MENTORING PROGRAMME APPLICATION

Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders in Sustainable Luxury

At Women in Sustainable Luxury (WiSL), we are building a global community of women who are redefining what leadership looks like across the luxury value chain.

Our mission is to support and accelerate the advancement of women driving sustainable transformation in luxury by connecting them with the networks, knowledge, and collaborative power they need to thrive.

One of the ways we do this is through the WiSL Mentoring Programme, a dedicated initiative for emerging women leaders in sustainable luxury who are stepping into their first leadership roles or preparing for their next level of influence, responsibility, and impact.

Why Apply as a Mentee?

The WiSL Mentoring Programme is designed to give you the guidance, tools, and confidence to shape your career while contributing to the future of sustainable luxury. As a mentee, you will:

  • Learn directly from experienced mentors shaping change across luxury sectors.

  • Gain cross-sector perspectives from fashion, fashion events, beauty, watches and jewellery, material science and consulting.

  • Develop the leadership skills to navigate complex challenges in sustainability and luxury.

  • Join a global community of ambitious women driving inclusive, innovative change in a group mentoring programme.

  • Build connections that last beyond the programme.

This is your opportunity to learn, grow, and position yourself as a leader of tomorrow.

How It Works

  • Apply as a Mentee: Tell us about your journey, ambitions, and why you’d like to join.

  • Select Session: You’ll gain access to group sessions with our mentors and exclusive WiSL programming.

  • Engage & Grow: Participate in workshops, AMAs, and community conversations.

  • Graduate the Programme: Leave with new perspectives, stronger networks, and a clearer vision for your next career step.

Who Should Apply?

This programme is designed for:

  • Women in leadership roles at luxury brands or across the luxury value chain.

  • Emerging leaders (first leadership role) looking to expand their influence and impact in sustainability.

  • Leaders eager to learn from cross-sector perspectives and apply them to their work.

  • Leaders ready to take bold steps towards shaping the future of luxury.

Programme Timeline

  • 2nd September 2025 - Applications open

  • 26th September 2025 - Applications close

  • 30th October 2025 - Mentees notified and announced

  • 1st October 2025 - Programme launch

  • 4th December 2025 - Programme completion

Meet the Mentors

Our mentors are senior leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are actively shaping the future of sustainable luxury. They bring expertise from across industries and disciplines, offering mentees an unparalleled opportunity to learn from different perspectives. (Select ‘+’ to show the mentor’s bio and expertise)

Over the course of the programme, mentors will:

  • Deliver masterclasses/ workshops to share their insights.

  • Host Ask Me Anything sessions to answer your most pressing career and leadership questions.

  • Provide personal reflections and guidance to inspire your journey.

  • Director, Supply Chain Operations, Sustainability, Data & Analytics

    BURBERRY

    Bio

    A transformation and supply chain leader with over a decade of experience across luxury, consulting, and ESG innovation. Currently Director of Supply Chain Operations, Sustainability, Data & Analytics at Burberry, she has led global initiatives spanning digital transformation, turnaround, and sustainability compliance, while steering crisis responses from Brexit to COVID-19.

    Alongside her corporate career, Anabel mentors early-stage startups in the ESG tech space, advising on growth strategy, scaling operations, and navigating regulatory landscapes.

    Areas of Expertise
    Supply Chain & Operations – structuring supply chains, scaling processes, supplier partnerships, and building resilience

    • Sustainability in Business – embedding sustainability into business models, materials, and supply chain choices

    • Data & Analytics – how to use data to drive smarter decisions, even with limited resources

    • Scaling & Growth Strategy – navigating the jump from early traction to sustainable growth

    • Stakeholder Management – building partnerships, working with corporates, and managing investor/board expectations

    • Leadership & Team Building – transitioning from founder-led hustle to building capable, empowered teams

  • Executive Director & Secretary General

    WATCH & JEWELLERY INITIATIVE 2030

    Bio

    Iris Van der Veken has a background in law and international relations, with more than 20 years of global experience working in fast-paced environments including technology, diamonds, jewellery, fashion, and government. She has worked on the ground in Africa, Armenia, China, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka on the implementation of different standards on responsible business practices, pioneering on GRI and ESG reporting.

    Iris Chaired the UNGC Network Belgium and was honoured by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs for her leadership role in initiating the Global Compact Network Belgium and for her work on promoting corporate social responsibility with a focus on human rights and the role of business.

