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Pay It Forward as a Mentor for Women in Business and STEM

AHF’s Fellowship Circle is a highly curated and tailored 10-week program, designed by and for Indigenous, Black and racialized women launching their careers in business and STEM. The program focuses on developing social capital and career readiness skills.
Applications open September 16, 2026.

Join the 2027 Cohort Waitlist

10-week Experience Curated for
Students and Recent Post-Secondary Graduates

As a Mentor in this holistic 10-week program, you will take part in small group mentorship circles with students and recent graduates from post-secondary looking to launch their careers in business and STEM.

Redefining Mentorship as a Pathway to Flourishing

Illustration of two women holding hands
At AHF, we believe in a strengths-based, reciprocal approach to mentorship. Traditional mentorship approaches tend to be hierarchical and top down. Our Fellows and Mentors bring valuable contributions and perspectives where both can benefit and learn from one another. Through equal partnership, power sharing and a learning mindset, this approach focuses on the whole person and promotes respecting unique lived experiences.
As a Mentor you have an opportunity to develop your inclusive leadership competencies, grow your gender and racial equity knowledge, deepen your exploration of privilege and influence, and examine ways of taking your learning beyond the program into your organizations.
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Read article by AHF Founder, Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi, on Mentoring Indigenous, Black, and racialized women as a pathway to more equitable organizations

Read Article

Our Impact at a Glance

Fellows Impact

326
Fellow Graduates since 2021
66
Post Secondary Institutions
9
Provinces

Mentors Impact

217
Mentors Since 2021
85
Organizations
8
Provinces
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It was truly an honour to serve as a mentor in the Accelerate Her Future Fellowship Circle. By centring lived experience and reciprocal learning, the Circle intentionally nurtures curiosity, confidence, belonging, and possibility. I left each session with insights I could immediately apply in my work and community — and while paying it forward to help the next generation of diverse women see their limitless potential, I was also reminded of my own infinite capacity to grow and lead.
Kerry-Ann
Kerry-Ann Spencer-WilliamsDirector Pod Owner Data Science
The AHF Fellowship Circle is one of the most amazing programs I've ever been a part of. The amount of support, love, authenticity and vulnerability demonstrated by this group of BIPOC women was awe-inspiring. I learned so much from both fellows and mentors, and it has increased my awareness of the impact that we can make on each other.
Anne Steptoe
Anne SteptoeSVP, Software Development,
Propel
Every individual that I connected with in the Fellowship Circle community shared their individual journey of truth, vulnerability, trust and openly shared their lived experience and allyship. Accelerate Her Future has created a professional, well laid out Fellowship Circle community full of professionalism, detailed preparations, impactful social media suggestions and facilitators in a culturally, safe space. With the Fellowship Circle program running parallel to Black History Month, International Women’s Day, Women’s History Month and International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, this has deepened the commitment to inspire inclusivity and learn, share and participate fully in a program designed for Indigenous, Black and racialized women across the country.
Patricia Crowe
Patricia A CroweDeputy Director, Ministry of Trade and Export,
Indigenous Economic Development

How It Works

1
Check Your Eligibility

Check your eligibility and things to know about the application process.

2
Submit Your Application
Fill out a quick application form. Our team will review your application.
3
Wait to Hear Back
Mentors will be selected based on program goals and needs of our Fellows. If we’re not able to find a suitable match of role for the upcoming cohort, we’ll keep your details in our database for future cohorts.
4
Communication from AHF
Selected applicants will receive more information about the program.
5
Start Fellowship Circle
The 10-week Fellowship experience will run from January 21 to March 25, 2027.
6
Celebrate!
Congratulations! You’ll be awarded a certificate of completion. Welcome to the AHF Alumni community!

Eligibility Criteria

  • You identify as an Indigenous woman (i.e. First Nations, Inuit, Métis), a Black woman, or a racialized woman (i.e. Arab, East Asian, Latina, Middle Eastern/North African, Pacific Islander, South Asian, South-East Asian, West Asian); or 
  • You identity as a white woman committed to intersectional gender equity, continuous learning and taking consistent allyship action
  • You are a manager, director or senior leader 
  • You have a minimum of 5 years of experience in business or STEM
  • You commit to participating in a minimum of six, two-hour sessions in the 10-week program (includes Orientation, four group mentorship sessions, and celebration event)
  • You commit to using your social capital to advance our Fellows as future leaders in business and STEM
  • You wish to grow your professional network and community
  • You wish to evolve and grow as an inclusive leader

Important Dates

Applications Open

September 16, 2026

Applications Close

December 18, 2026 

Successful Applicants Informed

On rolling basis until spots filled

Fellowship Circle Winter 2027 Cohort

January 21 – March 25, 2026, Thursdays, 7:00-9:00pm ET

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Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions that are not included below? Send us an email at info@accelerateherfuture.com

Please refer to the Eligibility Criteria

We won’t be offering an honorarium or stipend. You can expect to grow as an equitable leader by participating in our uniquely designed orientation and program that embeds a racial and gender equity lens, grow your professional network, and learn about the unique experience of early-career Indigenous, Black, and racialized women. Most importantly, together we are building a community with and for Indigenous, Black, and racialized women, and using our social capital to help them advance as future leaders in business and STEM.

The Mentor application includes a combination of basic demographic, applicant profile and open-ended questions to better understand your background, experience and perspectives about our mission, mentorship and active allyship, and commitment to advancing Fellows in their career development and goals.

Mentors will be selected based on alignment with our program goals and needs of our Fellows. If we are not able to find a suitable match or role within our Fellowship Circle, we will keep your details in our database for future cohorts. We appreciate your generosity and interest in our programming!

The Fellowship Circle will run virtually over 10-weeks, January 21 – March 25, 2027. We require that Mentors commit to attending a minimum of six sessions including Orientation, four Group Mentorship Circles and the Wrap Up Event.

AHF’s Fellowship Circle runs once per year, with the next in Winter 2027.

Absolutely. We welcome Mentors who are passionate about our mission and making an active difference in the careers and lives of our Fellows.

We’d love that. You can email us at info@accelerateherfuture.com or go to the Partner With Us page to submit a message.

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