Helping women succeed in a new career
DRI Foundation’s Women in Business Continuity Management (WBCM) scholarship helps propel women into professional jobs in the field of business continuity management. Training is held in cities across the country as well as virtually.
Perhaps you’ve been out of the workforce to care for a child or elderly parent and are now looking for a way to return. Or you’ve been unable to find a role that leverages your passion for being organized, working with a diverse group, or making an impact on the organization. DRI can train you to help organizations plan for and recover from situations that could disrupt their business. And, WBCM would like to help you become more confident in applying for a role in the business continuity field by having the credentials to compete.
Who Are We?
WBCM is part of Disaster Recovery International’s Foundation. DRI is the international business continuity group that offers training in business continuity, and grants the professional certifications that employers are looking for in the industry. WBCM is a volunteer board that seeks to promote, connect, and help develop the industry skills and knowledge of those who identify as women.
What is business continuity?
Business continuity is about helping organizations be prepared for emergencies. There are several different areas one can specialize in, but all of it is focused on keeping things going after something disruptive happens.
Those who excel in this field are: open and receptive to working with various types of people and levels of management, possess great organizational skills, are comfortable with basic computer skills, and are inquisitive and interested in learning new things. It is important to be a good listener, know how to remain calm and focused in adverse situations, know how to generate and bring forth new ways of doing things, connect critical dots, and remain patient and persistent. If you have those qualities, you might really enjoy business continuity!
What is the WBCM scholarship?
DRI offers training in cities around the country, and that training not only teaches the basics of business continuity, but also prepares professionals to get industry certifications like Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP) or Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP). The scholarship is a voucher for DRI’s BCLE 2000 (Business Continuity Planning) workshop and exam, held virtually as well as in cities across the world. In this workshop, you will be trained in the core practices of business continuity and how to execute best practices in different organizations. At the end of the training, you will have the knowledge to take the exam for one of DRI’s professional certifications.
Requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
- United States based applicant
- Possess basic office and computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, email)
- Ability to attend and complete the workshop within 6 months of being awarded a scholarship
- Ability to complete the exam within 1 month of completing the training workshop
- Ability to complete the certification application within three months of passing the qualifying exam
Individuals who are already in the business continuity profession or related disciplines are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
What support is available after the training?
WBCM has several resources to help you succeed during your training course and after you receive your certification. We’ll help you connect with a network of women who are business continuity practitioners, and we offer mentorship partners to share information and advice. With at least two weeks’ notice, we can also offer up to $500 assistance for dependent care coverage (with supporting documentation) during your training course and exam.
Application for DRI Foundation’s WBCM Women Scholarship
If you are interested in stepping into a new field and taking this worthwhile challenge, please follow the link below to submit your application.