What are Mentor Circles?
The Mentor Circles program is a global, group mentoring experience in which one mentor meets with a group of mentees. This allows mentees to learn not only from a great mentor but also to network with and learn from a group of like-minded peers. Each circle has a different focus, and mentees can apply to the circle that best suits their needs and goals.

The Circles provide an opportunity for mentees to learn more about the industry, craft, and employment opportunities within animation, develop a personal connection with working animation professionals, create confidential groups for sharing challenges, and build the kinds of bonds and relationships that will help support careers for years to come.

Who can apply to the Mentor Circles Program?
ELIGIBILITY:
Applications are open to:

Do I have to live in the US to apply?
NO!  The Mentorship Circle Program is GLOBAL and there are no geographic barriers. Anyone can apply from anywhere.

Has the application process changed with the launch of the new website?
Yes!  There have been several changes with the launch of our new site; learn the new application process here.

When does the next round of Circles begin?
WIA currently runs two rounds of mentorship each year:

– spring round (circles from April to July, with applications open in February)
– fall round (circles from October to January with a break for the holidays, with applications open in August).

Are students eligible to apply?
Only students in the FINAL YEAR OF STUDY are eligible to apply to the program.

Students may NOT apply to the program unless they are in the final year of education/training (this can be any level of program, Bachelor, online courses, a Master’s program, etc… as long as the student will be transitioning into the industry within the following year).

If you are self-taught, you qualify if you are going to be ready to apply for a job in the industry within the next 6 months to a year.

WIA Mentorship is not a student program; it is a professional program. Mentorship is not meant to teach the skills required to get into the industry but to hone already established skills, bridge gaps, and remove barriers to entry into the industry.

How many Circles can I apply for?
Each mentee can apply to only one circle. 

How many people can apply to a circle?
Circles have a maximum capacity for applications, and circles will close once they receive 30-50 applications. We recommend that you review the circle descriptions in advance and plan to apply as early as possible.

What is the application process for Mentor Circles?
Applicants must first be active Creator Level members of WIA and log in to their accounts.

If you are not an active member, you can join here but, you must join at the Creator level to qualify for the program.

Once your qualifying membership is active, you may apply to ONE circle each round.  You are encouraged to make the selection that most aligns with your professional goals based on the title, description, outline, meeting time, and the WIA Mentor leading the Circle.

Next, mentors review applicants and make their selections according to the stated goals and criteria of their circle.

Finally, WIA Mentorship will notify all applicants of their status, whether they are selected or not.
The timeframe for notification is about 14 days after the last application group closes. 

When do Circles open and close during the application period?
Circles are split into application groups, each with its own application period. Application groups will be posted ahead of the application dates. Please check to find the application period for the circle of your choice. 

Applications will close at noon on the posted closing date. 

Can I get a refund on my membership donation if I am not selected as a mentee?

Unfortunately, no. WIA memberships are considered donations and are not refundable unless due to a verifiable technical error on WIA’s side. Our refund policy is also listed during checkout when signing up to become a WIA member. WIA wants to prevent any member from making a financial decision without all the information available and answer any membership, events, programs, Mentorship, circle availability, or eligibility questions at the Mentorship@womeninanimation.org or WIA@womeninanimation.org email addresses. The WIA mentorship program has a Spring and Fall application season, so you still have another chance to apply along with a year’s worth of WIA Creator benefits!

Have you participated in the program before? Find our when you’ll be eligible to apply again: