Be a Mentor.
Create an impact.

As a mentor with Dream Big, your insight can support women and non-binary students in building valuable industry networks, making positive impressions on prospective employers, and achieving success in their careers.

Develop female leaders.

Having a mentor is said to be one of the most important keys to success. That’s why we are passionate about working with industry mentors like yourself to accelerate women’s careers.

Our mentoring opportunity provides aspiring women with accelerated access to influential and eminent leaders in the industry to enhance their industry exposure, professional capabilities, and confidence—inspiring them to succeed in their career goals and differentiate in today’s highly competitive employment market.

What’s involved?

The STEAM Ahead Program brings together leading industry professionals to support aspiring women so that their industry networks and connection to organisations best prepares them for success in STEAM careers.

As a mentor you will:

Assist more women and non-binary students in deciding on their post-study pathway through assisting them in goal setting and exploring their career pathway options.

Connect with a diverse group of high potential, aspiring women studying degrees in STEAM who have taken part in our professional development program, STEAM Ahead.

Inspire the next generation of leaders in STEAM by sharing your story and advice in high impact-low commitment 1 hour sessions.

Enhance the future of STEAM industries by engaging with high potential women.

Be recognised as an industry leader committed to supporting women and addressing gender equality.

Strengthen and expand your professional networks, making you and your organisation well-positioned to remain competitive in attracting exceptional female talent and creating a sustainable talent pipeline.

“Hearing stories from so many different mentors made me realise that by focusing on a few key areas I could greatly amplify my career success.”

-Alison Butcher, B. Computer Science

2021 STEAM Ahead Participant

Mentor testimonials.

  • Shahrzad Akbarzadeh Pooladi

    Acoustics Engineer | Arup

    “If you’re passionate about making a connection with the next generation of professionals and having a positive impact in their future, mentoring with Dream Big is a great place to start.

    Dream Big’s approach of bringing together the students and mentors takes the hassle and the guesswork out. The mentors get to attend sessions that are already planned and work with their schedules.

    The mentoring program was well organised, and I found it very easy to attend the sessions without having to prepare materials beforehand. The 50-minute sessions were just the right amount of time to connect with the students to a level that I was able to provide a few personalised tips to each of them.”

  • Caitlin Nicholas

    Senior Forecasting Systems Analyst | Energy Queensland

    "I highly recommend that industry professionals mentor Dream Big participants because you will walk away a better person and professional.

    Not only are you able to share a wealth of your experience and advice with our future leaders, but you will leave each session with a fresh perspective and energy.

    I love connecting with the Dream Big Australia participants. They are ambitious, professional, self-aware, switched on and personable – truly inspiring individuals!

    I walk away from every Dream Big mentoring/networking session inspired by the students, excited about the future and eager to learn more."

  • Usha Vinjamuri

    Project Manager (Tech) | Coles Group

    “I believe that Dream Big offers a safe and secure platform. I'm honoured to be a mentor for the second year in a row - a wonderful opportunity to listen to students’ stories and share my experience. We don’t need to be perfect, and I want to help normalise that. Sharing my experiences as an immigrant, both the good and the bad, helps.

    The mentees’ exposure to the inspiring Guest Speakers in the program has had a significant positive impact on their preparedness for mentoring. These speakers brought to life concepts like strengths, goals, culture, innovation, and leading through adversity.

    This opportunity serves as a catalyst for industry professionals to drive the positive impact by exchanging ideas and inspiring female talent. I would strongly encourage the professionals from various fields to make that difference.”

  • Alrun Wigand

    Digital Strategist | Energy Queensland

    “I’ve loved the STEAM Ahead Mentoring experience! The students are really open and not shy to ask the hard questions.

    Being asked challenging questions has also inspired me to reflect on personal key experiences. With the clarity of hindsight, I have re-discovered some things about myself in the process, which is fabulous! Plus, actually getting to know the students and their diverse backgrounds has broadened my horizon also and fills me with great optimism for the future.

    Providing a diverse range of views and experiences to up-and-coming STEM colleagues is an invaluable contribution that seasoned professionals can make to not only individual students, but also the future of our society and STEM progress. STEAM Ahead makes it easy for mentors to make that contribution, without a long-term commitment—but broad impact.”

  • Cassandra Mai

    Process Engineer, Water Treatment | WSP Australia

    “Every year, I always get so excited when the next round of the STEAM Ahead Program commences as I get the opportunity to meet the future generation of leaders.

    The students in the program are full of energy and passion about what they do, and it inspires me greatly to be able to share my knowledge and help set them up for success in their career.

