UP Fellowship Program for Mid-Career Women - NAIC

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Women in Alternatives

UP Fellowship Program
for Mid-Career Women

UP Fellowship Program for Mid-Career Women

The Women in Alternatives UP Fellowship Program fosters professional development for mid-career women in alternative investments through targeted skill building and overall career guidance.

Applications Close March 7th

UP Fellowship Program

The UP Fellowship Program is a 6-month career development experience designed to help ethnically diverse women with 7–12 years of experience in the alternative investment industry rise “up” in their careers. Through tailored training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, the program empowers mid-career professionals to advance their leadership, expand their impact, and continue building meaningful careers in alternatives.

The UP Fellowship Program has two significant components:

Workshops

UP Fellows participate in a series of monthly professional development workshops and webinars led by senior leaders in the alternatives industry. Each session provides actionable insights and tools to support mid-career advancement.

Fellows will learn how to:

Set clear career goals
Establish a professional development plan
Build and leverage a high-value network
Develop strategies for navigating mid-career decisions
Position themselves to rise through organizational ranks
Promote their personal brand
Create a portfolio that highlights accomplishments

Topics include:

Compensation &
The Art of Negotiation

Creative Networking
Methods

Fundraising
Frameworks

Mentorship

UP Fellows are paired with senior executive mentors from the alternative investment industry to create meaningful mentorship relationships. UP Fellows will meet with their mentors to discuss professional development for one hour a month during the 6-month program. This time can be spent asking questions, addressing challenges, exploring options for your career path, and planning for your future. The meetings can take place on the phone, video conferences, or in person.

The Benefits of Mentoring

“

Hearing the experiences of other women of color that so strongly match my own experiences made me feel less alone and less like the problem. Imposter syndrome is something I deal with, and hearing women speak to their personal experiences helped to build some confidence to know that I'm not alone and can overcome these hurdles.

The community is something I hadn't anticipated that I would build, and was one of the unexpected and added benefits.

”

About the Program

The UP Fellowship Program has two significant components:

Mentorships: UP Fellows are paired with senior executive mentors from the alternative investment industry to create meaningful mentorship relationships. UP Fellows will meet with their mentors to discuss professional development for one hour a month during the 6-month program. This time can be spent asking questions, addressing challenges, exploring options for your career path and planning for your future. The meetings can take place on the phone, video conferences, or in person.

Workshops: UP Fellows will participate in a series of professional development workshops and webinars through the course of the 6-month program. These informative sessions are led by senior leaders in alternative investments and are held once a month for 1-2 hours. During the workshops, UP Fellows will learn how to:

Set clear career goals
Establish a professional development plan
Build your network in order to succeed
Develop strategies for navigating mid-career decisions
Position yourself to rise up through the ranks
Promote your personal brand
Create a portfolio to highlight your accomplishments

“

Hearing the experiences of other women of color that so strongly match my own experiences made me feel less alone and less like the problem. Imposter syndrome is something I deal with, and hearing women speak to their personal experiences helped to build some confidence to know that I'm not alone and can overcome these hurdles.

The community is something I hadn't anticipated that I would build, and was one of the unexpected and added benefits.

”

UP Fellowship Program

Mentoring is a key component of the UP Fellowship Program. Our goal is to create impactful mentor-mentee relationships to provide mentees with targeted skill development and overall career guidance.

Mentor FAQs

What are the important dates for this program?
The UP Fellowship program runs from March through September.

Who should be a mentor?
Mentors are senior-level female executives in the alternative investment industry who are committed to supporting the growth of diverse women in this field.

What are the responsibilities of a mentor?
Mentors are expected to meet with their mentee one hour per month throughout the 6-month program. These meetings should be focused on career development, and can include sharing personal experiences and insights, guiding an UP Fellow through a specific phase in her career or encouraging her to continue on her path forward. Mentors can meet with mentees by phone, video conference or in person.

What are the benefits of being a mentor?
As a successful industry leader who has risen up in the industry, you have the opportunity to help more ethnically diverse women advance their careers. By sharing insights about your career journey and providing encouragement, you can retain mid-career women in the industry and help them become tomorrow’s leaders.

How do I apply to become a mentor?
Mentor applications are now open. Apply here.

Hear from Participating Mentors

For additional information about the UP Fellowship Program, please contact us at wia@naicpe.com.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Tina McIntyre at tmcintyre@naicpe.com.