Participants can expect a development-focused mentorship experience centered on learning, growth and career pathing. Mentors and mentees engage in open, respectful conversations focused on professional skills, industry insights and personal development. The program is intended to foster genuine mentorship relationships, not job placement, sales, or the promotion of business or consulting services.

In order to be an eligible mentee in the Ruth Handler Mentorship Program, you must:

• Have an active WiT membership

• Be female-identifying

• Have at least one year of professional experience

Note: This program is designed for working professionals and is not currently open to students.

Anyone can be a mentor! The Ruth Handler Mentorship Program welcomes both women and men, and there’s no minimum number of years of professional experience required. You do not need to be a WiT member to participate.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional in the toy, licensing, consumer products, or entertainment industries, or you’re earlier in your career with valuable experiences and lessons to share, your perspective matters - and it can truly make a difference to someone else.

Click here to sign up as a mentor and click here to sign up as a mentee - or sign up for both!

The mentorship program runs in two cohorts each year: Spring and Fall. To be included in the Spring 2026 cohort, applications must be received by January 31, 2026. Successful matches will begin in early March 2026. Matching begins after the deadline and each mentor–mentee match lasts four months.

Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort must be received by June 30, 2026 and successful matches will begin in August 2026.

We thoughtfully review every profile to create meaningful connections based on shared goals, complementary skills and availability. While a match cannot be guaranteed for every participant, we make every effort to pair participants with care and intention. As the program grows, we continue to welcome additional mentors whose expertise helps expand opportunities for meaningful matches.

Just 1-2 hours a month! Over the course of four months, you’ll meet with your match at a cadence that feels useful and manageable for both of you. The Torch platform includes flexible scheduling tools to help mentorship fit into your busy life.

Torch is the platform that supports the Ruth Handler Mentorship Program experience. It’s where you’ll create your profile, be matched, schedule meetings and access helpful resources to guide you along the way.

Matching is based on the information you share about your experience, goals and preferences. Once you’re matched, you’ll connect through the program platform and the mentee will initiate outreach to their mentor. Next, you’ll schedule your first meeting, get to know each other, and set shared goals for your mentorship journey.

If your match doesn’t feel quite right, that’s okay - support is available, and we’re happy to help explore other options to ensure you have a positive experience.

Email us at info@womenintoys.com!