Bentley Motors has announced the selected students that will take part in the 2023 edition of its Extraordinary Women initiative, a global mentoring programme that is committed to inspiring and developing the next generation of young female leaders, specifically female students in the fields of engineering, design, technology and business.
Part of Bentley’s wider Diversity and Inclusion commitment under its Beyond100 strategy, the Extraordinary Women programme is designed to encourage women to consider careers in STEM and automotive.
Four specially selected students from leading UK universities, including Loughborough, Bath, Warwick and Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a partner university in Saudi Arabia, Dar Al Hekma University will now embark on the programme, which will involve mentoring by high-achieving women – the Pioneers – and will culminate in a special visit to Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England.
During an intimate event held in Saudi Arabia in May, Bentley introduced the mentors (the Pioneers) to the successful mentees (the four students). The four Pioneers, who pledged their commitment to the ‘Extraordinary Women’ initiative, have been carefully paired with four students.
In the UK chapter, From the University of Warwick, Gauri Morjaria, majoring in MEng Automotive Engineering, will be mentored by Amanda Levete, a RIBA Stirling Prize-winning architect. From Loughborough University, Judith Mburu, majoring in MSc Finance and Investment, will be mentored by Hayley Hunton, currently Head Of Financial Planning at Bentley Motors. From University of Bath, Polly Berryman, majoring in Mechanical Engineering, will be mentored by Nicola Gough, part of Bentley Motor’s product strategy team. From Manchester Metropolitan University, Alisha Nasim, majoring in Technology & Cyber Security, will be mentored by Megane Montabonel, product manager at Focal & Naim.
In the Saudi Arabia chapter, Dar al-Hekma have four selected students taking part in the programme. Nada Ayman Alzahrani, majoring in Computer Science, will be mentored by Mishaal Ashemimry, an aerospace engineer and founder of MISHAAL Aerospace. Sarah Nahill Alrawi, majoring in Finance, will be mentored by Noha Zagzoug, an Associate at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Joud Mustafa Zahran, majoring in Graphic Design, will be mentored by Nadine Attar, a designer and founder of Nadine’s Jewellery. Reem Mohammed Alsamkari, majoring in Cyber Security, will be mentored by by Nicola Gough, part of Bentley Motor’s product strategy team.
The mentoring programme will run until the end of June, and will provide help and guidance to the students as they start to focus on their career goals. The female-only students’ group will hold regular one-on-one video calls with key team members from Bentley’s Head Office, alongside regular one-on-one sessions with the founding Pioneers.
The students will also fly to Bentley’s UK Headquarters in Crewe, for a week-long immersion in the world of the globally-renowned automotive manufacturer, where a full induction into Bentley’s modus operandi, along with information about its diversity and inclusion programme, will be conducted.
The students will spend time with Bentley’s finest engineers, designers and marketeers and will be given an assignment to be completed and presented at the end of their UK visit.
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