The Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation (WJAF) is continuing to invest in professional development and educational opportunities for women from all backgrounds and identities in the jewelry and watch industry. WJAF is proud of the investments it has made to advance individuals and strengthen communities, and is deeply committed to investing in the development of women who have been and continue to be underrepresented in this industry.  

To honor our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, WJA Foundation, Jewelers Mutual(r) Group, and Black in Jewelry Coalition are joining together to offer a business technology scholarship with the goal of attracting new talent and strengthen the industry’s talent pool in technology and business operations roles. Technology plays a vital role in the jewelry and watch industry. From e-commerce platforms, CAD, 3D printing, and augmented reality, new technologies are emerging every day. Companies will need to keep up with these trends in order to stay relevant and competitive.

The technology sector lags behind on gender diversity. According to recent statistics, although women make up almost half of the workforce in the United States, women are still underrepresented in technology. And among the 25% of women working in technology, women of color are profoundly underrepresented - with Black and Latinx women accounting for only 3% and 1%, respectively. A 2020 report from McKinsey found that diverse companies perform better, hire better talent, have more engaged employees, and retain workers better than companies that do not focus on diversity and inclusion.

The Radiant Minds Technology Scholarship is available to women of color inside and outside the industry who are interested in serving in organizational roles in the jewelry industry that require technological skill sets related to front and back-end development, user experience design and coding. 

The selected scholarship recipient will be awarded funding up to $17,500 to pay for a training and certification program at an agreed upon institute or school. During this program, the recipient will also have exposure to various leaders within the Jewelers Mutual Group organization for guidance and advice.  Apply now through April 30, 2023.

Application Requirements

Training and Certification Program Criteria

This scholarship is valued for up to $17,500 for a training and certification program. Coursework must be taken withing one year. The program may be online or in-person and is subject to approval by the scholarship jury. Some examples of programs include the Flatiron School (software engineering, data science, or product design) or General Assembly (software engineering or UX design).

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Criteria

• Must be age 18 or older to apply
• Currently enrolled at a training and certification program or show proof of acceptance to a training and certification program starting by the fall of 2023
• Applicant must be based in the United States
• Applicant identifies as a woman of color