    Iris has always been an Ambassador for the gender agenda within the jewellery industry. She has shaped many leading strategic partnerships in this context including UN Women and the Global Compact. In January 2025, Iris became a proud member of 100 Women @Davos' Inclusive Leadership Council.

    In July 2022, Iris was appointed as Executive Director & Secretary General of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030, based at Maison de la Paix in Geneva. Iris has been an active volunteer for the Special Olympics for over 20 years and she ran the NY marathon for UNICEF.


    Areas of Expertise

    • Strategy Development

    • Governance 

    • Partnership builder with private sector & governance

    • Corporate Communication & Public Affairs

    • Human Resources

    • Leading diverse teams across the globe

    • Finance and operations

    • Implementation of Standards and compliance programs (Responsible sourcing; Climate & Biodiversity; Gender & Diversity)


  • Head of Sustainable Supply Chain

    HUGO BOSS

    Bio

    Ann-Kristin Erdmann-Burt brings nearly 20 years of experience in the fashion and lifestyle industry, spanning roles in large corporations, start-ups, and NGOs.

    She began her career at Red Bull, progressing from an entry-level management position to reporting directly to the CEO and founder of the brand. Currently, Ann-Kristin leads the Sustainable Supply Chain Team at HUGO BOSS, where she focuses on fostering impactful internal and external stakeholder engagement.

    Her diverse background and leadership journey make her passionate about mentoring and empowering others to navigate their own professional paths with purpose and authenticity.

    Areas of Expertise

    • Career development

    • Building resilience & change of perspectives

    • Sustainable Supply Chains


  • Reishi Senior Product Manager

    MYCOWORKS

    Bio

    Sabine is Senior Product Manager at MycoWorks, a pioneering company creating mycelium-based alternatives to leather. Based in Paris, she partners with luxury houses such as Hermès and Ligne Roset to accelerate the shift toward sustainable materials in fashion, furniture, and design.

    With over 20 years of experience in materials innovation, design strategy, and sustainability leadership, she has worked across industries from Aston Martin to DS Automobiles, where she led a team of designers and launched the DS x Métiers d’Art collaborations with award-winning artisans. She also founded Furiously Sustainable, a consultancy dedicated to breaking silos and embedding sustainable practices across organizations.

    Sabine combines a triple background in engineering, design, and sustainability leadership—with executive education at Harvard and HEC Paris—to help brands and individuals turn sustainability from vision into action.

    As a mentor, she is passionate about empowering women, driving innovation in both traditional and pioneering industries, and guiding future leaders to create responsible, impactful, and beautiful solutions in sustainable luxury.

    Areas of Expertise

    • Sustainable Materials Innovation & CMF design (Color Materials & Finishes).

    • Luxury & Design Strategy

    • Cross-Industry Experience from automotive (Aston Martin, DS Automobiles) to luxury collaborations (Hermès, Ligne Roset) and startups.

    • Sustainability Transformation – embedding eco-design and impact-driven practices into organizations.

    • Sustainability Leadership

    • Mentorship & Women Empowerment

  • Global Head of Sustainability

    COTY

    Bio

    Nadja Koerner is the Global Head of Sustainability at Coty. She leads Coty`s sustainability transformation and strategy, Climate strategy & transition planning ensuring that environmental impact is integrated into the business. She is responsible for reporting and building governance frameworks.

    With 15+ years of global experience in consumer goods, healthcare, sports, and beauty, she turns ESG challenges into business opportunities. 

    With 15+ years of global experience in consumer goods, healthcare, sports, and beauty she turns ESG challenges into business opportunities.

    Her background in driving brand growth, consumer engagement, and operational efficiency powers her approach to creating lasting environmental and social impact.

    Areas of Expertise

    • Transformation

    • Growth Strategy

    • Advisory

    • Change management

    • Strategic Partnerships

    • Executive

    • Stakeholder Engagement

    • Investor Relations

    • P&L

    • Sustainability Strategy Reporting

    • ESG

    • Climate

    • Transition Plan

    • Risk Management

    • Data Governance

    • Marketing

    • Brand Building

    • Positioning

    • Purpose

    • Consumer Insights

    • Entrepreneurship

    • Campaign development

    • Storytelling

    • Media planning

    • Digital playbook

    • Advocacy

    • Innovation

    • Eco-Design

    • Portfolio Management

    • Omni-Channel

    • Commercial Excellence

  • Partner & Board Member

    ERGON MASTER TEAM NETWORK (ex POMELLATO)

    Bio

    Maddalena gained her extensive experience of the various aspects associated with supply chain management at Pomellato Group (part of French­ based Kering Group), handling substantial budgets and dealing with the creation of new company functions, improving processes, and reorganising departments.

