WLW Applications

As part of the application process for Women Leading the Way, you will be required to submit:

The WLW Participant Application Form May 2 Application Deadline for Second Cohort, May 16, 2011.
Letter of Intent (2 pages max.)
Two reference letters from leaders that you have worked with from work/community/volunteer projects.
Current Résumé

Selection: Applicants will be contacted by a Women Leading the Way representative to set up a brief interview (in person or over the phone) which will take place during the month of May. All applicants will be required to complete the interview. Interviews will be held in May and successful candidates will be notified by June, 2011.

For more information:
Download detailed information package WLW Participant Information May 2

Here you can find the WLW Participant Application Form May 2

Please Note: Application deadline for second cohort is MAY 16, 2011 - interviews to follow in May. Applications may be sent in by mail (postmarked by May 6) or by Email. Applicants will be notified regarding the status of their application.

EXAMPLE OF
POTENTIAL
WOMEN LEADING THE WAY
CANDIDATES

Sharon – Program Manager in a Non-Profit
Sharon is a senior manager of a non-profit. Her organization is looking to implement a social enterprise which would leverage their intellectual property by outsourcing their professional services and licensing one of their programs that would help make the organization sustainable for the future. Sharon is taking the lead on this project and in order for the plan to move forward she needs buy-in from her board. She will also need to develop a business plan after she completes the project assessment and market evaluation. She is very interested in taking Women Leading the Way as it will improve her communication and influencing skills while having access to a broader network, which will include a senior business professional who will mentor her while she works through the project. In addition, she will have access to other senior professionals and an executive coach. Sharon’s board sees this program as a great return on its investment by helping her cover the cost of participating in Minerva’s Women Leading the Way program.

Linda – Project Leader in a Mid-Sized Corporation
Linda is viewed as a potential leader within her company by her manager and others in the organization. Although she has led several projects, she has been unable to move up as quickly as she had hoped. Linda feels she may have been overlooked given that she does not have a Masters degree, but she does have over ten years of experience and several business related certifications. Linda and her manager agree that she would benefit considerably from working on skills such as communication, presentation, negotiating and motivating as she wants to take the next step and lead a new cultural diversity initiative within her company. She also needs to have a better understanding of how the decision making process works around the corporate board table. Although Linda’s company does not offer leadership training, they have agreed to sponsor her as a candidate in Women Leading the Way – helping Linda to advance her leadership capabilities to become a more valuable contributing change agent within the company.

Kim – Aboriginal, Lawyer with Political Aspirations
Kim became interested in politics during high school and all through university because of her passion around the environment and her community. She graduated with a law degree three years ago and currently works with a small law firm specializing in environmental issues. Kim sees herself as an advocate and is interested in getting into politics, but realizes she needs to develop her leadership skills and gain a greater understanding of the political governance process before she takes that next step. Through Women Leading the Way, Kim will be mentored by an Aboriginal female leader and become engaged in an Environmental Advisory Council in her municipality, which is working on a project that will directly affect her band. Through the knowledge and skills developed through the program, Kim will gain a greater understanding of governance, policy, negotiations and other political processes that will help her in the future to become an elected official with a strong platform in environmental issues.

When I moved to Canada in 1998, I was pregnant and all alone. I was scared as to how I would take care of my daughter without a decent standard of education. I realized that without English I would be useless so I focused on improving my English by attending ESL classes at Vancouver Community College. When my English level improved, I was confident enough to go for science courses. And in 2003, the Minerva Foundation offered me the Minerva Foundation Award For BC Women in recognition of my excellent grades at school.
This scholarship changed my life as it offered me the opportunity to take post secondary course. Then when I entered the Licensed Practical Nursing Program in 2006, I faced financial problems. Again, it was Minerva that helped me with funds to solve my financial problems. Now I am working as an LPN and have solid hopes of furthering myself in this field.
Thanks so much to Minerva for giving me a life of hope. Thank you so much Minerva for helping me by believing in my abilities.

Sasiratha Uthayakumar, LPN