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The WIB-Greater Montreal Mentorship, Advisors, Peers, and Sponsorship (MAPS) group mentoring program is for members only. Participants cover a range of careers and levels of experience. The MAPS program aims to cultivate mentoring relationships, create supportive networks, and offer opportunities to develop and improve professional leadership skills so that members can reach their fullest professional potential.
For more information, contact montrealmaps@womeninbio.org.
Our current programs include:
Mentoring Circles
Mentoring Circles bring together small groups. Typically, 2–3 mentors and 3–4 mentees are placed in groups (otherwise called circles) based on mutual areas of interest. Mentees set goals and work towards a plan that is reviewed consistently with their mentors. Members of each circle meet monthly for six months. An additional fee applies for mentees to join the MAPS program.
Enrollment for mentoring circles is in March. Stay tuned to our chapter newsletters and webpage for information on the next enrollment period.
Peer Groups
Our cohorts are five months long, running from March–July and September–January, skipping the summer months for better availability. Our 2026 Peer Groups will focus on relationship building and networking. Thanks to the valuable feedback we received from our past Peer Group participants, we are excited to bring some key changes to our 2026 cohort. Here’s how the Peer Groups will run this year:
Schedule: the cohort will run from March to July, skipping the summer months for better availability. You can schedule your meetings online or in person, or both. Regardless of which option your group chooses, we expect you to make an effort to attend all the meetings and participate actively.
Podcast club and discussion points: this year, we will share a series of podcast episodes covering various aspects of your career (think work-life balance, handling negotiations and career transitions, leadership). Along with these podcasts, we’ll provide a series of questions to launch the conversation. We encourage you to listen to the podcasts beforehand and come prepared to share your thoughts with your group. But don’t worry, the podcasts are just a suggestion, and you’re welcome to structure your Peer Group meeting however best suits your group.
Group Facilitator/Lead: Each group will have a facilitator responsible for coordinating the first meeting and establishing a recurring meeting schedule, as well as fostering a positive environment for group discussions. There will be one facilitator per group for the entire session. Volunteering as a group facilitator/lead is a great way to build leadership skills in a relaxed and low-stakes environment!
Kickoff meeting: There will be a virtual kickoff meeting where we will go over the structure and expectations of Peer Groups and answer any questions you may have. The meeting will be on March 5, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Students: Students who are interested in joining the Peer Groups are encouraged to register early, as there is a limited number of spots for students.
Exclusive Groups for Established Professionals: We aim to offer dedicated discussion groups for later-career professionals, connecting experienced women with like-minded peers. If there are fewer later-career participants than anticipated, we will notify you at the start of the program and offer the option to opt out. This approach helps align expectations, and we hope to expand exclusive later-career groups in the future.
Enrollment for our Peer Groups is open until February 16, 2026. Check our chapter newsletters for updates.