MIW, NABLF Expand LAUNCH Mentorship Eligibility

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 0:01am CT

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW)

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) and the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) will open applications October 6 for the 2026 LAUNCH Mentorship Program, with eligibility expanded this year to women working for broadcast technology partners and vendors.

The year-long program, sponsored by Mr. Master, previously focused on women working directly for broadcasters. The expanded eligibility is designed to reach more women pursuing careers across the technical side of the broadcast industry.

Launched in 2023, LAUNCH supports women pursuing careers in broadcast engineering, audio production and technical operations. The program pairs a rising professional with an experienced industry leader for one-on-one guidance, professional development and greater exposure to broadcast technologies and operations.

The selected mentee will receive exposure to areas including FCC compliance, RF systems, EAS, IP-based broadcast systems, automation and network operations. The program also covers IT, remote broadcasting, digital audio, streaming and systems integration.

The recipient will also have an opportunity to attend the 2027 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

"As technology continues to transform every part of the broadcast business, we need more women building, operating and leading the systems that will take our industry forward," MIW Board President Sheila Kirby said. "Expanding LAUNCH to include women working with our technology partners and vendors allows us to reach talented professionals across a much broader part of the broadcast ecosystem."

NAB Leadership Foundation President Michelle Duke said expanding eligibility will allow the program to reach more professionals whose technical expertise is important to the industry's operations and evolution.

"We are proud to continue partnering with MIW to provide meaningful mentorship, industry exposure and opportunities that help women grow their careers and become leaders in broadcast technology," Duke said.

Applications for the 2026 LAUNCH Mentorship Program will be accepted October 6-30. Apply here.