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    • About us
    • Members
    • India-EU Binder
    • Partnerships
    • Events
    • Mentorship Programme
    • Media Coverage
    • Publications
    • Contact Us
  • About us
  • Members
  • India-EU Binder
  • Partnerships
  • Events
  • Mentorship Programme
  • Media Coverage
  • Publications
  • Contact Us

Mentorship Programme

Connecting young women in the India-EU corridor with experienced mentors, professional guidance, and a cross-border network.

4th Edition Now Open

4th Edition of Mentorship Programme

We are delighted to launch the 4th edition of WICCI’s Mentorship Programme for Young Women in the India-EU Corridor.


Building on three successful editions, the programme brings together experienced women professionals and young women interested in developing their future within the India-EU corridor.


Through five months of one-on-one mentorship, participants gain guidance, professional insights, and meaningful connections while becoming part of a growing cross-border community of women shaping India-EU relations.


Applications are open from 1–30 September 2026.

About the 4th edition

About the Programme

WICCI’s Mentorship Programme for Young Women in the India-EU Corridor is a flagship initiative of the Council. It is designed to support final-year students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals interested in the India-EU corridor by connecting them with experienced women leaders and professionals working across business, policy, academia, innovation, trade, and international cooperation.


Through one-on-one mentorship, the programme seeks to bridge the gap between ambition and opportunity. It offers young women guidance, professional insight, encouragement, and access to a cross-border network, while also strengthening women’s visibility and participation in India-EU relations. At the same time, it creates a meaningful opportunity for senior professionals to share their experience, support emerging talent, and contribute to a stronger and more diverse ecosystem of women active in the India-EU space.


Launched in 2023, the Mentorship Programme has become one of the Council’s key initiatives. It reflects the wider mission of WICCI’s India-EU Business Council: to connect, support, and increase the visibility of women shaping the India-EU corridor.


Selection Criteria

Applicants are expected to meet the following criteria:


  • Applicants must identify as women and be citizens of an EU Member State or India.
  • Candidates should be in the final year of a BA or MA programme or have graduated within the past two years.
  • Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in fostering collaboration between the European Union and India.


Please note: While meeting all selection criteria is preferable, exceptions may be considered in cases of exceptional circumstances or demonstrated potential.

Programme Overview

The 4th edition builds on the experience of the previous three editions, further strengthening the community of India-EU women.


Running from 15 October 2026 to mid-March 2027, the five-month programme combines:


  • One-on-one mentorship 
  • Group exchange sessions 
  • Community-building through a dedicated WhatsApp group 
  • A final publication featuring selected mentee contributions


The programme is designed for final-year students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals interested in the India-EU corridor, providing personalised guidance from experienced women leaders and experts.


Programme Structure


  • One mentor paired with one mentee 
  • Five-month mentorship: mid-October 2026 to mid-March 2027 
  • Minimum of one online meeting per month 
  • Group exchange sessions for mentors and mentees 
  • Dedicated WhatsApp group for informal communication and community-building 
  • Programme Agreement signed before the programme begins 
  • Final paper or reflection on an agreed topic 
  • Optional one-minute testimonial video for WICCI’s social media 
  • Selected papers may be included in the final publication, subject to quality and timely submission


Final Paper


At the end of the programme, each mentee will submit a paper of approximately 2,000–3,000 words on her mentorship experience or another agreed-upon topic related to women and the India-EU corridor.


The paper may be written independently with guidance from the mentor or, where appropriate, co-authored with the mentor. Selected papers submitted on time and meeting the required quality standards may be included in the Council's publication, Women Shaping the EU-India Corridor: Voices, Leadership, Impact, Vol. 2.

Application Requirements

To apply, please prepare and submit:


  • CV – maximum one page 
  • Cover letter – maximum one page, explaining: 
    • your interest in the India-EU corridor; 
    • your engagement with EU-India relations through your studies, research, work, internships, voluntary activities, or other relevant experience; 
    • your two preferred mentors 
  • LinkedIn profile URL 
  • High-resolution profile photograph 
  • One-sentence motivation statement 
  • Optional: one-minute introductory video 


Please note: Only complete applications submitted in accordance with the above requirements will be considered.

Submit your application by September 30 only via LinkedIn message to WICCI's India-EU Business Council.

