Across Trinity College, a growing number of women’s mentorship initiatives are reshaping the student experience by fostering collaboration, leadership and peer-to-peer support. Whether through Trinity Women in Law or the Student Managed Fund’s Women in Business Group, these initiatives aim to close the confidence gap and provide practical opportunities for students entering competitive career paths. At the forefront of this movement stands The Women’s Network (TWN), the first European chapter of a US-based organisation, which has adapted its model to Trinity’s campus with remarkable success.
Founded on the core pillars of professional development, peer support and community-building, The Women’s Network at Trinity College has created a space for women and non-binary students to mentor one another, gain leadership experience and build networks that extend far beyond their degree. Alice Moynihan, incoming President of TWN-TCD, spoke to The University Times about how the chapter has grown since its establishment and how it continues to evolve to meet the needs of students.
“Trinity’s has an amazing culture surrounding its student societies. They are outlets for student creativity, community and for practical endeavours as well,” said Moynihan. “While The Women’s Network was originally founded for US-based university campuses, its core pillars appeal to an international base. It is because of its broad appeal that its integration onto campus has been relatively seamless.”
Although TWN’s structure originates from the United States, the society has adapted itself to Trinity through collaboration with local societies and by focusing on issues that reflect the needs of its student members. “The organisation’s founder and CEO, Jamie Vinick, has been a wonderful collaborator for our previous executive boards, especially when it comes to understanding the best ways we can adapt as a society to best fit the needs of Trinity students,” Moynihan explained.
Inclusivity is a key component of TWN’s identity, and its mentorship model reflects that. “Our DEI officer plays a pivotal role in fostering connections between other societies on campus that help promote the objectives of TWN-TCD,” Moynihan said. “Along with our entire committee, they are also responsible for ensuring our events and projects are aligned with the diverse needs and backgrounds of our membership base. This is a tenet of societies across campus and we are assisted in this by the CSC.”
One of the most impactful initiatives TWN has launched this year is its mentorship programme, which connects students from similar academic backgrounds in a structured but accessible way. “We rolled out our mentorship programme this year and received positive feedback from those who participated,” said Moynihan. “The goal of the programme is to connect younger and older students in similar courses with one another in an environment that fosters leadership skills for our mentors and provides valuable insights for mentees.”
This model offers mutual benefit. It allows mentors to develop leadership and interpersonal skills, while mentees gain insights into course content, career paths, and navigating academic pressures. Moynihan notes that mentorship doesn’t begin and end with formal pairings. “Across the society networking provides valuable opportunities for all of our members and for our committee to mentor and to be mentees. We at TWN understand that we can all learn from each other and are very proud to provide a space for that.”
Beyond peer mentoring, TWN’s broader mission is to connect students with professionals and experts in a variety of fields, helping to demystify industries where women and gender minorities are underrepresented. “Our careers in Social Justice event was definitely one of my favorites from this year,” said Moynihan. “We had guest speakers, Olive Moore, Claire Gately and Susanne Rogers. They offered insightful contributions to our panel discussion which saw our largest engagement from our members at the time.”
The society has also hosted a wide range of speakers from journalism, fashion, and corporate sectors. “We have also had the privilege of hosting Niamh Ellis from Accenture, Zeda who is an incredible stylist, Fashion Journalist Corina Gaffey, and designer Aisling Duffy,” Moynihan added. “Cathy Winston, a career coach and Trinity Careers Service have also worked with us on events. In February we hosted a Careers in Journalism Panel where attendees had the pleasure of hearing Sorcha Pollak (Irish Times), Erin McCafferty, and Ella Sloane (Irish Times) speak to our members about their experiences and offer practical advice for writers.”
TWN’s international roots also allow members to benefit from a global network of like-minded students and professionals. “We stay in contact with other chapters throughout the academic year,” Moynihan said. “Our founder facilitates lines of communication and training opportunities through online calls and message boards. There is so much to learn from other chapters and how they have adapted to meet their individual universities’ needs. Through our global connections we hope to provide an international network of women and gender minorities who can benefit from each other’s council.”
In addition to offering external insights, TWN focuses on equipping students with practical tools they need for post-college life. The society collaborates with Trinity Careers Service for events like CV and LinkedIn workshops, while also tackling broader personal development topics. “For practical skills like CV and LinkedIn workshops where our board members’ expertise is not extensive enough, we ask for professional advisors to speak to our members,” Moynihan explained. “Trinity Careers service has knowledge of undergraduate and graduate needs.”
“For broader skills that do not distinguish between levels of education, like our Imposter Syndrome Workshop with Niamh Ellis, we may ask industry professionals to share their experiences with our members. Round table discussions can be hugely beneficial in this respect,” she added.
While mentorship and networking are at the heart of TWN’s activities, collaboration remains a defining feature of its ethos. “We are always open to collaborating with other societies and have worked well with SOFIA, University Times, Trinity Fashion Society, TACS, ESTEM, FLAC and VDP to name a few,” Moynihan noted. This spirit of cooperation has enabled TWN to diversify its programming while amplifying the impact of its message across campus.
Trinity Women in Law (TWIL) and SMF Women in Business (WIB) also provide valuable spaces for women to be mentored by peers and professionals. TWIL connects female law students with alumni and legal practitioners, helping them navigate a traditionally male-dominated profession. WIB’s initiative provides mentorship for aspiring women in finance, supporting them through career panels, industry exposure, and networking opportunities. These societies contribute to a culture where women mentoring women is not only encouraged but expected.
Still, it is The Women’s Network that has emerged as a cross-disciplinary platform grounded in accessibility, inclusivity and shared growth. Looking ahead, Moynihan sees great potential for expansion. “The Women’s Network at Trinity College will continue to adapt to meet our members’ needs. The job market is constantly changing and as a result, the priorities of young professionals are evolving,” she said. “Networking plays an important role in giving people access to explore the changing market and understanding where their own priorities lie.”
“Our team is excited for all that the 2025/26 academic year will bring,” she added. “We have so many events that couldn’t make it into the calendar this year that we hope to execute for our members.”
At a time when uncertainty defines the transition from student to graduate life, women’s mentorship programmes offer clarity, reassurance and tangible skills. In the words of Moynihan, “We at TWN understand that we can all learn from each other and are very proud to provide a space for that.” Through initiatives like theirs, students at Trinity are learning that success is not a solitary pursuit, it’s something built together.
