Women mentoring & mentorship
Get matched one-to-one with a woman who's a step or two ahead of you. Three focused months on your goals, in a women mentorship community of 10,000+ members across 160+ countries.
What is women mentoring?
Women mentoring (or women mentorship) is a structured relationship in which one woman guides another through a career or life challenge she has already worked through. The mentor shares what she learned, asks better questions and gives an honest outside view. The mentee brings the problem she's facing right now and sets the goal.
At OneUpOneDown, every match is between women, and every match has a clear shape: three months, at least four meetings, and a goal the mentee chooses. More than 10,000 members across 160+ countries have mentored or been mentored this way, and they rate the quality of their match 4.5 out of 5 across 3,880 reviews.
Why mentoring for women works
Many women don't get the kind of support and validation they need from their workplace or existing networks. A mentor who has been in your shoes can name what's happening, share what worked for her, and help you move faster with more confidence.
Mentorship is to working relationships what meditation is to the mind. You learn strategies and tactics to reach your goals sooner, and you also learn to relax and be yourself with another person. Members rate their OneUpOneDown matches 4.5 out of 5 across 3,880 reviews.
Employers are taking note. In March 2026 the UK government's Office for Equality and Opportunity published guidance encouraging employers to offer mentoring, sponsorship and development programmes, noting that women may need help to access them.
The most common areas our members work on:
- Leading authentically and owning your unique value
- Managing a transition into a new role, career or country
- Building confidence and finding your voice
- Communicating with influence
- Managing relationships at work
- Work-life balance
- Finding purpose and direction
- Developing skills specific to your role
Near-peer mentoring: one or two steps ahead
The best mentor isn't always the most senior person in the room. We match on near-peer mentorship: your mentor is a couple of steps ahead in the specific area you want to grow, so her advice is recent, relevant and practical.
It also means almost anyone can be a mentor. You don't need decades of experience, just experience someone else is still working through. That's why around 30% of our members mentor and are mentored at the same time. Women tell us they get as much from being a mentor as from having one: it helps them see the value of their own experience and build leadership skills.
Our own company started this way. In 2019, Dzhuliana joined OneUpOneDown as a mentee and was matched with Natalie. A few months later she became our technical co-founder. Read our story.
How our women mentoring matches work
- Create your profile. Choose the areas you'd like support with, the areas where you can support others, or both.
- Get matched. We match on the intersection of the experience the mentee is looking for and the experience the mentor has built, then propose a match. You review it, and once you both accept, the match begins.
- Meet four times in three months. Two meetings in the first month, then one in each month after: real development in a manageable timeframe.
- Grow, then rematch. After three months, active profiles can be rematched. Over time you build your own circle of trusted mentors and mentees.
Joining as a mentor is free. Premium members are guaranteed a match within 14 days. See how it works and plans, or go straight to find a mentor or become a mentor.
Mentoring vs coaching vs sponsorship
The three are often mixed up. They work best together, but they're not the same thing:
| Mentoring | Coaching | Sponsorship | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Someone who has been where you are shares experience and perspective | A trained professional helps you find your own answers | A senior person uses their influence to advocate for you |
| Focus | Your whole development: career, confidence, choices | A specific goal or behaviour | Promotions, visibility and opportunities |
| Relationship | Two-way, often peer or near-peer | Professional and usually paid | Usually inside one organisation |
| Best when | You want guidance from someone who has done it | You want structured accountability | You're ready for the next role and need a champion |
OneUpOneDown focuses on mentoring: women helping women, one or two steps apart.
Women mentoring programmes by industry
Organisations and communities run their own women mentorship programmes on OneUpOneDown. Some of them:
- Motorsport: the FIA Women in Motorsport mentorship programme pairs experienced women with those getting into motorsport and those already in it.
- Gaming: the Global Gaming Women mentorship programme connects women across roles, career levels and countries in the games industry.
- Technology: the Women in Tech Global mentorship programme matches women at every career stage across technical fields.
- Climate: She Changes Climate grew its Be One mentoring programme 20x in a year, and Climate Bridges scaled its mentoring pool for the climate movement.
See all women mentorship case studies, or compare the best women mentorship programmes in the UK.
Women mentorship programmes for organisations
Companies, associations and communities use our women mentorship platform to run programmes for their employees and members. We handle the matching, onboarding and follow-up, and you see the results. Programmes go live in 24 hours, and 100% of our clients renew. OneUpOneDown won a Silver Lovie Award in 2025.
Read how the platform works for businesses, associations and communities, or see the ROI of mentorship.
What our members say
“It's been great to have an outside perspective on what I'm navigating, along with a sounding board to support my own decision making.”
Nina Hannert-Nimmo, mentee, Agile Coach, Wellington, New Zealand
“I don't know what their secret sauce is, but I could not have been happier with the first mentee that OneUpOneDown matched me with.”
Marisa Sires, mentor, Digital Product Leader, New York
“Thanks to my mentor I'm really improving my strategies, and my personal and professional goals.”
Mouna Aloui, mentee, Software Engineer at Sagemcom, Tunis
“Slowing down to be present with another person for a set amount of time gave me clearer insights and deeper understanding.”
Cathy, mentor, VP of Operations, San Francisco
Women mentoring and mentorship FAQ
What is women mentoring?
Women mentoring is a structured relationship where one woman guides another through a career or life challenge she has already worked through. On OneUpOneDown, each match lasts three months with at least four meetings, and the mentee sets the goal.
What's the difference between mentoring and coaching?
A mentor shares her own experience and perspective from having been where you are. A coach is a trained professional who helps you find your own answers to a specific goal, and is usually paid. Many women benefit from both.
Who can join?
OneUpOneDown is a mentorship community for women. You can join as a mentee, a mentor, or both.
How do I find a female mentor?
Create a profile on OneUpOneDown with the areas you want to grow in. We propose a woman one or two steps ahead in that area, and the match starts once you both accept. Premium members are guaranteed a match within 14 days.
Is it free?
Joining as a mentor is free. Mentees can choose a Premium plan, which includes a guaranteed match within 14 days, unlimited match proposals and monthly Inner Circles. See our plans for current prices.
Do I need experience to be a mentor?
No. Near-peer mentoring means you mentor in areas where you're a step or two ahead. Our guides prepare first-time mentors.
How long does a mentorship last?
Each match lasts three months, with at least four meetings: two in the first month and one in each month after. After that, you can be rematched.
How are mentors and mentees matched?
We match on the areas you want to grow in, your experience and your goals, then propose a match you can accept or decline.
Can my organisation run a women mentorship programme?
Yes. We run programmes for companies, associations and communities, and they can be live in 24 hours. 100% of our clients renew. See the platform.
Ready to bring mentorship to your organisation?
A 30-minute call with Natalie, our co-founder and CEO.