Hand-in-Hand Mentorship Programmes
Empowering women entrepreneurs and academics from low- and middle-income nations through transformative 12-month mentorship partnerships with seasoned professionals worldwide.
500+
Mentors Worldwide
25+
Countries Reached
12
Months Duration
95%
Success Rate
Researcher Development & Mentoring Programme
A comprehensive suite of programmes designed to support researchers at every stage — from early-career academics to established scholars seeking new collaborations and outputs.
Meet the Editors
Direct access to journal editors across leading academic publications. Members get insider guidance on submission strategies, reviewer expectations, and how to position research for top-tier journals.
Writing Retreat
Structured, focused writing sessions — in-person and virtual — designed to help researchers move manuscripts from draft to submission. Facilitated by experienced academics with peer accountability built in.
Research Lab
A collaborative environment for developing and refining research ideas. Members workshop methodologies, get feedback on proposals, and develop joint projects across disciplines and institutions.
Publication Support
End-to-end support from conceptualisation to accepted paper — including co-authorship opportunities, editorial coaching, ABS-rated journal placements, and special issue co-editing.
Conference Support
Guidance on identifying the right conferences, preparing abstracts and presentations, and maximising impact at major events including ISBE, BAM, AOM, GWO, DIANA, G20, and IEF.
Mentoring
One-to-one and peer mentoring relationships that support career development, grant applications, promotion cases, and navigating the academic landscape at all career stages.
Success Stories
What members have achieved through WRN's researcher development support.
"I am very grateful to be part of a community of like‑minded researchers who support one another at various stages of the research journey. Through a special issue organised by members of the Women Research Network, I was able to publish in an ABS 3‑rated journal in 2025."
WRN Researcher
Network Member
"Involvement with the Women's Research Network has been highly beneficial to my professional and academic development. WRN has played an important role in facilitating publication opportunities, professional networking, and providing access to conferences that have enhanced both academic growth and career progression."
Dr. Sheila Dewitt
Researcher
"I'm grateful to be part of this research network, which has esteemed researchers who inspire me. Through this network, I had the opportunity to co-author a paper, resulting in my first-ever publication."
Zikhona Dlabatshana
Researcher
Research Awards
Recognition received by WRN members and research teams at major international conferences.
Best Research & Knowledge Exchange Paper
Best Paper — Minority Entrepreneurship Track
Best Paper — International Entrepreneurship Track
ERD Alistair Anderson Best Paper Award
Best Paper — Family Business Track
Research Innovation Award
Publications Produced by Members
A selection of research outputs by WRN members, supported through our researcher development programmes.
Waseem, M., Dewitt, S. Equal Care and the Cooperative Turn: Building Inclusive and Sustainable Care Systems in the Global South. The Emerald Handbook on Digital Transformation, Environmental Sustainability, and Wellbeing in the Global South. (in press)
Irene, B., Lockyer, J., & Okrah, J. (Eds.). The Palgrave Handbook of Decolonising Entrepreneurship. Palgrave Macmillan.
Dewitt, S., & Puntaier, E. The Role of Institutions in WEEE Management in the Global South. The Emerald Handbook of Sustainable Energy Transition and Social Justice, 151.
Irene, B. N., Irene, J., Lockyer, J., & Dewitt, S. Degenerative 'Affordance' of Social Media in Family Business. Systems, 13(8), 629.
Irene, B., Lockyer, J., Dewitt, S., Hoyte C., Sadraei R. The impact of the 'No Choice Option' on the performance of women-owned businesses in patriarchal societies. World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 21, No. 1.
Irene, J. O., Irene, B. N., Omeihe, K. O., & Frank, R. (Eds.). The Emerald Handbook of Sustainable Energy Transition and Social Justice. Emerald Publishing.
Irene, J. O., Irene, B. N., Omeihe, K. O., & Frank, R. (Eds.). The Emerald Handbook of Decolonising Sustainability: A Global South Perspective. Emerald Publishing.
Irene, B., Lockyer, J., Felix-Faure, C., Nziku, D., Onoshakpor, C., & Okrah, J. (Eds.). Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth for Women Entrepreneurs in the Global South. Emerald Publishing.
Business Mentorship Programme
Our Hand-in-Hand Mentorship programme matches female entrepreneurs from low- and middle-income nations with seasoned, committed businesspeople from any nation. Over the course of their 12-month collaboration in pairs, the mentor assists the mentee in realising her business objectives and enhancing her financial security, independence, and prosperity.
- A professional in the business world, regardless of gender, with a minimum of seven years of experience
- Either employed by one of our corporate partners or able to finance their own participation on an independent basis
- English Speaking
- Being able to dedicate a full year to the programme
- Be willing and able to share their knowledge and experiences with a female entrepreneur
- Attend a minimum of two hours of online meetings each month with their mentee
- Participate in about 1.5 hours of pre-matching training
- Complete interim and end-of-program surveys
- Comply with our Mentoring Women in Business programme Code of Conduct
Make a Lasting Impact
Business professionals have the opportunity to significantly contribute to an entrepreneur's business growth at a crucial juncture in her enterprise. Working with a small business owner in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, or any other developing nation in the Global South is a possibility.
Giving a woman entrepreneur access to your business expertise will help her become more self-assured, perform better in her business, acquire new skills, and make a big difference in her life, family, community, and beyond.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Join our global network of mentors and help empower the next generation of women leaders in business and academia.
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