Leading APAC industry mentorship program Assisterhood extends application deadline and invites Aotearoa to apply – By Assisterhood
Assisterhood, APAC’s leading mentorship program for underrepresented people in advertising, marketing, media, creative, film, tech, strategy, and business, has extended its 2026 application deadline to Friday 17 April.
Born in 2018 in Brisbane as a revolution to an International Women’s Day morning tea, volunteer-run initiative Assisterhood has provided mentoring, education, and experience to 320+ mentees who identify as underrepresented across Australia, Aotearoa, the US – and now Singapore.
Successful mentees receive quality one-to-one mentoring across a six month period, including Online events and workshops, plus the Assisterhood alumni community where roles and recommendations are regularly shared.
Assisterhood invites Aotearoa-based applicants to apply to the Online program via an extended deadline: https://forms.gle/JUAEbrQWihK2rLd49
Mentee applications close 11.59pm NZST, Friday 17 April 2026.
Mentors can be the key to change at any career stage. Whether you’re a fresh graduate, ready for that promotion or pay rise, reentering the industry after parental leave, stepping into leadership, or looking to pivot into something new, an Assisterhood mentor can help you get there.
Assisterhood recently hosted a 2026 Info Night, where potential applicants could ask a past mentor/mentee pair questions and learn how the program works.
View the recording here: youtube.com/watch?v=eYEtgm2ttB0
The simple application form takes 10-15 minutes and delves into personality types, values, and working styles, rather than a traditional ‘job application’ structure. Mentors fill out a similar questionnaire, then Assisterhood provides them with the mentees aligned with these values and their areas of expertise, in order to make their final decision.
Past Aotearoa-based mentors include*:
Haylie Craig – Creative Director, Colenso BBDO
Sonya Milford – Design Director, Colenso BBDO
Chelsea Sietses – Senior Art Director, Ogilvy
Jenny Travers – Group Account Director, Ogilvy
Mary Faber – Brand & Product Designer, Josephmark
*Titles correct at time of program
Would like to become an Assisterhood Mentor? To register your interest as a 2027 Online mentor, please apply via the form linked below, including a little bit about yourself and why you’d like to take part in someone’s mentoring journey.
Mentor application form: forms.gle/iDeeRjb81ojQnZUz5
Mentor applications close at 11.59pm NZST, Friday 17 April 2026.
This could include who you are, your story or upbringing, what you do now, anything you love, random hobbies, pets, kids, obsessions, side hustles, what makes you unique, what you want to change in the industry, and any experiences you feel are relevant.
Learn more about Assisterhood: assisterhood.com.au
Follow Assisterhood:
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/assisterhood
Instagram – instagram.com/assisterhood/
Assisterhood
assisterhood.com.au
au.linkedin.com/company/assisterhood
https://www.instagram.com/assisterhood/
