We’d like to bring your attention to an extremely exciting opportunity for New Zealand women involved in the sport sector.

Applications are now open for the espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) 2017. Up to 20 international female candidates selected from countries around the world will be matched with leading female executives from America's top sports organizations for a month-long mentorship (September 24, 2017 to October 31, 2017). The experience focuses on empowering emerging leaders to support their communities through an exciting and unique opportunity alongside global leaders in the field.

Given our sporting success as a nation, New Zealand is well recognised as a home for outstanding athletes and leaders in sport-related fields – and we’ve had a number of Kiwis attend this program, including Julie Paterson, CEO of Netball Northern Zone, Melodie Robinson, Sports Presenter, Shanelle Barrett, Technical and Events Advisor Triathlon NZ, and Fran McEwen, Health & Wellbeing Partnership Leader, Wellington City Council.

The program is open to a wide range of fields including: sports management; coaching; sports journalism and mass communication; sports marketing; disability sports; social responsibility through sports; and/or sports medicine.

Applications close 31st of March 2017, with further detail below.

The program is designed to provide emerging women leaders with opportunities to:

• Develop management and business skills that enable women to contribute to economic growth

• Gain exposure to the U.S. sports business, media, and non-profit environments

• Establish lasting relationships with a global network of leaders in the sports sector

• Develop an action plan for a project that will contribute to long-term positive change

PROGRAM OUTLINE – Notional dates and program components for the 2017 program are:

• Full program with travel dates (Sunday, September 24 to Tuesday, October 31)

• Orientation in Washington, D.C. (Monday, September 25 to Saturday, September 30)

• Travel to espnW Summit in Los Angeles, CA (Sunday, October 1)

• Attend espnW Summit (Monday, October 2 to Wednesday, October 4)

• Travel to mentorship site (Thursday, October 5)

• Three-week mentorship (Friday, October 6 to Wednesday, October 25)

• Reconvening in Washington, D.C. for closing activities (Thursday, October 26 to Monday, October 30)

• Depart Washington, D.C. for home (Tuesday, October 31) During orientation, participants will engage with U.S. Government officials and high-level figures in sports business and grassroots associations while gaining valuable networking skills. They will also take professional leadership courses and learn about American culture, the American sports structure, and our nation’s history of disability sports and women’s sports.

Participants will then travel to California for the espnW Women + Sport Summit, an event that brings together leading voices and industry influencers to promote positive change for women through sports. Following the summit, participants will travel to their respective mentorship locations to work with a senior female executive, her team, and the organization’s partners. These activities are designed to meet the needs of the participant and inform action plan development. For the final component, the participants will share and evaluate their mentorships and finalize action plans.

Costs covered by the program are:

• Per diem and lodging for the U.S. portion

• International and U.S. domestic travel

Nominees must be:

• Involved in sports sectors including: sports management; coaching; sports journalism and mass communication; sports marketing; disability sports; social responsibility through sports; and/or sports medicine

• Able to reach top levels of their organization

• Citizens of the nominating country

• Firmly committed to the full duration of the program, willing to take part in an immersive mentorship, and interested in developing new partnerships

• Committed to sharing knowledge and acting as a change agent in home communities

• Willing to participate in social media for the program and alumni activities after the exchange

Interested applicants must submit the following to Tuvae Barlow on Barlowtk@state.gov by Friday 31st March, 2017. Those selected for an interview will be notified by Friday, April 7, 2017.

• Current resume (CV) (as attachment)

• Details about the sports work in which the nominee is engaged, the sector of her organization (e.g. private, public, NGO), and her role within the organization

• Information on what she hopes to learn from the mentoring experience and what her action plan may be

• Description of the nominee’s personal interests;