The Mentorship Programme – part of the OLA Women’s Forum – aims to support and strengthen the professional development of women within the institutions that form part of the organisation. It will be implemented with the support of the Chilean organisation Mujeres Empresarias and will include several stages, from the preparation of the first generation of OLA mentors to the execution of the mentorship sessions, for which members of the network’s teams may apply.

Inspired by the power of great heroines in opera – the courage of Brünnhilde in Wagner’s Ring cycle, the steely determination of Minnie in La fanciulla del West, the resolve of Carmen, and the bravery of Leonora in Fidelio, to name a few – Ópera Latinoamérica is launching its first OLA Women’s Forum Mentorship Programme. This initiative will be implemented with the advice of Mujeres Empresarias, a Chilean organisation with whom a collaboration agreement was signed on Monday, 3 March.

Aimed at professionals who are part of the teams of the more than 45 organisations that belong to OLA, this initiative will offer an opportunity for learning and professional growth, as well as a platform to foster connections among women in the industry.

“Fifty-two per cent of OLA member organisations are led by women, and in most cases, it is the first time these institutions have had female leadership. This has created an important opportunity to advance gender equality. This Mentorship Programme reflects the spirit of our organisation, as the distinguished female leaders of OLA theatres will share their experiences and know-how with other women across the network, thereby strengthening not only the teams’ competencies but also collaborative work,” said Alejandra Martí, Executive Director of Ópera Latinoamérica.

“Fifty-two per cent of OLA member organisations are led by women, and in most cases, it is the first time these institutions have had female leadership. This has created an important opportunity to advance gender equality.”

— Alejandra Martí, Former Executive Director of Ópera Latinoamérica

The programme, an initiative of the OLA Women’s Forum founded during the Manaus 2023 Annual Conference, will be implemented with the support of Mujeres Empresarias, a Chilean organisation that creates and connects professional development spaces for women in the business world.

“Supporting one another is essential in our commitment to open new and better pathways for women’s professional growth. Sharing knowledge, listening, and offering solutions whenever possible are key elements to broadening women’s impact in the professional world. This partnership between OLA and Mujeres Empresarias will undoubtedly enhance the talent and experience of the mentors and enable us to design an effective methodology for those being mentored,” said Carmen Gloria Larenas, President of Ópera Latinoamérica and General Director of Teatro Municipal de Santiago.

Left to right: Carmen Gloria Larenas, President of OLA; Alejandra Martí, Former Executive Director of OLA; Carolina Eterovic, Director of Mujeres Empresarias; and Francisca Valdés, Director of Mujeres Empresarias.

The OLA Women’s Forum Mentorship Programme will be developed in various stages. Initially, between March and May, Mujeres Empresarias will support the training and preparation of OLA mentors through working sessions focused on sharing knowledge, practices, and strategies for effective mentorship.

Following this phase, a call for applications will be launched for women working at theatres, companies, and festivals that are active, dues-paying OLA members. Candidates should be at an early or mid-stage of their professional careers. Applications will open at the end of June, with opportunities to address areas such as cultural organisation leadership, artistic programming and technical management, administration and finance, communications and marketing, among other fields related to the performing arts sector.

After the application results are announced, the mentorship sessions will take place during the second half of 2025. Each mentee will participate in three personalised sessions, where OLA mentors will support and guide them in the professional areas they wish to strengthen.

“At Mujeres Empresarias, we believe in the transformative power of mentorship as a key tool for accelerating women’s professional development. This partnership with OLA allows us to extend our impact to the cultural sector – a vital area where greater female leadership is needed. We hope this programme generates a strong network effect, with mentees growing professionally and becoming future role models who inspire others,” said Francisca Valdés, Director of Mujeres Empresarias.

Through this partnership, OLA and Mujeres Empresarias reaffirm their commitment to gender balance and the creation of concrete opportunities to promote female talent and leadership within the cultural sector.