The Atonia Programme is the new name for the OurWhisky Foundation’s widely-acclaimed mentorship programme, a six-month personal and professional development course designed to elevate the careers of women in the whisky industry.
Meaning ‘strong as oak’, the name Atonia symbolises the wisdom, strength, resilience, endurance and growth of the programme’s participants, collectively known as ‘Atonia’s Acorns’.
Renamed to better reflect the breadth of content the programme delivers beyond mentorship, the Atonia Programme is designed to support women and non-binary individuals in the global whisky industry by providing career clarity, enhancing confidence, building a supportive network and equipping them with professional skills.
How it works
The Atonia Programme is comprised of three elements:
Mentorship
Candidates are hand-matched with an experienced mentor based on their location, individual experience, skills and goals. Comprised of monthly one-to-one in-person or virtual sessions, the mentorship aspect of the Atonia Programme is uniquely centred around the GROW model (Goal, Reality, Options, Will), incorporating the purpose-driven Japanese concept of ikigai to help steer participants toward clear personal goals.
Our mentors are amongst some of the biggest names in the whisky industry. Explore our mentor directory here.
Personal & Professional Development
The programme includes a series of six monthly virtual workshops focused on the development of personal and professional skills, including confidence building, networking skills, unconscious bias and bystander intervention training, and public speaking.
Networking
Participants in each cohort will have exclusive access to the OurWhisky Foundation’s networking platform to interact with each other as well as others in the industry, in addition to regular group virtual networking sessions.
What’s included:
A minimum of six monthly one-to-one meetings with a personally-assigned mentor
Monthly digital workshops focusing on personal and professional development, including an award-winning confidence workshop delivered by The Academe, designed to empower, motivate and improve self-awareness
Monthly group networking and discussion sessions
One year’s membership to the OurWhisky Foundation’s networking platform, worth £120
A graduation lunch alongside your cohort members
Exclusive discounts on further personal development programmes
Opportunity to join a growing community of over 200+ Atonia’s Acorns
Why apply?
After completing the programme, our graduates report experiencing:
53% increase in confidence
49% increase in energy
27% increase in motivation
Meanwhile over 30% go on to secure new job opportunities or promotions within 12 months of starting the programme.
Find out what past graduates gained from the programme:
“I would highly recommend this programme. I feel like I have learnt many practical skills that I will take forward in my career and also hopefully pass onto others. The support of the other mentees and my mentor has been fantastic and I now feel like I am part of a community.”
– Grace Gorton, whisky analyst, The Lakes Distillery
Eligibility
The Atonia Programme is open to anyone of any age who identifies as female or non-binary, and who is pursuing a career in the whisky industry. Whether you are looking to get into production, start your own brand or simply gain more confidence in your existing role, the Atonia Programme is an opportunity to build your career, hone your skills and connect with some of the most experienced people in the industry.
There are just 25 places available on each programme. Applicants must reside in the region relative to the programme they are applying for.
Note: Those registered on another concurrent mentorship programme or studying for a full- or part-time qualification will not be eligible. Please consider applying at a later date.
Key Dates
Application Process:
3rd February: Applications for the Atonia Programme open
28th February: Applications close
10th-14th March: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short interview
wb 31st March: Successful applicants will be notified
11th April: Deadline for programme fee
May: The successful Atonia Programme applicants will be publicly announced
Workshops & Networking Sessions
Note: Workshop attendance is mandatory. Failure to attend may result in you forfeiting your place without compensation. Please ensure you’re able to attend the below virtual workshops before applying.
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WORKSHOPS (mandatory attendance):
Introduction: 6th May, 7-9pm
Power Room: 7th, 9th, 16th, 23rd June, 7-9.30pm
Networking skills: 7th July, 7-9pm
Unconscious bias & bystander intervention: 4th August, 7-9pm
Speak with confidence: 1st September, 7-9pm
Whisky Equality: 6th October, 7-9pmGROUP NETWORKING (optional attendance):
19th May, 7-9pm
30th June, 7-9pm
21st July, 7-9pm
18th August, 7-9pm
15th September, 7-9pm
20th October, 7-9pmGRADUATION:
To be held in a central London, Edinburgh or Glasgow location in November, details tbc.
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IRELAND
WORKSHOPS (mandatory attendance):
Introduction: 7th May, 7-9pm
Power Room: 4th, 11th, 19th, 25th June, 7-9.30pm
Networking skills: 2nd July, 7-9pm
Unconscious bias & bystander intervention: 6th August, 7-9pm
Speak with confidence: 3rd September, 7-9pm
Whisky Equality: 1st October, 7-9pmGROUP NETWORKING (optional attendance):
21st May, 7-9pm
27th June, 7-9pm
16th July, 7-9pm
20th August, 7-9pm
17th September, 7-9pm
15th October, 7-9pmGRADUATION:
To be held in a central Dublin or Belfast location in November, details tbc.
Programme Fees
Previous editions of the OurWhisky Foundation’s mentorship programme were conducted free of charge, however economic challenges coupled with our ambition to deliver the best possible professional development programme for women in whisky, means we now require a fee to participate in the Atonia Programme.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and corporate partners, we are able to deliver our programme at a reduced rate of £249 per person (inclusive of VAT). Only successful candidates will be asked to pay programme fees, and before the deadline of 11th April.
The cost of this programme is tax deductible and may be covered by your employer as a business expense. A very small number of scholarships will be available for applicants who are in a position of financial hardship. Please select this option on the application form if you’d like to be considered.
How to apply
The OurWhisky Foundation is now accepting entries for its 2025 Atonia Programmes in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and Ireland until 28th February 2025.
Please select the appropriate application form below for your region.
The Atonia Programme will be available in additional regions in the near future. Please register for our newsletter below to stay informed.
Apply to be a mentor
The OurWhisky Foundation gratefully accepts applications from experienced members of the industry to become mentors for our programme. Candidates may be located anywhere globally and identify as any gender, but must have at least five years experience in their field of expertise. Mentors will be added to our database and contacted if a suitable match is found.
Explore our mentor directory here.
All mentors receive training with a qualified coach prior to starting our programme, as well as a course handbook and monthly guidance from our team. Active mentors also have complimentary access to the OurWhisky Foundation’s membership platform for the duration of the programme.
If you would like to be considered as a mentor, please complete this application form.
Support US
It’s our ambition to roll the Atonia Programme out to additional global regions in 2025 and beyond, ensuring everyone who requires our support receives it.
While the Atonia Programme is often described as ‘life changing’ by our graduates, it relies on financial support from donors and corporate sponsors to operate.
If you represent an organisation that is interested in supporting our programme, please get in touch.
