On April 9th the French American Chamber of Commerce- DC presented a Fireside Chat with Diane Bell-McKoy, conducted by our WIL Co-chair, Bahia Akerele, to launch our exciting new initiative: Women on WoMen (WOW), a mentorship program for both men and women. “Women on Women Mentorship Initiative Launch - French American Chamber of Commerce - DC," documents the kickoff of a new mentorship program.

Diane Bell-McKoy is the former President and CEO of Associated Black Charities and a well seasoned executive in the Washington DC region. She is a respected leader and a champion-advocate for equality, inclusion and leadership.

Together Diane Bell-McKoy and Bahia Akerele delved into the essence of mentorship from its historical roots in Greek mythology to its modern definition as an intentional, respectful, and trust-based relationship for professional and personal growth.

The discussion features insights on building trust, differentiating between transactional and transformative mentorship, and the crucial roles and responsibilities of both mentors and mentees.

Practical advice is offered on initiating and nurturing mentorships both formally and informally, navigating career transitions, understanding generational differences in communication, and tackling imposter syndrome.

The speakers also emphasize the value of joining chambers of commerce like the French American Chamber of Commerce for networking and relationship building, and the video concludes with a call to action to join the chamber and participate in the pilot mentorship program.

A Key Take Aways:

Join Chamber of Commerces
Define your mentorship relationship
Be intentional about networking
Utilize linkedin, emailing, cold calling to set up brief meetings

To learn more about the French American Chamber of Commerce and to join us please see....www.faccwdc.org/dc/membership