MANAMA — Reach Mentoring, the first non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring and leadership of women professionals in the Middle East, will establish its second cohort in Bahrain at the Mentorship Forum Middle East taking place on Nov. 25, 2019.

In collaboration with the Bahrain-based consultancy FinMark Communications, the program will provide mentorship to a new cohort of professional women, equipping them with the skills needed to succeed in the Middle East workplace. The first cohort was established in Bahrain in 2018 saw 14 women professionals across a number of sectors successfully complete the program.

The second cohort welcome a further 20 women into the reach program with a seasoned group of mentors committed to guiding their career progression.. The launch of the second cohort has been strategically timed to take place at the Mentorship Forum Middle East, a first of its kind regional event, in order to showcase the important role that mentorship can play in driving talent development, and the contributions that Reach is making in Bahrain and across the region.

Established in the Dubai International Financial Centre in 2013, today Reach provides programs in the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. More than 300 professional women have been matched with male and female mentors from all industry sectors to completed the year-long program. Within the Reach program, mentors and mentees are paired through a specialized online platform that enables algorithm matching by aligning their interests, goals, objectives, communication styles, development objectives and personality traits.

Founding Board Member of Reach Mentoring Racha Alkhawaja said “we are delighted to establish the second cohort of the Reach Mentoring programme in Bahrain, following a successful launch last year. While the region is making huge steps towards empowering women in the workplace, mentorship still plays a key role in the corporate world, helping to bridge the gender divide. Gender disparity in the workplace is a reality across the world, and means that it can be a lonely place for women, whether at the start of their careers or at the pinnacle of their success – our aim is to empower women with the guidance and support of a trusted mentor.” — SG