Send your application

Meet our mentors

Maud Le Bars

Shruti Chandra

Maud Le Bars

South Asia Area Manager, Bangalore Office, OMNES Education 

France/Bengaluru

Apoorva Bose

Shruti Chandra

Maud Le Bars

India Programme Coordinator, Global Initiative G20, UN Convention to Combat Desertification 

India/New Delhi

Shruti Chandra

Shruti Chandra

Shruti Chandra

Head of Government Relations & Public Policy, Prudential plc India; former Vice President, Invest India 

India/New Delhi

Simran Dhingra

Shanina Mercedia van Gent

Shruti Chandra

Head of International Cooperation at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, India Office (India/New Delhi)

Shanina Mercedia van Gent

Shanina Mercedia van Gent

Shanina Mercedia van Gent

Partnerships Manager at EPIC World

The Netherlands/Bengaluru

Shivangi Jain

Shanina Mercedia van Gent

Shanina Mercedia van Gent

Global Startup Advisor & Leader; former Senior Assistant Vice President at Startup India

India/New Delhi

Anjali Patil

Dr Patrycja Pendrakowska

Dr Patrycja Pendrakowska

Founder and Director of illumina Consulting

India/Mumbai

Dr Patrycja Pendrakowska

Dr Patrycja Pendrakowska

Dr Patrycja Pendrakowska

Vice President at the Boym Institute for Asian and Global Studies 

Poland/Warsaw

Dr Nidhi Piplani Kapur

Dr Patrycja Pendrakowska

Dr Nidhi Piplani Kapur

Head of Symbiosis Centre for European Studies at the Symbiosis International

(ndia/Pune

Neetubala Raina

Prof. Dr. Cristina Vanberghen

Dr Nidhi Piplani Kapur

Director - Head of TM | L&D | DEI at Carelon Global Solutions India 

(ndia/Delhi-NCR

Ananya Srivastava

Prof. Dr. Cristina Vanberghen

Prof. Dr. Cristina Vanberghen

Strategy, Projects, and Business Development Manager at Intelligent Air Filters India 

India/Bengaluru

Prof. Dr. Cristina Vanberghen

Prof. Dr. Cristina Vanberghen

Prof. Dr. Cristina Vanberghen

Professor, European University Institute & Senior Expert at the European Commission 

Romania/Florence

Priti Verma

Priti Verma

Priti Verma

Founder of ResearchnConsulting

India/Bengaluru

Feli Vesco

Priti Verma

Priti Verma

Counsellor, Trade & Market Access at the Regional Economic Department for India and South Asia, French Treasury 

(ndia/New Delhi

Submit Your Application by 30 September 2026

Only complete applications submitted in accordance with the requirements will be considered.

APPLY now

Previous editions

The first three editions: 2023–2025

Launched in 2023, WICCI’s Mentorship Programme for Young Women in the India-EU Corridor was created to support young women aspiring to build careers connected to the India-EU space.

Across its first three editions, the programme brought together 30 mentees and 18 mentors from India and the European Union. Participants have represented different EU countries and various regions of India, with backgrounds in international relations, European studies, business, public policy, law, sustainability, communications, entrepreneurship, and related fields.


In 2025, the third edition culminated in the publication of Women Shaping the EU-India Corridor: Voices, Leadership, Impact, published online in January 2026. Together, the first three editions have created a space for meaningful mentorship, professional growth, and stronger connections between women shaping the India-EU corridor.

Highlights

  • 30 mentees and 18 mentors across the first three editions
  • Participants from India and different EU countries
  • Five months of one-on-one online mentorship
  • Group exchange and community-building
  • Final publication featuring selected mentee reflections

Meet Our Alumni

3rd edition

3rd edition

3rd edition

  • Rucha Bhatt
  • Prachi Dutta  
  • Patsy Anthony
  • Shreya Gupta
  • Anna Schwarz
  • Nandana Mohandas
  • Shristi More
  • Alankrita Shukla
  • Gargi Deshmukh
  • Gopika Jayakumar
  • Nikita Singh
  • Sandra Sudhir Nadh

2nd edition

3rd edition

3rd edition

  • Aditi Agarwal   
  • Sudeshna Dey   
  • Neelesha Dhawan   
  • Suganya Ganesh   
  • Khushi Goyal   
  • Lois Christy John   
  • Kalpana  Pandey   
  • Sandra Thachirickal Prathap
  • Samara Sahu   
  • Sanjana  Shankar   
  • Nikita Varghese  

1st edition

3rd edition

1st edition

  • Joyleena Bhattacharyya 
  • Patrizia Cogo Morales 
  • Aayushi Pant
  • Aura Raquel Robayo 
  • Vishakha Sharma 
  • Ananya Srivastava 
  • Kriti Tandon 

Mentee Experience

Ananya Srivastava

Participating in the WICCI's Mentorship Programme was an invaluable experience. My mentor Varda Taneja’s guidance gave me deeper insights into market research and international business expansion. Her support helped me regain confidence and realign my career goals during a challenging time. 


Today, I assist EU startups entering the Indian market and work with a French fintech firm supporting international students with mobility and financial solutions. I’m grateful to remain connected with Varda and continue to seek her guidance on EU-India business collaborations. 


This programme provides young women with the skills, support, and connections to grow in the EU-India business space and is an opportunity worth embracing!

Join or Support the Programme

If you would like to apply to a future edition, collaborate with us, or support the programme as a partner, we would be delighted to hear from you. Follow WICCI’s India-EU Business Council on LinkedIn for updates and announcements.

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