Startups
The concept for ARA began quite simply ― it started eight years ago as a quarterly dinner between three IT professionals and friends living in Chicago. The dinner offered a way to discuss general industry trends and advice for women working in IT.
Over the years, more friends and colleagues started joining in these dinners, offering insights, tips and career advice. Pretty soon, these “small dinners with friends” blossomed into major events each quarter – with a current list of 150+ senior women IT executives, the group officially named itself the Chicago Executive Women’s Networking Group.
Sensing an interest and need for a formal organization to provide opportunities for women in IT to learn and advance their careers, ClearEdge Marketing CEO and Founder Leslie Vickrey, Harvey Nash Managing Director and Vice President Jane Gilligan, and McCann Partners President and Founder Megan McCann, formally founded ARA in early 2013.
ARA works with its mentors and mentees in two ways. First, through quarterly events that range from panel and roundtable discussions to speed mentoring sessions. Second, via in-person mentoring sessions after a mentee and mentor have been matched.
Over the years, more friends and colleagues started joining in these dinners, offering insights, tips and career advice. Pretty soon, these “small dinners with friends” blossomed into major events each quarter – with a current list of 150+ senior women IT executives, the group officially named itself the Chicago Executive Women’s Networking Group.
Sensing an interest and need for a formal organization to provide opportunities for women in IT to learn and advance their careers, ClearEdge Marketing CEO and Founder Leslie Vickrey, Harvey Nash Managing Director and Vice President Jane Gilligan, and McCann Partners President and Founder Megan McCann, formally founded ARA in early 2013.
ARA works with its mentors and mentees in two ways. First, through quarterly events that range from panel and roundtable discussions to speed mentoring sessions. Second, via in-person mentoring sessions after a mentee and mentor have been matched.
Overview
Location
United States, Illinois, Chicago
Employees
11-50
Phone
+1 312-731-3149
Founded date
2013
Mentions in press and media 2
| Date | Title | Description |
| Sign up to see | Sign up to see | Sign up to see |
| Mar 9, 2016 | A Comprehensive List of Women Founders In Chicago Tech | The tech and startup world has long been a boys club. Despite making up half the population and almost 60% of the labor force, women only account for 30% of the US tech industry. And the number of female startup founders is even lower. Only... |
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FAQ about ARAmentors
When was ARAmentors founded?
ARAmentors was founded in 2013.
What has the press written about ARAmentors?
Parsers VC has collected 2 articles mentioning ARAmentors, among them “A Comprehensive List of Women Founders In Chicago Tech” (Mar 9, 2016).
Is ARAmentors still active?
Yes, ARAmentors is active; its latest activity on Parsers VC dates from Aug 1, 2022.