Femspire: The Female Mentorship Program

Imagine: You are at the beginning of a journey that will help you grow professionally and personally. You are part of Femspire, a program that not only provides you with an experienced mentor or a mentee who is ready to learn, but also opens up new perspectives and opportunities. You listen to each other and share your experiences. After Femspire, you look back on what you have achieved. Imagine yourself passing on your knowledge – perhaps even as a mentor in the next Femspire program. Are you ready?

Two female colleagues talking in a hallway of modern office

This is Femspire. Apply now and be part of it!

Femspire is entering its second round in February 2026. Our goal is to promote talented and ambitious women within the entire valantic group by offering them a global platform to learn from experienced internal mentors and to develop professionally and personally. Femspire stands for empowerment: grow through the support of your mentor and become even more successful and confident in what you do.

The application process begins on October 1, 2025, and ends on October 31, 2025.

Apply now as a mentor or mentee!

1:1 Mentoring

At Femspire, we match each mentee with a selected mentor. In monthly, digital 1:1 sessions, the focus is on individual support and advice for personal development. You can find the requirements for mentees and mentors here.

February – October 2026

The program starts in February 2026 and runs over eight months, during which the mentoring sessions take place. Detailed information on the Femspire program can be found here.

2 hours/month

As a participant, you should plan 1-2 hours per month for mentoring sessions and other events for the duration of the program. As a mentor, the average is around 2-3 hours, including training and supervision.

Birgitt Schmidt-Tophoff, Director Recruitment, valantic

Birgitt Schmidt-Tophoff
Director Talent Acquisition & Strategy

”At valantic, we foster a culture of empowerment where diversity and equality are the foundation of innovation and success. As Director Talent Acquisition & Strategy and as a woman, I am passionate about amplifying women's voices and making their talents visible. Together, we are shaping a future where every woman can achieve her career goals with strength and confidence.“

What's new?

This year, we’re excited to welcome four Executive Mentors to our program—here to support especially senior-level mentees on their next steps. With their deep leadership experience and passion for growth, they’re ready to help you elevate your journey and unlock new dimensions of your personal development.

Our Executive Mentors

Nicole Berg

valantic Partner

Anja Wilde

valantic Associate Partner

Eine Frau mit dunklem Haar in einem Dutt, die einen dunklen Blazer über einer gemusterten Bluse trägt, lächelt in die Kamera vor einem einfarbig blauen Hintergrund.

Dr. Iris Liliana Bleck

CFO and COO, valantic FSA

Annariina Komljenovic

Vice President Strategic Alliance Management, valantic

Should I join Femspire?

Femspire is aimed at all female employees at valantic who want to develop their career and benefit from the support of an experienced female colleague. Whether you are at the beginning of your professional career or already have several years of professional experience – if you are ready to take on new challenges and take your skills to the next level, Femspire is the right place for you.

What you should bring as a Mentee

valantic employee writing notes in meeting

Your motivation:

You want to drive forward your personal and professional development
You would like personal mentoring from an experienced female colleague to strengthen your career path within valantic
You want to expand your network and make new contacts in other competence centers
You want to become part of a rapidly growing female community

What makes you stand out:

You are interested in a constructive and regular exchange to learn from your Femspire mentor’s experience
You have the willingness and interest to invest time and commitment (1-2 hours per month) in the program
You are open to feedback and new perspectives
You have already successfully completed your trial period at valantic

Young businesswoman giving presentation on future plans to her colleagues at office

Your benefits:

Your personal 1:1 mentoring by an experienced female valantic colleague
Networking with other participants and a valuable exchange of experiences
Exciting keynotes and impulses that support you in your personal and professional development
A trusting framework that offers a personal exchange for women
The opportunity to gain insights into other divisions and competence centers

What sets you apart as a Mentor

Woman in blue tank top standing beside white wall. Female software engineer in meeting by whiteboard.

Your mission:

You will empower female valantic colleagues in their professional and personal development
You are responsible for organizing and shaping the regular exchange with your mentee
You will share your experience, especially in the areas of career development and personal development
You actively contribute to building a strong personal network for women at valantic
You are a role model, give impulses and live and promote our valantic culture

What makes you stand out:

You have at least 3 years of professional experience and have successfully completed your probationary period at valantic
You have excellent communication skills and are highly motivated to share knowledge and experience
You are very empathetic and you are particularly interested in motivating and inspiring others
You are enthusiastic about female empowerment and our valantic culture & values
Ideally, you have your own initial experience in mentoring or coaching
You are willing to invest time (on average 2-3 hours per month) and commitment in the program

valantic employee working on laptop in Salzburg

Your Benefits:

The opportunity to further develop your communication and leadership skills
Support through training and resources designed specifically for you as a mentor
Valuable insights into the challenges and perspectives of our female talent, beyond your own Competence Center
The chance to expand your network with valuable contacts
Recognition and appreciation for your commitment and contribution to the company’s development

What you can expect from Femspire

Femspire consists of various integrative modules that provide you with comprehensive support:

Kick-off meeting

We welcome all mentors and mentees at a digital launch event. An exciting keynote speech by a female entrepreneur from valantic awaits you.

1:1 mentoring sessions

Your regular individual meetings between mentor and mentee to discuss specific goals and evaluate progress. The organization and design of the sessions are entirely up to you.

Mentor training and supervision

The participating mentors receive comprehensive training from us and are supported by an external coach through supervision.

Closing event

Together we want to celebrate the completion of the program and present the milestones you have achieved. Of course, feedback on Femspire is also a must.

Your focus topics Your focus topics

You decide which of the following topics you would like to focus on in your mentoring experience:

Leadership
Personal branding
Communication skills
Methodology
Conflict management
Personal development
Inspiration
New perspectives

Your application process

The application process for Femspire is simple and transparent:

1

Online application

Write your letter of motivation and answer the key questions listed below with it. Then all you have to do is fill out the short application form on this website.
2

Interview Mentor & Mentee

The Growth Platform People team reviews all applications from mentors and mentees, engages in an exchange and selects participants for the Femspire program.
3

Matching

Based on the experiences, goals, and needs of the mentors and mentees, we try to find the perfect match for you. It is expected that 13 matches will be able to take part this time.
4

Feedback

You will be informed by e-mail whether you can participate in this year’s Femspire program and will receive all further information about the program’s start shortly.

Key questions for your letter of motivation

... as a Mentee:

Why do you want to participate as a mentee in valantic’s Female Mentorship Program?
What expectations do you have of Femspire?
What expectations do you have of your mentor?

... as a Mentor:

Why do you want to participate as a mentor in valantic’s Female Mentorship Program?
To what extent have you already gained experience as a mentor?
What contribution would you like to make by participating in Femspire?

For the rest of the application process, we need a letter of reference from your manager. Theres no need for a formal document, a short text via e-mail or MS teams is fine. It should explain why you are the right mentor for Femspire. In addition, a brief introduction of your current position and activities within valantic is desirable. The letter should be approximately 150 words.