Streamlined Literature Search
Reframing formal mentorship into lightweight, topic-based peer conversations
WoMentor is a community-based app designed to support early-career women in STEM through peer connection and career support in male-dominated work environments. Originating as a concept for the 2021 International Women’s Day Hackathon, the project evolved through qualitative research that revealed adoption barriers in formal mentorship models. These insights prompted a shift toward lightweight, topic-based group conversations and the development of an MVP over a three-month collaboration.
Time
- Hackathon: Mar 2021
- Revamp: Aug 2021-Mar 2022
My Role
Product designer
My Contribution
Early-stage Product Strategy
Defined early-stage product strategy through competitive analysis and user research to identify gaps in existing platforms and articulate WoMentor’s unique positioning.
Qualitative Research & Directional Pivot
Conducted qualitative research including, interviews and usability testing, to surface emotional and social barriers, informing the product’s directional shift.
Core Experience Design
Designed onboarding, matching, and group interaction flows to build familiarity, and encourage participation.
Overview
Problem
Early-career female professionals in STEM have difficulty finding career advice and support because they don't know many people in their network who can offer the help they need.
Problem
WoMentor, a professional networking and mentoring App, pairs female professionals in STEM with peers and industry experts in small-sized meetups to learn, share and support each other
Research
User Insights
“As the only female engineer in my team I feel left alone. I wish I know someone who could offer the help I need and share feelings with.”
Firza Newton,
Mechanical Engineer
Lack of connection to relevant help and network
Lack of empathy and emotional support from peers
Persona
Focusing on early-career women in STEM
Based on the research insights, our team decided to focus on early-career women, “the learner” as our primary users, knowing that it's harder for them to find support, while the experienced female professionals, “ the expert “ who can share their experience will be our secondary users.
Primary User - The Learner
Firza Newton
Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer
Goal:
Overcome obstacles to advance her career
Needs:
- Share feelings and opinions with peers
- Find the relevant advice to learn from
“ I want to talk to other women who are at my level or with more experience so I can hear advice from a female perspective”
Secondary User - The Expert
Isabelle Neal
Mechanical Engineering Manager
Goal:
Be supportive of other women in STEM
Needs:
- Have a matched goal with mentees so her sharing will be more effective
“ I remember the difficulty when I started career as a female engineer. I want to share my experience with other women.”
Competitor Research
The current marketplace lacks a product that satisfies the needs for both career guidance and emotional support from peers
Design Goals
Pair the user with experts and peers who can offer the help she need
Match users to the relevant advice and support
Facilitate engaging conversation with experts and peers
Hackathon Submission
Initial Concept
For the 2-day hackathon submission we came up with the design of a group mentoring web app
1. The user first searches for a mentorship program with the topic she prefers2. The user joins the program to engage in weekly discussion sessions with mentors and other peers
User Testing & Feedback
While designed to foster deeper relationships, the structured program format unintentionally raised commitment barriers and social friction.
Insights from mentor
Long-term group mentoring program requires too much time and effort
“ I can only spend 1-2 hours per week on advising people. I also don’t have the energy to prepare presentation every week” ”
Insights from mentee
Introverted people feel intimidated to join the formal program with strangers
“ I like this small group setting but I feel a little nervous because I don’t know these people “
Overview
Set up user preferences during onboarding
Recommend meetups and experts based on user preferences
Search helps users find specific needs
Highlighting the shared interest and background
Meetup for casual video chat & group message
Problem
“Latest Research” was an untapped opportunity which lacked attention and user engagement
Latest research discoveries was selected as one of the most needed resources from 150+ survey respondents. However, “Latest Research” article page has only 0.21% pageviews.
Let’s Connect!
© 2025 Yiqing Wang
WoMentor App
Reframing formal mentorship into lightweight, topic-based peer conversations
WoMentor is a community-based app designed to support early-career women in STEM through peer connection and career support in male-dominated work environments. Originating as a concept for the 2021 International Women’s Day Hackathon, the project evolved through qualitative research that revealed adoption barriers in formal mentorship models. These insights prompted a shift toward lightweight, topic-based group conversations and the development of an MVP over a three-month collaboration.
Time
Hackathon: Mar 2021Revamp: Mar 2021-May 2021
My Role
Product designer
My Contribution
Early-stage Product Strategy
Defined early-stage product strategy through competitive analysis and user research to identify gaps in existing platforms and articulate WoMentor’s unique positioning.
Qualitative Research & Directional Pivot
Conducted qualitative research including, interviews and usability testing, to surface emotional and social barriers, informing the product’s directional shift.
Core Experience Design
Designed onboarding, matching, and group interaction flows to build familiarity, and encourage participation.
Overview
Problem
Early-career female professionals in STEM have difficulty finding career advice and support because they don't know many people in their network who can offer the help they need.
Solution Overview
WoMentor, a professional networking and mentoring App, pairs female professionals in STEM with peers and industry experts in small-sized meetups to learn, share and support each other
Research
User Insights
“As the only female engineer in my team I feel left alone. I wish I know someone who could offer the help I need and share feelings with.”
Firza Newton,
Mechanical Engineer
Lack of connection to relevant help and network
Lack of empathy and emotional support from peers
Persona
Focusing on early-career women in STEM
Based on the research insights, our team decided to focus on early-career women, “the learner” as our primary users, knowing that it's harder for them to find support, while the experienced female professionals, “ the expert “ who can share their experience will be our secondary users.
