WISE Leadership Development Programme

September 2026 – February 2027
Includes continued mentoring and support after the programme.

Estimated fee: £6000 + VAT per participant. This includes all training days, coaching, events, resources and community engagement.

The STEM sector continues to face a challenging bias for female leaders, particularly at mid‑career level – the point at which future leaders are most needed.

Research shows that:

Women in mid-career leadership are leaving at a significantly higher rate than men.
Source: Gender, participation and attainment in STEM: A comprehensive overview of long‐term trends in the United Kingdom – Smith – 2025 – British Educational Research Journal – Wiley Online Library

Women are 1.5 times more likely to leave their jobs when they don’t receive the development support they need
Source: Lack of career development holds back women from leadership, survey says | HR Dive

Leadership development is one of the strongest predictors of Female talent retention, especially when paired with sponsorship and visible progression
Replacing an experienced technical professional can cost 150–200% of their salary. This makes leadership development for women a high value investment with a strong return.value investment with a strong return.

Improving gender balance in leadership contributes to stronger organisational performance and creates more inclusive, innovative workplaces.

The WISE Leadership Development Programme addresses these challenges head‑on – supporting women with leadership identity and confidence to progress, stay, and lead.

Overview of the programme

This cross‑sector leadership programme, running summer – autumn 2026, is designed specifically for women in STEM, who are new to, or aspire to, leadership roles. Participants will develop the clarity, confidence, credibility and purpose needed to step into leadership roles, while gaining the networks and visibility essential for long‑term career progression.

Delivered by experienced leadership coaches, senior mentors and industry experts, the programme blends:

High‑impact in‑person learning

Tailored 1:1 coaching

Real‑world leadership tools

Cross‑industry collaboration

Participant benefits

Participants will leave with:

Leadership identity and confidence: Understand your strengths, challenge self‑doubt and define your authentic leadership style.

Inclusive leadership skills: Learn how to challenge bias, champion fairness and lead cultural change.

Career progression and strategic decision‑making: Build a personalised progression plan and navigate work–life demands with confidence.

Power, presence and visibility: Raise your profile, communicate with authority and grow valuable cross‑sector networks.

Mentorship and long‑term support: Access senior mentors and leaders across the IET community.

Company benefits

Supporting a woman through this programme helps organisations:

Increase engagement, motivation and retention

Strengthen succession pipelines and improve gender balance

Enhance team and organisational performance

Showcase visible role models that empower wider culture change

Reduce turnover costs by retaining experienced technical talent

Investing in this programme signals a genuine commitment to equity, development and long‑term retention.

Programme structure

The full experience includes:

Launch event – cohort connection, intention setting, and programme induction

Four in‑person training days

Online post‑programme check‑ins – small group sessions to embed learning

Five 1:1 coaching sessions with specialist leadership and executive coaches

Celebration event – reflection, recognition, and next‑stage planning

Post‑programme mentoring opportunities within the IET community

One year of Associate membership of the IET

Programme audience

This programme is ideal for:

Women working in technical, engineering or STEM‑related roles

Women early in their leadership journey or aspiring to move into leadership

Women seeking to build confidence, influence workplace culture and accelerate progression

Organisations committed to developing and retaining their female talent

Register your interest

To reserve a place or request more information:
Email: SineadBarry@theiet.org
Tel: +44 (0)7725 207934