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Employment Relations, Human Resources

Gap Year Program Paves the Way for Women in Male-Dominated Industries

Business in Heels 2 mins read

[Melbourne, Vic]– A groundbreaking new gap year program, Empower Her Future, is launching to provide young women with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in male-dominated industries. The Business in Heels, Empower her Future program is powered by SEDA. It is an initiative of Business in Heels International, a renowned organization dedicated to empowering women in business, the program offers a unique opportunity to explore emerging career paths, develop essential workplace skills, and earn a valuable diploma.

Addressing a Critical Need

A 2022 Monash University study of nearly 2800 students in years 10 to 12, entitled Young women choosing careers: Who decides?, showed that one-third felt they had insufficient information to make career choices. Empower Her Future is designed to address this gap by providing girls with the resources, experiences, and mentorship they need to break into traditionally male-dominated fields.

Key Program Features:

  • Explore High-Demand Industries: Participants will explore a variety of emerging industries, including technology, cybersecurity, energy, finance, and retail technology, which often have a gender imbalance.
  • Learn from Industry Role Models: Weekly mentorship sessions with senior women in these fields will provide participants with valuable insights into their careers, daily experiences, and career paths.
  • Gain Practical Experience through Internships: Participants will complete two-week internships with leading organizations in male-dominated industries to gain firsthand experience, apply their learnings, and contribute to real-world projects.
  • Earn a Diploma of Business: Upon completion, participants will earn a nationally recognized Diploma in Business from SEDA.
  • Develop Essential Workplace Skills: The program will equip girls with essential soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership, preparing them for success in any professional environment.
  • Benefit from Comprehensive Support: The program includes weekly sessions covering workplace requirements, networking for jobs, and support for internship placements, ensuring participants are well-prepared for their future careers.

Creating a Pipeline of Women Leaders

By providing young women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in male-dominated industries, Empower Her Future aims to create a pipeline of female leaders who can drive innovation and diversity in these fields.

“We believe that every young woman deserves the opportunity to reach her full potential, regardless of the industry she chooses. Empower Her Future is designed to empower girls with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to succeed in traditionally male-dominated fields.” Says Lisa Sweeney, CEO Business in Heels

Nick Hannett, CEO of SEDA says, “At the core of SEDA has always been practical, applied learning that is connected to industry. We’re excited to work with Business in Heels on our shared vision of empowering young people, as we expand our diploma offerings into the business sector empowering young women to shape their future careers”

To learn more about Empower Her Future and how to apply, please visit https://businessinheels.com/gap-year-program or contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]


Key Facts:

A 2022 Monash University study of nearly 2,800 students in Years 10 to 12 revealed that one-third of young women felt they lacked enough information to make informed career choices.   

According to a Grattan Institute study, 1 in 5 students leave university without a degree but with debt, and 40% said they would not have enrolled if they had been better informed.


About us:

About Business in Heels International.

The company has a vision to create an unlimited future for women. It is known for its work in providing mentoring support across Australia with Mentor Mornings and Leadership Summits to inspire women into senior roles in male-dominated industries and for Recalibrate - Gender Equity Awards for Australia. Today it connects over 200,000.


Contact details:

Lisa Sweeney 

CEO Business in Heels

[email protected]

Mob 0409441816

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