Empowering Female STEM Graduates 
On May 27, 2025, SheSTEM successfully hosted its Mentorship Orientation Program for the second cohort of mentors at Lakeshore Hotel, Dhaka, bringing together industry leaders and consortium partners to kickstart the mentorship. Supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and powered by five dynamic organisations—10 Minute School, a2i, DevLearn Consulting, LightCastle Partners, and Policy Exchange Bangladesh—this event marked a key milestone in SheSTEM’s mission to promote gender equity in STEM across Bangladesh.
Building Bridges Between Academia and Industry
The SheSTEM Mentorship Orientation aimed to onboard mentors and align them with the program’s core vision: strengthening the industry-academia linkage to support young women in STEM. Participants were introduced to the goals and framework of the SheSTEM Mentorship Platform, which fosters structured, one-on-one connections between female STEM students and professionals from diverse sectors, including telecommunications, manufacturing, IT, research, and health tech.
The orientation began with a welcome session by Tasnia Isbat and Zinat Khan Moddhoma from LightCastle Partners. They highlighted SheSTEM’s growing national footprint through collaborations with top universities and industry players. Their remarks reinforced how mentorship can build confidence, sharpen career direction, and provide real-world insight for students.
Inside the Mentorship Platform
A highlight of the event was the detailed demonstration of the SheSTEM Mentorship Platform by Raihana Rahim of 10 Minute School. The platform offers mentees personalised access to:
- Career and skill-building guidance
- Expert insights into STEM career paths
- Practical support navigating the transition from academia to industry
From session booking to feedback collection, the platform is designed for seamless mentor-mentee engagement. Attendees explored how it fosters impactful, lasting connections that accelerate the careers of young women in STEM.
Advancing Gender Equity in STEM
With women comprising only 14% of Bangladesh’s STEM workforce, SheSTEM aims to close this gap by cultivating role models and building professional support systems. Through this mentorship initiative, mentors serve not just as guides but as catalysts for change, helping mentees tackle both technical challenges and societal barriers.
The evening concluded with an engaging Q&A session, followed by group photography, dinner, and networking, laying the foundation for future collaboration and impact.
What’s Next?
This orientation sets the stage for upcoming personalised mentorship sessions, goal setting, and progress tracking. SheSTEM remains committed to empowering students and transforming the STEM landscape in Bangladesh.
📌 Stay tuned for stories of impact, updates from our mentor-mentee pairs, and more transformative events from SheSTEM.
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