NEXTGEN MentorHER FELLOWSHIP

For Women Of Color

A Membership Scholarship for 5 Women Under 40

Now Accepting Applications through January 31st

Program’s Vision

To accelerate the growth of emerging Women of Color under 40 by providing access to strategic mentorship, community, and professional development through a sponsored SWAN membership.

This program opens doors for NextGen women to step into leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic roles with confidence, connection, and support.

Purpose

The SWAN MentorHER Fellowship Program for Women of Color is designed to:

Identify and uplift high-potential Women of Color who are building their careers or launching ventures.

Provide direct mentorship access to women leaders within the SWAN community.

Sponsor a 1-year SWAN membership to remove financial and access barriers.

Support NextGen women in developing clarity, strategic direction, and leadership skills.
Increase representation of Women of Color in management, entrepreneurship, and leadership pathways.

Ideal Candidates

Women aged 21–39
Identifying as Women of Color (BIPOC)
Early-career professionals or emerging entrepreneurs
Recent graduates entering the workforce
Demonstrated drive, potential, and alignment with SWAN’s mission
Global applicants welcome (program is virtual)

Program Benefits

Each selected participant (5 total) will receive:

1-Year SWAN Membership (NextGen Tier)
Mentorship pairing with a SWAN leader or seasoned professional
Access to strategic workshops, events, and community
Learning Lounge access for templates, toolkits, and on-demand sessions
Visibility & recognition via SWAN’s newsletter and social platforms
A Certificate of completion at the end of the program cycle

Our Fellowship Sponsor

This program is fully sponsored by Black Swan Consulting, Inc. (BSCI) as part of its commitment to supporting Women of Color in their early leadership and entrepreneurial journeys.

Full Name

City, State, Country

LinkedIn Profile (if applicable)

Short bio or career summary

A short response (150–250 words per response) to the following questions:

Why is mentorship important to you at this stage, and how will you use this opportunity to move strategically toward your goals?

If financial barriers did not exist, what about SWAN’s mission, community, or programming would make you want to be part of it?

Professional resume in PDF (Your resume helps us further understand your experience, interests, and leadership journey so we can thoughtfully review your fit for the SWAN fellowship.)

A 60-second video (optional but strongly encouraged) "Why is mentorship important to your growth at this stage, and how will you use this opportunity to move strategically toward your goals?"

Selection Process

Internal review to shortlist the top 10
SWAN will conduct an internal review to shortlist the top 10

Final Selection Criteria

The final five participants will be selected based on:

Clarity of goals and their vision for their leadership or entrepreneurial journey
Leadership potential demonstrated through past experiences, ambition, or initiative
Commitment to personal and professional growth, including willingness to engage in mentorship
Alignment with SWAN’s mission and values, especially around strategy, sisterhood, and impact
Global inclusivity, ensuring applicants from any country can be considered

The final 5 fellows will be selected by the SWAN Selection Committee.

Announcement: First week of January 2026