Primary User - The Learner
Firza Newton
Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer
Goal:
Overcome obstacles to advance her career
Needs:
- Share feelings and opinions with peers
- Find the relevant advice to learn from
“ I want to talk to other women who are at my level or with more experience so I can hear advice from a female perspective”
Secondary User - The Expert
Isabelle Neal
Mechanical Engineering Manager
Goal:
Be supportive of other women in STEM
Needs:
- Have a matched goal with mentees so her sharing will be more effective
“ I remember the difficulty when I started career as a female engineer. I want to share my experience with other women.”
Competitor Research
The current marketplace lacks a product that satisfies the needs for both career guidance and emotional support from peers
Design Goals
Pair the user with experts and peers who can offer the help she needs
Match users to the relevant advice and support
Facilitate engaging conversation with experts and peers
Hackathon Submission
Initial Concept
For the 2-day hackathon submission we came up with the design of a group mentoring web app
1. The user first searches for a mentorship program with the topic she prefers2. The user joins the program to engage in weekly discussion sessions with mentors and other peers
User Testing & Feedback
While designed to foster deeper relationships, the structured program format unintentionally raised commitment barriers and social friction.
Insights from mentor
Long-term group mentoring program requires too much time and effort
“ I can only spend 1-2 hours per week on advising people. I also don’t have the energy to prepare presentation every week” ”
Insights from mentee
Introverted people feel intimidated to join the formal program with strangers
“ I like this small group setting but I feel a little nervous because I don’t know these people “
Final Design
Set up user preferences during onboarding
Recommend meetups and experts based on user preferences
Search helps users find specific needs
Highlighting the shared interest and background
Meetup for casual video chat & group message
Visual Guide
Render a calm and safe atmosphere for users to open up easier when discussing some of the most difficult topics.
Let’s Connect!
© 2026 Yiqing Wang
WoMentor App
Reframing formal mentorship into lightweight, topic-based peer conversations
WoMentor is a community-based app designed to support early-career women in STEM through peer connection and career support in male-dominated work environments. Originating as a concept for the 2021 International Women’s Day Hackathon, the project evolved through qualitative research that revealed adoption barriers in formal mentorship models. These insights prompted a shift toward lightweight, topic-based group conversations and the development of an MVP over a three-month collaboration.
Time
Hackathon: Mar 2021Revamp: Mar 2021-May 2021
My Role
Product designer
Overview
Problem
Early-career female professionals in STEM have difficulty finding career advice and support because they don't know many people in their network who can offer the help they need.
Solution Overview
WoMentor, a professional networking and mentoring App, pairs female professionals in STEM with peers and industry experts in small-sized meetups to learn, share and support each other
My Contribution
Early-stage Product Strategy
Defined early-stage product strategy through competitive analysis and user research to identify gaps in existing platforms and articulate WoMentor’s unique positioning.
Qualitative Research & Directional Pivot
Conducted qualitative research including, interviews and usability testing, to surface emotional and social barriers, informing the product’s directional shift.
Core Experience Design
Designed onboarding, matching, and group interaction flows to build familiarity, and encourage participation.
Research
User Insights
“As the only female engineer in my team I feel left alone. I wish I know someone who could offer the help I need and share feelings with.”
Firza Newton,
Mechanical Engineer
Lack of connection to relevant help and network
Lack of empathy and emotional support from peers
Persona
Focusing on early-career women in STEM
Based on the research insights, our team decided to focus on early-career women, “the learner” as our primary users, knowing that it's harder for them to find support, while the experienced female professionals, “ the expert “ who can share their experience will be our secondary users.
Primary User - The Learner
Firza Newton
Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer
Goal:
Overcome obstacles to advance her career
Needs:
- Share feelings and opinions with peers
- Find the relevant advice to learn from
“ I want to talk to other women who are at my level or with more experience so I can hear advice from a female perspective”
Secondary User - The Expert
Isabelle Neal
Mechanical Engineering Manager
Goal:
Be supportive of other women in STEM
Needs:
- Have a matched goal with mentees so her sharing will be more effective
“ I remember the difficulty when I started career as a female engineer. I want to share my experience with other women.”
Competitor Research
The current marketplace lacks a product that satisfies the needs for both career guidance and emotional support from peers
Design Goals
Pair the user with experts and peers who can offer the help she needs
Match users to the relevant advice and support
Facilitate engaging conversation with experts and peers
Hackathon Submission
Initial Concept
For the 2-day hackathon submission we came up with the design of a group mentoring web app
1. The user first searches for a mentorship program with the topic she prefers2. The user joins the program to engage in weekly discussion sessions with mentors and other peers
User Testing & Feedback
While designed to foster deeper relationships, the structured program format unintentionally raised commitment barriers and social friction.
Insights from mentor
Long-term group mentoring program requires too much time and effort
“ I can only spend 1-2 hours per week on advising people. I also don’t have the energy to prepare presentation every week” ”
Insights from mentee
Introverted people feel intimidated to join the formal program with strangers
“ I like this small group setting but I feel a little nervous because I don’t know these people “
Final Design
Set up user preferences during onboarding
Recommend meetups and experts based on user preferences
Search helps users find specific needs
Highlighting the shared interest and background
Meetup for casual video chat & group message
Visual Guide
Render a calm and safe atmosphere for users to open up easier when discussing some of the most difficult topics.
Let’s Connect!
© 2026 Yiqing Wang