Impact Coach Overview

The 2023 TechWomen Mentor applications have now closed. Please be in touch with the TechWomen team at techwomen[at]iie.org with any questions.

TechWomen Mentorship in 2023

IIE is planning for an in-person fall 2023 program in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago that will include virtual programming where appropriate. All activities are subject to change based on health and safety recommendations or restrictions. Please refer to the mentor applications for all potential updates to the mentor roles.

IIE will be monitoring mentors’ comfort and ability to attend in-person events as we approach fall 2023, and the TechWomen team will keep mentors informed of all program updates. Bay Area and Chicago-based mentors should aim to attend in-person events where possible; modifications will be made for mentors outside of program cities. IIE will closely follow CDC health and safety recommendations at all in-person events, and will require all event participants to use PPE.

Learn more about what IIE is doing in response to COVID-19 here.

TechWomen Impact Coaches

Guide emerging women leaders as they develop action plans to overcome socioeconomic challenges in their communities
Serve as a coach from the conception of an idea to the pitch of the action plan
Build relationships with women across the world
Join a dynamic, supportive network of more than 1000 women in the TechWomen community
Give back and support women in STEM from across the globe

What is an Impact Coach?

Impact Coaches are women working and living in the San Francisco Bay Area or Chicago who have a strong commitment to empower women globally. Each Impact Coach will help TechWomen participants leverage their newfound skills and networks to develop a plan of action to overcome a socioeconomic challenge in their community.

TechWomen fellows have gone on to launch initiatives that educate, empower and inspire women and girls, encouraging them to pursue STEM fields. In Pakistan, fellows used their seed grant funding to implement She for Tech, an initiative that bridges the gender gap in STEM fields through mentoring girls in public schools. Fellows in Kenya used their seed grant to launch Project Digniti, a sanitation initiative that builds new toilets, implements a sanitation curriculum and designs accountability models in rural schools throughout Kenya to improve girls’ health and school retention.

How is the role of an Impact Coach structured?

Approximately three Impact Coaches will be assigned to an action plan group. At the application stage, Impact Coaches are able to express interest in working with participants from a specific country or region.

What will an Impact Coach do?

Impact Coaches are responsible for meeting with their action plan group to provide support and coaching as the group develops their idea into an actionable plan. Impact Coaches will strategically advise country groups on content and design, supporting Emerging Leaders in meeting criteria and understanding what makes a successful plan for potential seed grant funding. Tapping into their networks and the TechWomen community, Impact Coaches will connect groups to resources in the San Francisco Bay Area or Chicago while providing guidance from application submission and presentation to the final pitch event. Ideally, the relationship between the Impact Coach and action plan group will continue beyond the program to see to fruition the implementation of the plan once the group returns home.

In what other ways can Impact Coaches engage with TechWomen?

Impact Coaches are strongly encouraged to attend, and when appropriate, support various components of action planning workshops. Impact Coaches are required to attend orientations in late August/early September and are invited to a pre-program networking event in September. Several exciting kickoff events with Emerging Leaders will be held in the first week of the program, which begins on September 21. Tentative event dates are provided to prospective mentors as part of the mentor application.

What is the time commitment?

Serving as an Impact Coach requires considerable time commitment during the fall program and beyond. Though hours may vary, Impact Coaches should expect to spend 5-10 hours each week with their action plan group during the program, especially during weeknights and on weekends. Preparatory activities will include the orientation and initial correspondence with action plan groups.

Successful Impact Coaches will be approachable, engaging and willing to dedicate time to support the action plan groups.