The Emerging Leaders in Contraceptive Technology Innovation 2022 cohort celebrated their graduation from the mentorship program! This program matched seventeen graduate students and young professionals interested in contraceptive technology innovation with fourteen leaders in the field for 6 months of one-on-one and group mentoring sessions. They were from nine different countries. Participants in the program were able to network with prominent researchers and innovators and learn about the newest innovations in the field of contraceptive technology.
Through this program, mentees got concrete guidance from their mentors, including advice about entering the workforce, and support with networking and building relationships in the field. Mentors reported that the mentorship experience allowed them to go beyond their day-to-day work, think deeply about their personal and professional experiences, and share insights with students and young professionals. The CTI Exchanges recognizes that supporting young people who are interested in contraceptive R&D as a career path is essential to grow and strengthen this field and we will be releasing our application to be part of the 2023 cohort in the coming months.