LEAD Network: Scaling Mentoring to Advance Women in Retail and Consumer Goods
with Sarah McGowan
LEAD Network
Mentorloop Impact Award Winner 2025
LEAD Network (Leading Executives Advancing Diversity) is a volunteer-led nonprofit dedicated to attracting, retaining, and advancing women in the retail and consumer goods sector across Europe. With 25,000 members and 60+ corporate partners, their mission is to create workplaces where everyone can thrive.
Mentoring has been at the heart of that mission since 2016.
The Challenge
LEAD Network’s mentoring program began with strong intent—but weak tools.
- Manual matching in Excel spreadsheets
- Cumbersome admin processes that limited scale
- Difficulty tracking inclusion, outcomes, and engagement
“We were struggling with administration. We knew mentoring had huge potential, but without structure and support, it was hard to take it further.”
LEAD Network needed a platform to remove manual bottlenecks and give more women access to high-quality mentoring.
The Turning Point with Mentorloop 🚀
Since adopting Mentorloop, LEAD Network has scaled mentoring into one of its largest and most impactful programs:
- 200% increase in enrolment since switching platforms
- Growth from just 8 pairs in 2016 to 400+ active mentoring pairs today
- Mentoring participation now ranks as LEAD’s single largest offering to members
“Mentorloop has significantly transformed how we administer the program. It’s simplified coordination, made matching easier, and allowed us to expand our reach to many more individuals.”
Real Impact on Women’s Careers 💡
Mentoring isn’t just about connections—it’s delivering measurable professional growth:
- In a survey of 25,000 members, 73% reported career growth in the past year
- 60% of those attributed that growth to LEAD Network programs, with mentoring being the flagship
- Ongoing impact: many mentoring pairs continue meeting long after the official program ends
“Our program creates deep value. It’s not just about temporary matching—it creates lasting networks and career growth.”
Inclusion at Scale 🌍
The program is unique in its cross-company design, ensuring that women are matched beyond their own organizations to gain broader networks and perspectives.
Key accessibility initiatives include:
- Free seats for partner companies, reducing cost barriers
- Targeted outreach to smaller retailers and underrepresented groups
- Demographic tracking and proactive mentor recruitment to meet diverse needs
- Enrichment sessions every two months to support mentors and mentees
Mentorloop Features That Made the Difference 🔑
Mentorloop’s platform gave LEAD Network the tools to scale without losing quality:
- Smart matching – side-by-side profile views for better pairings
- Dashboards & insights – track demographics, inclusion, and engagement
- Group Loops – build community and keep cohorts engaged
- Resources & training – ensure participants understand expectations and best practices
“Make the best use of all the features Mentorloop offers—it can really enhance your program execution. Provide clear guidance, invest in training, and encourage curiosity. Sometimes the most unexpected pairings create the most rewarding growth.”
What’s Next?
LEAD Network is rebranding its mentoring program as BOOST, complete with new branding, logos, and communication strategy. They plan to:
- Consolidate all communication directly through Mentorloop
- Leverage integrated scheduling to streamline experience
- Expand use of Group Loops to strengthen community engagement
- Continue scaling participation across Europe
Sarah McGowan
LEAD Network
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“Mentoring is no longer just a program—it’s our most powerful lever for advancing women in retail and consumer goods. With Mentorloop, we’ve scaled from 8 pairs to over 400, and the impact is felt across the entire industry.
– Sarah McGowan, LEAD Network
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