The barriers women face in their careers vary depending on their age, background and life circumstances. How mentoring and cooperation across generations can help overcome these barriers was at the heart of the panel discussion “From Differences to Allyship: Intergenerational Solidarity and Intersectionality,” held on 1 October 2026 at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) in Sarajevo as part of the sixth cycle of the Women’s Mentoring Network.

The discussion brought together Branislava Crnčević Čulić from the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nera Monir Divan from UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Irma Konaković, an alumna of the Women’s Mentoring Network, and Mirna Hozić, Youth Engagement and Inclusion Associate at UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Through the lens of intersectionality, the participants explored how different life circumstances, professional experience and institutional positions intersect and shape women’s opportunities and experiences of inequality. Recognizing these differences, while also understanding the challenges women share, provided a starting point for a discussion on building allyship among women.

Mentoring was presented as a two-way exchange in which each participant contributes her own knowledge and perspective. The experiences of mentors and mentees create opportunities for learning in both directions, while the relationships built through the programme can provide a foundation for long-term professional cooperation and mutual support.

Particular attention was given to how support for individual participants can grow into broader solidarity and collective action. The discussion also explored the role of institutions, professional networks and women themselves in creating more equal opportunities for professional development, as well as ways to continue cooperation beyond the formal mentoring programme.

The sixth cycle of the Women’s Mentoring Network brought together 50 new participants, expanding the community built over six cycles to more than 300 women. During the six-month programme, participants developed their leadership, communication and public speaking skills through individual mentoring, training and professional networking, while also strengthening their financial literacy.

The Women’s Mentoring Network was launched by Deloitte BiH and Addiko Bank Sarajevo, with UNDP as a partner from the outset. The initiative connects young women professionals from across Bosnia and Herzegovina with experienced women leaders from different sectors, and over the years numerous partners and friends have joined the initiative.

This activity is implemented as part of the Gender Equality Accelerator Joint Programme, implemented by United Nations agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina — UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF — with financial support from the European Union and the Governments of Denmark and Sweden, in cooperation with the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Centre for Gender Equity and Equality of Republika Srpska.