Businesswomen mentor Assumption students

27 November 2019

BALLYNAHINCH students have taken part in their first management programme that promotes women’s capacity for leadership.

Over 50 sixth form girls at Assumption Grammar School spent the day recently shadowing female leaders in a range of industries including financial services, recruitment, law, media, construction and health, last month.

SistersIN Female Leadership Programme, was launched this year to help foster girls’ confidence in leadership roles.

Organisers say it gave those taking part an opportunity to work alongside a female mentor at CEO, director or partner level across several trades in which women continue to be underrepresented at the top.

Projects and communications assistant Hannah Magorrian said: “After spending the day with mentors, the students develop their leadership skills in school, leading initiatives including mental health, peer mentoring, photography, sport, music, drama, debating, literacy, creative writing, religion and coding.

“The school hopes these pupil-led initiatives will provide a legacy that benefits the whole school and wider community.

“In line with the ethos at the heart of Assumption Grammar School, the pupils have already spent time with female leaders in local charities.”

She continued: “The school is currently working with its sister Assumption schools in South Africa to develop a parallel initiative with the aim of empowering African girls to become future leaders.

“This global aspect of the SistersIN programme is reaching out to a country where females are vastly underrepresented at senior management and executive levels.”

The SistersIN Female Leadership Programme is being piloted in Assumption Grammar School this year, in association with Women in Business.

Pupils will have two further leadership experience days, working with female leaders, on February 13 and June 8 when they will gain a different experience of leadership from one of over 30 partner industries.

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