International Mentees
" The team of International Mentoring Program provided me mentoring, networking and tools in the local business community. The process along with the time and efforts with the team helped me to find the right opportunities. The team not only supported me to find a job, but it also helped me to connect to the local social and cultural community. It is a huge asset to the St. Louis ecosystem. Their hard work impacts so many circles - my inner life has changed. RiverVest is like a second family to me. Because I found my place it allowed us as a family to stay here and allowed my husband to keep evolving his company and contribute to the vivid startup scene." - Sivan Weitzman, Israel, mentee
" Moving to St Louis for us as a family was the first time we relocated out of Israel. We were expecting to have challenges such as, kids' adjustments, new culture, new community and a new career path for Sivan. The St. Louis Mosaic Project and the International Mentoring Program have helped Sivan (and us) with all the challenges. St Louis is a small community and the team and it's local networking presented both the Atomation company story as well as the Weitzman family story. The team maintains a portfolio of experts in various fields that assisted Sivan not only in finding a career job but also in adjusting her skills in St Louis. This type of initiative creates a win-win situation, both for the newcomers and the local community.” - Guy Weitzman, Israel, mentee’s spouse
" I wish all multinational companies offered something like this for their employees when they transfer families around the country and around the world. I wish that more people in St. Louis knew about the wonderful work that the International Mentoring program is doing in changing people’s lives by the simple act of one caring person picking up the phone to say, ‘you don’t know anyone, we are going to change that!”
- Paula Dunson, Argentina, mentee
" Being part of the International Mentoring Program is literally the best thing that could happen to me as a foreigner in St. Louis to help me feel welcome. The concept of mixing locals willing to meet and help internationals is brilliant and a one-of-a-kind experience for both parties. Connecting with locals is eye opening and very helpful to see the city from a different angle. I cherish the purpose and the human relations of this community and wish that this type of group was available elsewhere in the world. St. Louis should be very proud of how the program is promoting a more inclusive mindset and community." - Lucie Paschke, Germany, mentee
" The program has helped me feel at home in St. Louis. It has allowed me to be in contact with women from here and from all around the world who are in the same situation as me. It is like a very big family." - Patricia B. Sanchez, Spain, mentee
" The International Mentoring Program together with International Spouses Group were a welcoming community that helped my husband and I quickly grow our network in St. Louis – and besides all the psychological and social support for our adaptation. Very soon we realized networking would be key for my husband to get a job as an engineer. Through these programs we learned about the Professional Shadowing Program which opened the door for a job opportunity in his area, and it was only after that our family could finally feel complete and fulfilled. It is crucial to have this family support for any expatriate employee arriving in St. Louis. We are very grateful for this community and all the hope they brought into our lives." - Carolina Pallaro, Brazil, mentee
" When I arrived in the United States as an expat partner in 2018, I had no job waiting for me. In addition, my skills in English were not compatible to perform a similar job position as an engineer project manager which I had at EMBRAER company in Brazil . I spent one year looking for opportunities and improving my English skills. Because my wife became part of the International Mentoring Program and International Spouses Program I got to know the Professional Shadowing Program. This program provided me the possibility for 20 hours of professional shadowing within an American company. Luzco Technologies LLC gave me this opportunity and it served me like a glove. I had the chance to demonstrate my skills within a company being accompanied by an experienced and highly skilled employee. A couple of weeks after the shadowing program ended, I received a call from Luzco offering me a paid job position. This opportunity was my gateway to enter the US job market and to my overall life here in St. Louis." - Ramon Ligabo, Brazil, mentee’s spouse
" I had been here for ten years before I discovered the International Mentoring Group. Joining this group opened me up to a new world of integrating both American and international experiences. I used to fall in just one or the other of the buckets, but this program allowed me to bring the two worlds that now form my identity as an expat together. It’s been revitalizing" - Irene Taranhike, Zimbabwe, mentee
" By pairing women who have lived in St Louis all their lives or have made St Louis their home, with newcomers, the International Mentoring Program and the International Spouses Group team has renewed a sense of pride in the city’s inhabitants, while simultaneously extending a huge invitation, with open arms, to newcomers. The native women are given the opportunity to showcase their city and American culture while being exposed to new cultures and foods from other parts of the world. I feel that the group together with their subsidiaries have made a concerted effort to integrate foreign women and their families in St Louis, thereby increasing diversity and awareness of the various international cultures, traditions and foods. It has improved my perspective and understanding of, not only St Louis and Missouri but of Americans in general. At a most tenuous time in the world when stereotypes, xenophobia and racial tensions are high, it is an essential organization in improving individuals’ perspectives of the world. This program together with the International Spouses Group and St. Louis Mosaic Project’s contribution to the mortar of this city is undisputed and very much appreciated by their members and contributors, alike."
