On 25 November 2025, the second mentoring meeting within the framework of the programme “Women in STEM: Dream, Act, Change” took place on the topic: “Building a successful career and personal brand in the scientific and technical field”.

The mentor of the session, Iryna Prybytko, Director of the Educational-Scientific Institute of Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, shared her own professional path, talked about how to build a career trajectory in science and technology and beyond, where to start when forming a personal brand, and what decisions help to gradually move towards leadership positions.

The mentoring meeting was also attended by Iryna Nahorna, senior lecturer and associate professor at the Department of Welding and Construction Technologies, and Svitlana Yushchenko, associate professor at the Department of Automobile Transport and Industrial Engineering, Antonina Kolohoida, graduates of technical specialities at our university from different years, Lidiia Petrushynets, Olha Velichko, Kateryna Chikirisova, and Hanna Rybchenko.

Students had the opportunity to hear real-life cases of career development in STEM fields, ask questions about their first steps in the workforce, combining study and work, professional confidence, and the role of mentoring in personal growth.

We sincerely thank the mentor, all the invited lecturers and our graduates for their sincerity, support and willingness to share their experience.

Such meetings help students see that a successful career in science and technology is a real prospect if you take action, study and are not afraid of ambitious dreams.

The event was held as part of the Gender Mentoring (Women in Science) scheme under the Erasmus+ PROMENT project “Promoting vocational education and active student participation through the establishment of a mentoring and tutoring system in institutions”, which is co-funded by the EU. The opinions expressed belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the EU or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.