• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • Career
    • DevProWomen2030

    Podcast: Why women need intentional mentorship in the development sector

    In this third episode of DevProWomen2030, Devex talks to Angela Bruce-Raeburn from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator about the benefits of intentional mentorship for women of color.

    By Emma Smith, Rebecca L. Root // 01 July 2019
    Via Soundcloud

    A lack of internal networks remains one of the biggest challenges for young women in the aid sector, and women of color have an even harder time accessing these sort of support systems, explained Angela Bruce-Raeburn, associate director for advocacy at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator.

    Mentors are key to women succeeding in leadership

    Women don’t need to rely on formal mentorship programs to benefit from the guidance of peers. Here is a roundup of advice from women leaders on how to find and make the most out of mentorship opportunities.

    Despite having several degrees, Bruce-Raeburn doesn’t feel that these were what gave her the trajectory to get to where she is today. She still sees many young women and women of color struggling to break into the sector, despite being well-educated and qualified. Black women, in particular, are constantly having to prove themselves, she said. They often don’t know people within organizations or at management level so submit blind job applications but this is not going to get them the job, she explained.

    Bruce-Raeburn’s advice: Develop a network and build relations with internal champions. This is the person, man or woman, inside of your organization who is going “to bat for you” and is going to see the value you can bring to a role, she explained.

    “Many women of color and young women don’t have that network and I think that’s where they are going to need the most support to be able to advance,” she added.

    It’s important that women are intentional about “looking in the rear view mirror” and helping those coming behind them, Bruce-Raeburn said. She feels that having a stronger internal network could have helped in the early days of her own career and now makes a conscious effort to review resumes when asked and respond to young women seeking her advice.

    Look for every opportunity to reach out to other women or women of color and let them know of jobs or opportunities, she urged others in the sector, adding “that’s the way that we’re going to make changes in the field.”

    Listen to the third episode in Devex’s six-part audio series, DevProWomen2030, where Bruce-Raeburn talks about why there are still so few women and women of color in leadership in development hubs such as Washington, D.C, and what the sector can do to change this.

    Devex, with financial support from our partner 2U, is exploring the skills and education development sector professionals will need for the future. Visit the Focus on: DevPros 2030 page for more.

    • Careers & Education
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).

    About the authors

    • Emma Smith

      Emma Smith@emmasmith_bcn

      For four years, Emma Smith covered careers and recruitment, among other topics, for Devex. She now freelances for Devex and has a special interest in mental health, immigration, and sexual and reproductive health. She holds a degree in journalism from Glasgow Caledonian University and a master’s in media and international conflict.
    • Rebecca L. Root

      Rebecca L. Root

      Rebecca L. Root is a freelance reporter for Devex based in Bangkok. Previously senior associate & reporter, she produced news stories, video, and podcasts as well as partnership content. She has a background in finance, travel, and global development journalism and has written for a variety of publications while living and working in Bangkok, New York, London, and Barcelona.

    Search for articles

    Related Stories

    #GlobaldevJobsCareer advice from a regional resettlement director at IRC

    Career advice from a regional resettlement director at IRC

    Career ExplorerWhat development pros need to know about fisheries and aquaculture

    What development pros need to know about fisheries and aquaculture

    Devex CheckUpDevex CheckUp: Everything accomplished at the World Health Assembly so far

    Devex CheckUp: Everything accomplished at the World Health Assembly so far

    Devex NewswireDevex Newswire: Peter Marocco’s legacy at USAID

    Devex Newswire: Peter Marocco’s legacy at USAID

    Most Read

    • 1
      How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
    • 2
      Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
    • 3
      Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
    • 4
      How AI-powered citizen science can be a catalyst for the SDGs
    • 5
      WHO names new directors in ongoing restructure
    • News
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Talent
    • Events

    Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

    A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

    • About us
    • Membership
    • Newsletters
    • Advertising partnerships
    • Devex Talent Solutions
    • Post a job
    • Careers at Devex
    • Contact us
    © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement