IWF In Action: Preparing Tomorrow's Women Leaders

IWF Leadership Foundation Promotional Video(6 minutes): http://www.iwforum.org/lf_video.aspx

We at IWF take great pride in our Leadership Foundation, the educational and charitable arm of our global network. Its purpose: to apply our members' expertise and experience to benefit women around the world.

The Foundation Fellows Program is the premier international training and executive development program for corporate women and leaders. Unique in the world, it has attracted the ongoing support of corporations such as Deloitte & Touche, State Farm
Insurance, Bell Canada.

Each year, 12-15 women with exceptional potential are selected as Foundation Fellows. They join an extraordinarily diverse group of women from around the world. The year-long program of approximately 25 days is specifically tailored to each woman's individual needs and offers the following benefits:

• Coaching by mentor(s)
• A week of customized leadership training at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Topics: leadership style, ethical leadership and negotiation skills
• A week of global management executive education at Cambridge University. Topics: global management, cultural diversity and entrepreneurial leadership.
• Participation in IWF member-led training sessions
• Attendance at the annual IWF Global Conference and Gala.

IWF's support of our Fellows does not end with the classroom learning. We create opportunities for them to share their experience for at least one year after the program's formal conclusion. We also track our alumnae to monitor their progress after completing the program. Our alumnae continue to learn from the best, promoting the evolution of a mentorship culture for women.

Why CEOs Support The IWF Foundation Fellows Program

"This executive leadership opportunity has enriched the personal and professional lives of five very valued female executives in our organization and, through, their development, has made us a stronger company.

"They are an inspiration to more than 18,000 female employees at Bell Canada and a symbol of the important role that mentoring plays in the development of employees in reaching their full potential." Michael Sabia, CEO, Bell Canada

Meet A Fellow

Barbara Bellissimo, Class of 2002-2003

I had a promotion coming up, and I wanted to be ready. After working in the U.S. for a large Canadian insurance company that was grooming me for advancement, I was getting ready to come home to a challenging new job, VP of Operations.

In 18 years with my employers, I had already attending many excellent executive leadership sessions. But this time I needed more depth. I needed a program with a global focus to enhance my understanding of the marketplace. I was keen to expand my network, which was then full of colleagues from my company who all shared a similar perspective on business issues. My company felt that the IWF Foundation Fellows Program might be the ideal fit for me.

It was a daunting commitment for a busy executive-28 days of training throughout the year, with sessions in Mexico City, New York, Harvard University and Cambridge University. Now I look back on those days as the most inspiring of the year.

Unlike all my previous training, my IWF experience was tailored to help me achieve my own specific objectives. The content of the classroom sessions was exceptional, with most of it offered by IWF members who had relevant expertise to share.

The most valuable learning, however, took place after hours. During each of the sessions, we roomed with another fellow. There's nothing like a week in close quarters to establish a bond with another woman. I made several deep connections that promise to be lifelong.

Another key component of the Fellowship program is mentoring. The program matches each fellow with an IWF member for one year. Knowing that I would be facing some restructuring in my new position, I wanted a mentor who had "been there" a few times. IWF paired me with Barbara Roberts of New York, who at the time was CEO of Acoustiguide. She shared her experiences, listened to my goals and plans, asked great questions and gave me feedback. Thanks to her mentoring, I made several important changes in my approach to the restructuring.

Barbara is not my only IWF mentor. At the Mexico City conference, I met Toronto members Alison Youngman and Ann Medina, who amazed me with their willingness to open up their lives and minds to me. Ann generously came to one of my speaking sessions and gave me feedback on my presentation style. Alison invited me to attend a seminar of women CEOs that would otherwise have been closed to me.

I will always remember my IWF Fellowship year as a gift, both professionally and personally. I know this gift comes with the responsibility to give back by helping other women leaders reach their full potential. That's another wonderful thing about this program-the learning and the giving never end.

For more details on the IWF Foundation Fellows Program including applications and donations, see www.iwforum.org/leadership_foundation.aspx