By Ebunoluwa Sessou

Women in Successful Careers, WISCAR, has graduated eleven senior management professionals from its flagship WIN 3 Mentoring Programme, reinforcing its commitment to increasing women’s representation at executive and board levels across corporate Nigeria.

The WIN 3 programme, the highest tier of WISCAR’s WIN-with-WISCAR mentoring framework, is designed for accomplished professionals preparing for C-Suite and executive management roles. Delivered virtually over a three-month period, the initiative provides structured mentoring, leadership development and strategic exposure tailored to support the transition from senior management to enterprise-level leadership.

The graduating cohort comprised high-potential women drawn from finance, professional services, technology and telecommunications. Throughout the programme, participants engaged with experienced board-level mentors, leadership simulations, peer learning sessions and focused development modules aimed at strengthening executive presence, strategic thinking and influence.

The graduation ceremony reflected WISCAR’s emphasis on community, learning and intergenerational leadership exchange. The event opened with an interactive icebreaker session during which participants introduced themselves and shared words that captured their WISCAR experience, setting the tone for a reflective gathering.

In her opening remarks, member of the WISCAR Advisory Board and Executive Director, Operations at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mrs. Funke Amobi, encouraged the mentees to uphold the organisation’s culture of excellence and community. She acknowledged the support within the WISCAR ecosystem that ensures the success of each mentoring cycle.

A highlight of the event was a dynamic speed-mentoring session where participants rotated to engage with senior mentors from different industries, gaining practical advice and career insights. Discussions between mentors and mentees also explored the evolving nature of leadership, particularly younger professionals’ perspectives on hybrid work models, flexibility and more collaborative organisational structures.

Meanwhile, the founder of WISCAR, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, reflected on the vision behind the organisation’s mentoring model and its growing impact.

Her words: “When I founded WISCAR, the goal was to move mentoring beyond informal conversations into something structured and transformational. We wanted to create a system where successful professionals could deliberately invest in the next generation, with clear guidance for both mentors and mentees. What we see today is the result of that vision in women who are not only successful in their careers but are prepared to become leaders of significance who will lift others as they rise,” she said.

She added that WISCAR’s programmes are intentionally designed to expand networks, deepen leadership capability and connect mentees with a broader community of mentors, sponsors and advocates who can support their continued growth.

One of the graduands, Head of Domestic Operations at FSDH Merchant Bank, Oluyemisi Onasanya, described the programme as a powerful reminder of the role mentorship and community play in shaping women’s leadership journeys.

“Through this programme, I have learned that women can truly support one another to achieve their goals, and that with the right mentors, any glass ceiling can be shattered. Beyond technical knowledge, it is important to have seasoned professionals who have walked the path ahead of you; people who can guide you, speak for you and open doors even in rooms you may not yet be in,” she said, encouraging other professional women to seek structured mentoring platforms.

The ceremony brought together mentors, corporate leaders and members of the wider WISCAR community, reinforcing the organisation’s advocacy for inclusive leadership and intentional talent development.

Through initiatives such as WIN 3 and its broader WIN-with-WISCAR framework, WISCAR continues to build a strong pipeline of capable female executives equipped with the networks, visibility and leadership confidence required to thrive at the highest levels of decision-making.

Applications for the next WIN 3 cohort are now open via the organisation’s website.
Founded to empower and develop professional women across Nigeria, WISCAR has supported over 17,000 professionals through mentorship, training and advocacy programmes aimed at advancing women’s leadership and contributing to national development.