The Mentorship Gap
Why Women Need More Than Just Networking
Published: 19/09/2025
When we talk about supporting women in business, “networking” is often the first solution that comes to mind. Conferences, meetups, breakfasts – all designed to connect women with one another.
Networking has value. It creates visibility, fosters introductions, and provides moments of encouragement. But for women founders, networking alone is not enough. What’s missing is mentorship – the kind of deep, ongoing guidance that transforms ambition into action.
Why Networking Falls Short
Networking creates contacts, but not always context. Meeting new people is valuable, but without a structure for follow-up, relationships often remain surface-level. Many women leave events with a handful of business cards and little clarity on how those connections will help them move forward.
Networking doesn’t guarantee relevance. You might meet someone successful in their own right, but not necessarily someone who understands the specific challenges of being a woman building a business in today’s ecosystem.
Networking can reinforce exclusion. Traditional networking environments are still dominated by men or shaped by “insider” dynamics. Women often report feeling like outsiders in the very spaces meant to connect them.
The Power of Mentorship
Mentorship goes further than a conversation over coffee. It is ongoing, intentional, and personal. At its best, mentorship provides:
- Guidance: Practical advice rooted in lived experience, tailored to the founder’s stage and goals.
- Perspective: A sounding board to help navigate challenges, avoid common mistakes, and see opportunities more clearly.
- Advocacy: Mentors who don’t just advise but actively open doors, recommending founders for opportunities and amplifying their credibility.
- Confidence: Knowing you have someone in your corner who has walked the path before and believes in your capacity to succeed.
Unlike networking, mentorship is not about how many people you know, it’s about having the right people in your corner at the right time.
Why Women Need Mentorship Now More Than Ever
Women founders are underrepresented in funding pipelines, decision-making rooms, and high-value networks. Without mentorship, the knowledge and connections that often accelerate male-led ventures remain harder to access for women.
Research supports this: founders with strong mentors are more likely to secure investment, grow faster, and avoid common pitfalls. Yet women are statistically less likely to have senior mentors or sponsors advocating for them.
Mentorship is not just about individual growth, it’s about correcting systemic imbalance. By ensuring women have access to the same level of guidance and advocacy, we create a more level playing field.
How Soreya Is Closing the Gap
At Soreya, we believe ambitious women need more than networking events. They need mentorship circles where advice is real, access is intentional, and support is ongoing.
- We connect founders with mentors who have walked the entrepreneurial path before them.
- We create structured spaces for honest conversations, not just glossy highlight reels.
- We blend mentorship with peer support, so women feel both guided and understood.
This isn’t about quick introductions. It’s about building relationships that last and that meaningfully change the trajectory of women-led businesses.
Moving Forward
Networking will always have its place, but mentorship is what turns connections into catalysts. Women deserve more than a seat in the room – they deserve guidance, advocacy, and ecosystems built with their success in mind.
At Soreya, we are committed to building those ecosystems because when women are mentored, they don’t just grow businesses, they create ripple effects that uplift entire communities.
If you want to join our movement and be part of creating meaningful change for women founders, join our waitlist here to be the first to know when we launch and gain early access to support and opportunities.