women in the payments industry can learn from each other's experience and expertise, is now accepting applications from women who want to be mentors and proteges for 2008. Mentors can benefit by heightening their leadership skills, gaining exposure to alternative business strategies and taking pride in advising a potential up-and-coming industry leader. Protégés can receive the opportunity to network and learn from high achievers in the industry.
The program is the brainchild of Women Networking in Electronic Transactions (W.net), which was founded in 2005 by Holli Targan, who is a Partner in the law firm of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss; Mary Gerdts, Chief Executive Officer and President of both POST Integrations, Inc. and EboCom, LLC; Linda Perry, Vice President and Regional Manager of Member Relations at Visa Inc.; and Diane Vogt, President of National Merchant Services for First Data Commercial Services.
The mission: to provide a forum where professional women in the industry can come together to educate themselves, learn from one another, meet other women, network and talk about balancing a flourishing career with a happy personal life.
"Women opening doors for women is at the heart of W.net's mission," said Victoria Tobin, W.net's Managing Director. "The Mentoring Program is one of the premiere benefits of membership in W.net and is designed to maximize the expertise of the brightest and most talented women in the industry to serve as mentors, to help foster the careers of the future female leaders in electronic transactions. We are thrilled to have the participation of these women in the program."
Members of W.net come from all corners of the payments industry: merchant acquirers, processors, card issuers, as well as those specializing in the stored value, loyalty, check and automated clearing house sectors.
They also represent a range of positions, including chief executive officers, managers and other leaders, and all levels of experience - rookies straight out of college to experienced veterans.
"It's an excellent way for women in our industry to exchange thoughts and bounce ideas off of each other," said W.net mentoring committee member Kate Gillespie. She is also General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of The Green Sheet.
The W.net Mentoring Program will facilitate the matching of mentors and protégés through Feb. 1, 2008, on its Web site, www.w-net.biz. On April 1, 2008, the mentoring relationships will begin.
According to the article, "All good things come to women who mentor," published in The Green Sheet March 12, 2007, issue 07:03:01, members stand behind the program and its mission. "I firmly believe in this program," said pilot mentor, Jan McGrath, Director of Operations and Implementation at TXNPlus Ltd. "Women in the payments industry are the minority, and too few of them are in senior positions within the industry."
Making new friends and forming alliances in the payments industry can be beneficial for the long haul to both new players and experts. Teamwork is successful when members understand one another and are working toward a common goal, and this seems to be the prominent message of W.net.
The Green Sheet Inc. is now a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals. Click here for more information.
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