    I would highly recommend anyone to mentor with Dream Big Australia, as they are incredibly easy to work with, organised and have set up an amazing program to connect students to industry professionals.”

  • Kashmira Deshpande

    Delivery Manager | Coles Group

    “I had a great experience working with Dream Big Australia and connecting with a diverse group of high potential, aspiring students studying degrees in STEAM.

    The students are very bright, curious, motivated and confident. It was great to hear about their journeys, backgrounds, share my experience in the industry, and gain some new perspective from our future talent.

    One of the great ways to shape the leaders of tomorrow and gain new perspectives is via mentoring like in Dream Big Australia's STEAM Ahead Program. It offers numerous benefits such as developing leadership and communication skills, enhancing professional networking opportunities, creating lasting impact, and gaining satisfaction from helping others reach their goals. I would definitely recommend industry professionals to mentor with Dream Big.”

  • Anna Fransson

    Principal Design Thinker | Aginic

    “There are so many benefits of being a mentor!

    It's so refreshing to work with the mentees to see how they look at the world. I have learnt a lot from being a mentor.

    Mentoring these different people has helped me understand that the more helpful we can be in that initial journey, the better their whole future is going to be. Also, finding people that might be interested in working with you in the future--It's just really exciting and inspiring."

  • Ren Zhang

    Engagement Manager | Coles Group

    “It has been a fantastic experience working with Dream Big Australia mentoring the students from different backgrounds.

    The students are definitely bright and talented and willing to learn. I was really glad to know that sharing my experience did help to boost their confidence to get into this field or about themselves. I wish them all the best in their STEAM journey!

    Why others should join - Dream Big Australia has been really supportive of arranging the mentoring and networking sessions. I think we definitely need more experienced mentors to help our women in STEAM to start their journey.

    Your story simply WILL make a change!”

FAQs.

  • We welcome professionals at any career stage, from both STEAM and non-STEAM disciplines.

    Having a diverse group of mentors is highly valuable for our students to broaden their career insights and introduce them to alternative pathways they weren't previously conscious of.

    All industry professionals are eligible to be considered as mentors. Those with backgrounds in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) careers are preferred however for their ability to relate to students’ prospective career paths.

  • Mentees are participants and alumni of the STEAM Ahead Program. They are a diverse group, ranging in age, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, degree type, and discipline (within STEAM/STEM). You can learn more about student eligibility requirements on the Program page of our website.

  • Industry professionals can register to become mentors with us all year.

    You will receive email confirmation when you have been added to our mentoring database and newsletter (which has information about session sign on).

  • This is up to you and your mentee(s) to decide! In our registration form we ask you to supply your LinkedIn so mentees can connect with you there too.

  • Mentoring sessions are just one hour each to deliver maximum impact for minimum time commitment. In a short amount of time (maybe even over your lunch break!) you can guide the career and answer the burning questions of STEAM students eager to launch their careers.

  • We’re so glad you would like to be a mentor with us!

    Fill in the form using the button on this page, and we’ll be in touch.

  • Our Program is offered entirely free to our students through the generous support of our Industry Partners. These are organisations in STEAM industries that benefit from investing in women’s careers by gaining access to student CVs and opportunities to connect with talent they wish to employ, in a win-win for industry and women.

University Outreach.

  • 17+ STEAM roles

    gained by STEAM Ahead participants

  • 330+ female or non-binary participants

    have taken part across Australia

  • 97% of 2023 students

    made significant progress on their career goals

  • 100% of 2023 students

    have good to excellent industry networks on program completion

Need more reasons to register?

If you’re looking to give back and connect with high potential talent, the mentoring experience as part of the STEAM Ahead Program has been designed to enhance women's success in STEAM careers. By engaging in live chats, goal setting sessions, and development activities with participants, you will directly help prepare women to be skilled, confident, and qualified before entering their industries and prepared to differentiate in today’s highly competitive employment market.

ATTRACT EXCEPTIONAL TALENT.

60% of university and graduate students listed mentoring as a criterion for selecting an employer.

INCREASE ENGAGEMENT & RETENTION.

Effective mentoring boosts retention rates 69% for mentors and 72% for mentees in a mentoring program.

IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY.

Managerial productivity increases by 88% with mentoring and training, versus 24% with training alone.

FOSTER DIVERSITY & INCLUSION.

Minorities who advance the furthest share one characteristic: a strong network of mentors and corporate sponsors.

ENHANCE YOUR TALENT.

Employees who receive mentoring are promoted five times more often than those who do not.

IMPROVE YOUR CULTURE.

71% of Fortune 500 companies run mentoring programs.

Support women as a mentor.

Once you have registered as a mentor, we will be in contact about upcoming opportunities to be involved.