WOMEN IN SOURCING MENTORING PROGRAMME

MARCH 8TH AT 12:00AM

The Global Sourcing Association is today launching its Women in Sourcing Mentoring Programme as a key initiative developed as a result of the highly successful Women in Sourcing Programme it launched in 2016.

The GSA's Women in Sourcing Mentoring Programme is a free and open global programme set up with the express aim of using experienced sourcing professionals as Mentors to encourage more women to enter the sourcing industry, and to help develop the careers of those women working in sourcing, so as to achieve more senior positions. 

The GSA's Women in Sourcing Mentoring Programme incorporates:

• The development of a Directory of Mentors
• A matchmaking programme- matching Mentors and Mentees around the world
• Free masterclasses on how to mentor, delivered by GSA's Professional Development division
• An online sharing forum- to share experiences, successes, ideas, etc.
• A series of inspirational female speakers keynoting across GSA's calendar of events

The GSA is also currently in the process of electing a Women in Sourcing Council representtaive to help drive this programme and will be annually reporting on progress to get to it's 2020 target.

Kerry Hallard, CEO of the GSA UK, said "The number of women in senior positions in the sourcing industry is woefully inadequate, and in many organisations, trails the ratios of senior women in other professions. Yet the sourcing industry needs the softer skillsets where women frequently excel. GSA research shows that when outsourcing arrangements fail, in 85% of cases they fail due to poor relationship mangement. I firmly believe that the industry would greatly benefit from having more women working in these essential, collaborative and motivational people-centric roles."

"As a global association, we are committed to improving equality in the global sourcing industry and are calling on the wider global profession to assist us. Gender equality is everyone's issue and measuring and reporting on targets is central to achieveing change."

Already interest has sparked globally, with the support of major brands such as Capita, KPMG, Mitie, Capgemini, nPower, Bank of Ireland, Mayer Brown, Linklaters and the Ministry of Justice. 

The GSA is calling for mentors and mentees to easily and quickly register their interest via the GSA website: www.gsa-uk.com/mentoring and is actively seeking both male and female mentors.

The mentoring programme is an initiative within the GSA's Social Inclusion Charter, which underpins the Global Sourcing Standard. The GSA and its members are committed to Social Inclusion and want to see more done within the industry to support the development of women working in any aspect of the Sourcing Industry.