Two female students in Northern Ireland have received an extraordinary opportunity through the SistersIN mentoring programme, as they have been assigned the First Minister and Deputy First Minister as their personal mentors for the academic school year.
Clodagh Conroy, from St Pius X College, Magherafelt, and Sophie Murray, from Strathearn School in Belfast, will benefit directly from the unique guidance and support offered by the Executive’s two most senior political leaders.
When Clodagh found out her mentor pairing, she couldn’t quite believe it. She said, “I ran in to my teacher asking what this email really meant. I think I'll learn a lot from her about women empowerment and how girls today can be leaders. The First Minister came to our school and spoke so highly of SistersIN, it really inspired me to sign up and now I’m so privileged that’s who my mentor will be.”
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Sophie said, “SistersIN is such a great opportunity, it’s so exciting to learn first-hand from inspirational, powerful women. My sister took part in the programme and pushed me to do it as well, I’m looking forward to the opportunity of being mentored by the deputy First Minister and to make the most of what the programme has to offer.”
SistersIN is a pioneering leadership and mentoring programme that aims to empower, educate, and inspire young women in Northern Ireland by pairing them with mentors from across business, public life, and the community. The locally-founded initiative has grown rapidly since its inception, providing female students with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to fulfil their potential and take up leadership roles in the future.
Over 1,200 girls aged 16-18 have taken part in the programme since its launch in 2022. Sixty schools have signed up to the SistersIN programme for this year, with almost 800 pupils due to benefit from the guidance of a mentor.
In addition, the programme includes strands that focus on leadership modules and interactive masterclasses taught in school, and a leadership project for the participating students that provides an opportunity to lead something meaningful in their school or community.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: "I am so looking forward to being part of the SistersIN programme and the honour of mentoring one of these talented young women.
“Supporting the next generation of female leaders is something I feel very strongly about, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with Clodagh while also learning from hers. This is an exciting journey for us both."
Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly said: "It is a privilege to be involved with SistersIN and to walk alongside one of these incredible students as they take their next steps.
“Mentorship is about encouragement, empowerment and creating space for young women to see what is possible. I am excited to listen, support, and help open doors for Sophie as she shapes her own path."
During this academic school year, the students will have one-to-one sessions with their mentors where they will be advised on leadership and how the associated transferable skills can be used in every day working life, and take part in a job shadow day.
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Peter Dobbin, Founder and Chair of SistersIN, said, "This is an extraordinary moment for the SistersIN community. To have the First Minister and Deputy First Minister step forward as mentors sends a powerful message about the importance of nurturing female leadership. Their involvement will not only have a profound impact on these two students but will also inspire many more young women across Northern Ireland to aim high and believe in what is possible."
The announcement marks a significant milestone for the SistersIN programme, highlighting the importance of female mentorship at every level of leadership in Northern Ireland.
If you are a school, organisation or potential mentor that is interested to find out more about the SistersIN programme and involvement, visit www.sisters-in.org/get-involved
Sync NI's Summer 2025 magazine celebrates women in tech across Ireland as we continue to encourage more women to enter the thriving sector and address the current gender imbalance. Read the Summer 2025 Sync NI Magazine online for free here.
