Starting With Women
Women Professionals Leadership Cohort
A practical leadership journey for high-potential women ready to grow in confidence, visibility and influence.
AjoAje's Women Professionals Leadership Cohort is designed for high-potential women who want to strengthen how they lead, communicate, influence and navigate their next stage of professional growth. It combines practical learning, mentorship, peer accountability and ecosystem access rather than relying on inspiration alone.
At a Glance
Who it's for, and what to expect.
Who it is for
Women professionals in early-to-mid career roles, including managers, senior specialists and emerging leaders across corporate, public, development and professional services environments.
Duration
10–12 weeks
Format
Hybrid: live virtual sessions, selected in-person touchpoints where practical, mentoring circles and peer accountability pods.
Core outcome
A clearer leadership identity, stronger visibility and influence, an actionable career strategy and a 90-day growth roadmap.
What Participants Will Gain
- Greater leadership confidence and self-awareness
- Stronger strategic communication and executive presence
- More intentional personal brand and professional visibility
- Practical approaches to influence, sponsorship and stakeholder navigation
- A stronger network of peers, mentors and ecosystem connections
- A clearer link between personal advancement and wider societal contribution
Learning Journey
An eight-module path to a capstone leadership roadmap.
| Module | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Leading with confidence and clarity |
| 2 | Strategic communication & executive presence |
| 3 | Personal brand & visibility |
| 4 | Power, influence & stakeholder navigation |
| 5 | Career strategy & next-step planning |
| 6 | Networks, sponsorship & ecosystem capital |
| 7 | Leading with purpose & contribution |
| 8 | Capstone leadership roadmap |
Selection Principles
- Clear motivation and development goals
- Readiness to participate actively and consistently
- Openness to feedback, reflection and accountability
- Potential to translate learning into professional or societal contribution
- Commitment to AjoAje's values of connected ecosystems, inclusive growth and empowered leadership
Mentor Engagement
Mentors and experts are selected for relevant experience, integrity and a genuine commitment to helping others grow. Where assigned to the cohort, mentors should be willing to dedicate a minimum of 1 hour per week to mentorship, office hours, group sessions or related support during the agreed engagement period.
After the Cohort
- Access to the AjoAje alumni and community network
- Eligibility for selected events, peer circles and learning opportunities
- Pathways to become a future mentor, speaker, volunteer or ecosystem contributor
- Potential introductions to partners and opportunities aligned with participant goals
For Employers and Partners
Organizations can sponsor women leaders, co-host sessions, contribute mentors, or partner on a dedicated cohort. The program provides a structured way to support women's advancement while building stronger leadership pipelines and visible societal value.
Request Mentorship — Mentee Criteria
Mentee Criteria
Individuals applying for mentorship may be considered based on:
- Clarity of personal, academic, professional, or entrepreneurial goals
- Demonstrated motivation and commitment to growth
- Readiness to engage actively and consistently in the mentorship process
- Openness to feedback, accountability, and learning
- Alignment between the applicant's goals and the purpose of the mentorship pathway
- Potential to translate the mentorship experience into meaningful personal, professional, or societal contribution
Additional impact-oriented consideration
Priority may be given to applicants who can show:
- A clear intention to contribute positively to their community, sector, or ecosystem
- Interest in building work, projects, or enterprises aligned with sustainable development and inclusive growth
- Leadership potential and a willingness to create value beyond themselves
Join the Mentor Network — Mentor Criteria
Mentor Criteria
Mentors may be selected based on:
- Relevant professional, academic, entrepreneurial, or leadership experience
- Strong integrity, professionalism, and values alignment
- Genuine interest in supporting the growth of others
- Ability to provide constructive guidance across career, education, business, leadership, or personal development topics
- Willingness to support mentees with empathy, consistency, and accountability
- Alignment with AjoAje's mission and mentoring standards
- Willingness to dedicate a minimum of 1 hour per week to the engagement
Mentors are expected to bring not only relevant experience, but also the time and commitment needed for meaningful engagement. As a baseline, mentors should be willing to dedicate at least one hour per week to mentoring activities, whether through one-to-one sessions, group mentoring, office hours, workshops, or related support.
Join the Cohort