WIMOs Mentoring Program

Goal of Program

We strive to help each woman interested in a maritime career achieve her desired level of leadership, responsibility, and achievement.

Objectives of Program

  • Supply mentors effective techniques and suggested topic

  • Match protégés with a mentor in their chosen career field

  • Provide protégés with career guidance, encouragement, lessons learned, and industry insider tips 

  • Encourage survey completion  to ensure program effectiveness 

Apply to be a Mentor or Protégé!

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  • The Mentoring Cohort is a 16-week structured mentorship program designed to support professional growth through guided conversations, goal-setting, and industry insight.

    Participants are matched into mentor/protégé pairs and provided with:

    • Monthly themes

    • Flexible conversation guidance

    • Reflection prompts

    • Action-oriented exercises

    This program is structured, but intentionally flexible, so participants can engage in a way that fits their schedules.

  • • A person can be both a protégé and mentor

    • Matching via online questionnaire

    • A protégé can be matched with more than one mentor, if she requests so

    • Protégés and mentors will not be matched if they work at the same company

    • Mentors and protégés can either be local or from different geographic areas

    • Mentoring can last for many years or only a few months, depending on the needs of the protégé and/or time commitment of the mentor

    • Mentoring can end at any time for any reason at the discretion of the protégé and/or mentor

    • There should be a means for both protégé and mentor feedback

    • Duration: 16 weeks

    • Meeting cadence (flexible):

      • Recommended: 1–2 meetings per month

      • Total: ~4–8 meetings over the program

    • Format: 1:1 mentorship

    Support: Monthly guidance + resources

  • Mentors must be a WIMOs Member who is available to volunteer her time and is willing to share her industry knowledge and experiences

  • The Mentoring Committee meets monthly to review new applications and match protégés with mentors. While we strive to make pairings each month, there are times when a suitable mentor may not be immediately available. In such cases, it may take a few months to find the right fit.

    Once a match is made, the Mentoring Committee will send an introductory email to both the mentor and protégé, encouraging them to schedule their first meeting.

    If at any point the match doesn’t feel like a good fit or if either party becomes unresponsive, please reach out to us. We’re happy to rematch you.

    For any questions or concerns throughout the process, contact us at Mentoring@wimos.org.

  • • Women who are contemplating or starting a career in the maritime industry

    • WIMOs and non-WIMOs members

    • Female active military and veterans

    • Female college students

    1. I'm already a registered mentor/protege; do I have to register again for each Cohort? YES

    2. How old do you have to be to participate in the mentoring program as a protege?  18+ interested in or currently pursuing a maritime certification, degree, or career.

    3. When does the next cohort start? June 12, 2026

    • Cohort 1 June 12- October 9, 2026

    • Kick-off Cohort meeting June 12, 2026

    • Mentoring Happy Hour- October 6, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana

How the program works

Voices and Testimonials

  • "When I started my career in maritime over 30 years ago, it was not unusual for there to be only one woman on a ship, working in a terminal or at the office. Since then, the number of women in the maritime field has increased significantly through the help of women providing guidance, encouragement and moral support to each other. Women still comprise of less than 30 percent of the maritime workforce but we can change that by helping and encouraging each other! The Mentoring Program is a great way to connect women starting or contemplating a career in maritime with experienced women already working in the field. By increasing our numbers, we not only enhance our own careers but add diversity, foster innovative ideas, and contribute to a more dynamic and stronger maritime force."

    WIMOs Mentoring Program Coordinator

    Emily Lai

    Marine Surveyor, Deputy Chief Surveyor Gulf Ports for NCB

  • "My mentor Capt. J. Ryals has been wonderful with her support and constructive feedback. She is very generous with her time and offers valuable insights to my inquires on specific dock operations pertaining to crane equipment, vessel logistics, best work practices on and near docks. Her experience, expertise, and positive encouragement have helped me push past my comfort zones and embrace opportunities I would not have done prior to our mentorship. Our remote interactions have been productive via technology allowing us to stay connected even though we are several miles away from each other. She encourages me professionally to stretch my skill sets and encourages self-care to be at optimal peak performance."

    WIMOs Protégé

    Patricia Moreno-Arispe

    PCCA Bulk Terminal Compliance Coordinator at Port of Corpus Christi

    Currently attending The University of The Incarnate Word, expected graduation date is Dec 2023.

  • "The WIMOs Mentoring Program provides a safe space to exchange ideas and voice concerns that affect our decision-making. It provides a sounding board to fully investigate all the aspects of opportunities or challenges a protégé faces by identifying them, discussing them, evaluating big-picture impacts, risks/rewards, and implementing action plans."

    WIMOs Mentor

    Hallie Pendleton

    General Manager

    Greenwave Transportation

  • "Early in my career I did not feel empowered to speak up when something made me uncomfortable. Any young lady should know that you have a voice, it matters, and you will only grow stronger each time you use it. And oh, what a strong network of WIMOs ladies who are here to offer guidance, support, and encouragement!"

    WIMOs Mentor

    Lisa Cargile

    Human Resources Manager

    Advario

Apply to be a Mentor or Protégé!

Mentor Application
Protégé Application - NOW OPEN