Beyond One-to-One: WAVIT Reinvents Mentorship Through the Wave of Influence Program

Creating ripples of mentorship that grow into waves of opportunity, leadership, and lifelong professional connection

Anaheim, CA – July 20, 2026 – Every successful career has one thing in common: someone who believed in you, challenged you, and opened a door along the way. Women in AV/IT (WAVIT) believes those opportunities shouldn't happen by chance. Today, the organization unveiled its reimagined Wave of Influence Mentorship Program with a bold new vision for mentorship that empowers women across AV/IT to build meaningful connections and grow through every stage of their career. 

Unlike traditional mentorship programs that pair one mentor with one mentee for a predetermined period, the Wave of Influence embraces a fresh, member-driven approach. Participants have the freedom to connect with multiple mentors, mentees, and peers based on their goals, interests, expertise, and career stage creating flexible relationships that can last for a single conversation or continue for years. 

Careers are rarely linear, often requiring guidance from multiple perspectives throughout different stages of professional development. Recognizing this shift, WAVIT reimagined its mentorship program to create a more flexible, personalized, and collaborative community experience that better reflects today's workforce. 

Powered by the UpNotch™ mentorship platform, the new Wave of Influence provides AI-powered recommendations that help members discover mentors, peers, and professional connections aligned with their goals. 

"Mentorship isn't about finding one person who has all the answers. It's about building a community of people who encourage you, challenge you, open doors, and help you discover opportunities you may never have found on your own," said Brandy Alvarado-Miranda, Founder of WAVIT. “We understand that careers are built through communities, not just connections. This gives women the opportunity to build an entire network of trusted advisors who can support them through every stage of their professional journey." 

The enhanced platform is the result of months of planning by WAVIT's Outreach Committee, the new program enables participants to:

• Build professional profiles highlighting their expertise, interests, and career goals

• Receive more meaningful mentor and mentee recommendations

• Track mentorship goals and professional milestones

• Access mentorship best practices and educational resources

• Develop multiple mentoring relationships that evolve throughout their careers

Mentors also remain fully in control of their participation, choosing their availability, session frequency, scheduling preferences, and level of involvement making it easier than ever for experienced professionals to give back without feeling overwhelmed.

"We wanted to remove the barriers that often keep people from seeking mentorship," said E. Williams, WAVIT Mentorship Program Manager. "Sometimes you need one conversation. Sometimes you need a long-term mentor. Sometimes you simply want to expand your network. The Wave of Influence gives members the flexibility to decide what those relationships look like. Whether someone is just entering the industry, exploring a new specialty, pursuing leadership opportunities, or giving back as a mentor themselves, the program is designed to grow alongside them."

To support the launch, WAVIT will host a virtual orientation on August 5th to walkthrough how mentors and mentees can learn how to build their profiles, establish meaningful goals, navigate the platform, and maximize the value of their mentorship experience. The session will also introduce participants to best practices for building successful mentoring relationships.

Looking ahead, WAVIT envisions the Wave of Influence becoming an even broader industry resource through strategic collaboration with sister organizations that share its mission of advancing women in technology. By expanding participation and creating a more diverse pool of mentors and mentees, WAVIT aims to provide members with greater access to knowledge, experience, and professional opportunities. This vision reflects the organization's long-term goal of creating a richer mentorship ecosystem.

"One conversation can change a career," added Brandy. "Whether you're looking for guidance, hoping to give back, changing career paths, or simply wanting to grow your professional network, the Wave of Influence was built to help women support one another every step of the way. I want to thank Hope Roth, Jill Levine, Cheryl Walton, and E. Williams for all the work they’ve put into starting this program. WAVIT could not do this without these amazing volunteers."

About WAVIT, Inc.WAVIT is a 501(c)(3) organization created by and for women in the AV/IT industries. Its mission is to provide a network that supports and empowers women through education, representation, mentorship, and inclusion. WAVIT believes that small ripples create lasting waves and is committed to helping women feel more confident, connected, and supported throughout their careers in AV and technology. Learn more by visiting www.womeninavit.org.