    Her proven experience in the supply chain and her flexible mindset resulted in Company Management assigning her the task of creating a Sustainability Department at Pomellato Group.

    As a result, her remit focused exclusively on developing and implementing a Sustainability Strategy at Pomellato Group, working closely with the Steering Committee at Pomellato Group and the Sustainability Department at Kering Group.

    She is currently Ergon Master Team Partner and Board member, a consulting company specialising in Business Transformation.

    Areas of Expertise

    • Responsible sourcing

    •Resources management

    • Certifications

    • Well-being and employee satisfaction

    • Corporate Social Responsibility

    • Corporate communication

    • Partnerships and collaborations

  • Head of Sustainability

    LAKMĒ FASHION WEEK

    Bio

    Darshana Gajare is a strategic leader in fashion, circularity, and climate culture with 17 years of experience, including the past decade focused on sustainability.

    As Head of Sustainability at Lakmé Fashion Week, she drives flagship initiatives such as the Circular Design Challenge, SU.RE - Sustainable Resolution, and Sustainable Fashion at Lakmé Fashion Week - platforms that have championed designers, showcased material innovation, and influenced industry-wide conversations on circularity and conscious fashion.

    She is recognised for her ability to connect diverse worlds, spanning grassroots organisations, global institutions, government bodies, and creative communities, acting as a translator and problem-solver across business and storytelling.

    Darshana also serves on the Advisory Board of Fashion Revolution India, hosts the podcast Ethically Yours, and has been honoured with the ELLE Sustainable Fashion Changemaker Award (2024).

    Areas of Expertise

    • Cross-Sector Collaboration & Partnerships

    • Stakeholder management & alignment

    • Circular design and material innovation

    • Thought leadership, advocacy, and climate storytelling



  • Founder and Director

    NATURE’S WEALTH

    Bio

    Cristina M. Villegas is a double award-winning jewellery sector reformer and global authority on responsible mineral supply chains. She is the Founder & CEO of Nature’s Wealth, a private consultancy focused on responsible sourcing in jewelry supply chains and critical minerals. 

    For more than a decade, Cristina led the nonprofit Pact’s international responsible sourcing programs, where she worked with global retail brands on complex supply chain issues, from engaging on modern slavery to transformative economic development in mineral host communities. She oversaw the largest ASM programs in the world. Under her 9 years of leadership, each year, more than 150-200,000 artisanal miners were served annually across 10-14 countries. 

    Cristina is most known for her work in jewellery. She co-founded the Moyo Gems program in 2019; see www.moyogems.com. Cristina’s jewellery work and commentary has been featured in Vogue, the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, JCK, Wired, Forbes, National Jeweller, among others. She brings 20 years of experience across diverse materials, from diamonds to rubies, salt to sand. In 2024, she was selected as one of the 100 Most Inspiring Women in Mining by Women in Mining UK. Cristina is based in Washington, DC. 

    In 2025, Cristina launched Nature’s Wealth, LLC (www.natureswealth.org) to assist global companies to reduce business risks and maximize positive social impacts in global jewellery and critical minerals supply chains. Clients include global retail brands, research institutions, regional nonprofit groups, business and industry associations, jewellery leadership organisations, and private individuals. 

    Cristina teaches annually at Columbia University’s Executive Course on Extractives and Sustainable Development alongside luminaries such as Jeffrey Sachs and UNECA’s Antonio Pedro. She leads all sessions on ASM, from cooperation strategies between ASM-LSM, to key trends in the sector, product commercialisation, to gender in mining. 

    Areas of Expertise

    • responsible mineral sourcing

    • jewellery supply chains

    • corporate sustainability

    • corporate social responsibility and social impact 

    • international development

    • practical human rights strategies 

Apply now to join the WiSL Mentoring Programme and become part of a powerful community redefining the future of sustainable luxury.