"The most significant benefit I gained from taking part in the WITEM mentoring program was a new found self belief and confidence that I could be an effective manager and leader."    Mentee

"I did not realise that this would be such a win/win. My time as a WITEM mentor has been very worthwhile."   Mentor

The Orijen Group > WITEM


Women in Information Technology Executive Mentoring (WITEM) -
a groundbreaking initiative in the Information and Technology sector

In 2004 Orijen was approached by DELL to create a program to support women in IT. The Women in IT Executive Mentoring program was born. Thanks to the passion and commitment of Dell Managing Director, Joe Kremer, this program continues to grow and expand its reach into both the public and private sectors.


In 2008 WITEM was recognised for its results driven approach and creating a greater awareness and understanding of the barriers to women’s advancement within the ICT sector and profession, when the program won the EOWA Award for 'Outstanding Initiative/Result for the Advancement of Women' and again in 2009 with Joe Kremer recognised as a finalist as a leader in the area.

Pictured above L-R: Joe Kremer, Vice President and Managing Director of DELL Australia, Jenny Morris, Managing Director of Orijen, Nicole Gemmell, DELL.

Now in its sixth successful year, the program aims to address the decreasing numbers of women in the IT industry by providing women with dedicated executive mentors drawn from the leaders in the industry.

The WITEM program is unique in bringing together organisations in a cross-mentoring structure. In the corporate sector, Managing Directors and CIO's mentor a high-potential female, identified as capable of taking the next step up, from another participating company for a 12 month period. In the public sector, CIO's in the Australia Public Service and in the South Australia Public Service have been matched with high potential women cross-departmentally.


In 2009 WITEM Extend was launched, where women from the 2008 WITEM program draw on their  experience as mentees and became mentors to women across their organisations. Between 2009-2010 WITEM programs were launched in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne  and Sydney.


Anna McPhee, EOWA Director, said “offering specialised mentoring in the ICT field was an excellent way to help women progress in the technology industry.”The mentees in Dell Australia's Women in IT Executive Mentoring program are regularly surveyed and continue to report increased self confidence and self esteem; increased access and visibility to senior executives; accelerated career development with numerous mentees in each program receiving promotions"

The ninth WITEM program is being launched in April 2010.  Participating corporations include Dell, Cisco, Woolworths, Ernst and Young, Deloitte, Westpac, Lan Systems, EMC, Intel, Lexmark. Participating APS Departments include Department of Defence, AGIMO, Dept of Industry, Tourism and Resources, IP Australia, Australian Tax Office, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Dept Immigration and Citizenship, DEAT, Dep’t of Finance, DEEWR, Centrelink, the ANU and Canberra Uni and in South Australian t, eight  government departments and tertiary institutions.

Surveys conducted at the completion of  WITEM programs consistently finds that mentees experienced significant gains from their mentoring experience:

 

  • Improvement in existing skills and development of new skills

  • A broader perspective of leadership and management

  • Increased networking opportunities

  • Increased communication either up or across an organisation


Long term gains experienced  included:

  • Increased confidence and self esteem

  • Learned strategies to achieve career aspirations

  • Gained a strong sense of professional self