- Dr. Ravitha Sheolal, South Africa, mentee
" This program greatly helps me to know St. Louis and start my life in St. Louis. How nice it is to have someone like my mentor, Janice, to welcome me and who is willing to help me set up in a new place. I really appreciate the program and I think I am quite lucky to be a member."
- Miho Tago, Japan, mentee
Local Mentors
" When my husband was offered a professor position at Washington University Medical School, I begrudgingly and tearfully moved back to the US with him. I continued my international development job remotely, meaning I was home every day & met no new colleagues locally. I found the International Mentoring Program searching online & then was matched with a wonderful woman from Zimbabwe who loved it when I accidentally used the Queen's English and then eventually to a Spanish woman who has become a dear friend. I joined the group's book club and met an additional set of smart, engaged women. I went from feeling alone like no one in this city understood me to feeling I had good friends for life. My husband now talks about how I have more friends here than he does. I also finally decided to put down roots and recently accepted a position at St. Louis University!" - Emily Cupito, local, mentor
" Being a part of the International Mentoring Program has been a life-changing event. As a mentor, the impact was actually made on me! My world has opened up so much by meeting the amazing mentees and mentors that are a part of this program. I am inspired every day by their intelligence, creativity, bravery, friendship and love. I am so blessed to be but a small part of this amazing community."
- Liz DeBold Austin, local, mentor
"As a mentor in the program, I have gained more than I have given. Learning from bright, talented women about other parts of the world, sharing experiences and helping anchor women and their families in St. Louis has been a wonderful experience. The program is an important community asset." - Amy Rome, local, mentor
" I moved back to St. Louis after living in a vibrant expat community in Beijing, China for 7 years. I was excited to share my city with someone in the same way so many people helped me feel welcome when I was abroad. The International Mentoring Program is turning out to be a rewarding experience of discovery and friendship both for myself and my mentee from Ecuador. We're both learning new things about St. Louis, including that it has a burgeoning fashion scene and an incredible 1920s-style jazz band!" - Jessica Rapp, local, mentor
The St. Louis Region
" The International Mentoring Program is playing an important role in enhancing St. Louis’ economic prospects by effectively integrating international women and their families into the community. It’s no exaggeration to say that we would have never met Sivan Weitzman and hired her as our first CFO had it not been for the program. I was asked to talk with Sivan by an International Mentoring Program mentor. While we were not currently looking for a CFO, Sivan’s background as the former CFO of a large financial services company in Israel was intriguing. I shared her resume with my RiverVest co-founder, Jay Schmelter. After an extensive interview process, the firm decided to hire Sivan, and we have never looked back. Her integration with our team was seamless, she learns quickly, and with each passing day she finds more ways to make RiverVest better as we expand." - Tom Melzer, Co-founder & Managing Director, RiverVest Venture Partners
" The mission of the St Louis International Mentoring program meets one of the key goals of companies hiring across the world or moving employees to St. Louis. Bringing talent here is successful only when the spouse and family can develop connections and friendships and are offered the opportunity to explore their own talents and find their place in the local community. The mentoring program is an accelerator of this process and is a proven success. It benefits not only the mentees and mentors but also the entire business environment as it enriches the area with multiple cultures that help St. Louis become more attractive for foreign-born individuals and talents.”
- François Fraudeau, Former CEO Novus International, Inc.
" If it wasn’t for the connection we have with the leaders of this program we would not know about the Professional Shadowing Program that LUZCO participated in and we would have never met a Brazilian engineer who shadowed one of our more experienced project managers for 20 hours. During that time, we quickly realized the skill sets he had. The shadowing quickly transformed into a paying position within the company and now he has completely transformed our quality management plan at LUZCO."
- Lusnail Haberberger, Founder & President LUZCO Technologies