WiST Next Gen Ambassador Program Mentor Information

As a WiST Next Gen Ambassador Mentor, your time is so very valuable and much appreciated! The goal is for you to be a very informal, friendly, professional role model for this young woman, share your own educational and career journey, how you incorporate your own personal passion for sports into your work, and learn about the passions and ambitions of your Ambassador Mentee. Our mission at WiST is to encourage girls to keep playing sports and also stay focused on academics… ultimately to go to college (aspire to play varsity or club sport there!), apply for WiST Fellowship for summer internship and work in sports tech with us! Remember, this ONE interaction with you can change this student’s life and aspirations! THANK YOU!!

OVERVIEW 

The NextGen Ambassador Program is a free 3 month course designed to engage, inspire and empower middle and high school girls by introducing them to the sports tech industry, women in leadership roles and the opportunities created by gaining knowledge in STEM fields and continued sports participation. They will learn how to reach out to and meet a mentor, create a LinkedIn profile and prepare and present a persuasive presentation.

The program is structured as a series of projects that guide young women to:

  • Take their first steps to create a professional network by connecting with other members of the WiST community and interacting with other members of the program

  • Explore career journeys and life experiences of women in leadership roles in the sports tech industry by consuming WiST Presents content and creating a short reflection piece on learnings and interest areas

  • Develop their research, advocacy and leadership skills by delivering a short presentation and leading a discussion with a group of their peers on an area of interest within diversity, equity and inclusion

Mentorship 101 - Next Gen Ambassador Program

On any given day, try and understand early on in the meeting which of the 3 the mentee needs most at that time. Remember to be a good gardener, not a carpenter!

The Three Cs

A good mentor will provide a combination of the following roles with the Ambassador:

Consultant

  • Offer industry knowledge, open doors to relationships and network in the business, wherever applicable for a high school student

  • Share your own journey, especially failures along the way. We learn more from our failures than we do for our successes! 

Counselor

  • Listen, guide, reflect. How’s she doing? Remember how stressful high school can be and try, and understand what their biggest stressors of the day are, see if she wants to discuss. 

  • Offer insights together that lead to the mentee making an important decision, for instance, what colleges is she considering? Is she considering playing her sport in college? (Don’t make any decisions for them, help them to understand the pros and cons of each path in front of them.)

Cheerleader

  • Unconditional support, always in their corner, show enthusiasm and bring positive energy to the session together, celebrate that the Ambassador has found WiST and emphasize that our community is here for her going forward! Ask about and celebrate her efforts and progress that lead to results (not necessarily focused on the result or the win per se, but the work put in that led to the results).

    Remember expectations go both ways! 

This is one time, super important potential relationship. You may continue to meet with each other if the relationship feels meaningful! 

  • Be accountable to each other. Don’t change your time scheduled together unless absolutely necessary. 

  • Commit to the time commitment. If you are unable to have the meeting, or have too many meetings now scheduled, please please let us know and we can find another Mentor for the Ambassado