In honor of International Women's Day, here are a few resources for women looking for professional development and mentoring opportunities in Metro Detroit:

Join Women Rising
If you are a woman in the tech or business industries, living in or around Detroit than this group is for you! Women Rising is an organization that pairs up its members based on industry and interests each month for some informal networking and mentoring!

Once you join, Women Rising will send you a questionnaire to determine your company position, industry, and your career goals. In the middle of each month, they will match you with two other compatible women for a fun and supportive mini-meetup that your group organizes on your own. It may be something as simple as a coffee meetup or a Skype call. The women you're paired with will be a mix of seasoned professionals and entry level for a well-rounded experience. Then the next month your network will grow by another two connections as Women Rising continues to pair you up.

Through Women Rising you will continue to meet intelligent and influential women every month for career advice or for developing new friendships! And the best part is that Women Rising is free to join!

If you are interested in joining Women Rising, visit www.womenrising.co.

Take Entrepreneurial Development Classes
Inforum, the professional women's organization, is working with two local leaders in finance and entrepreneurship for a program Inforum bills as the equivalent of master's classes in entrepreneurial development for women business owners called inGAGE.

The goal? In Inforum's words: "Positioning Michigan as the Midwest hub for high-growth women entrepreneurs."

The classes, which are sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corp (MEDC) and the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, will help entrepreneurs assess their company's operations, finances and personnel; provide them professional coaching and mentors; and introduce them to sources of capital to fund growth. The current session of inGAGE classes is taught by Patti Glaza, a vice president at Invest Detroit who is managing director of its First Step and Detroit Innovate funds. She has also been CEO of several tech startups.

Applications are now being accepted for the second master's class, which will meet one Friday a month from April 22 to Dec. 9. It will be taught by Paula Sorrell, an Ann Arbor-based business consultant who recently finished a four-year stint as vice president for entrepreneurship for the MEDC. The cost to attend, $1,500, includes Inforum membership. For more information visit, www.inforummichigan.org/ingagemasterclass.

Join Inforum
On top of the inGAGE classes, Inforum offers a lot of other education, networking, and development opportunities and events all meant to help you make strategic and valuable connections, build relationships, expand your network, gain insight from thought-leaders, and hone your leadership skills.

Inforum's event calendar is really impressive. Just in the coming months it includes dozens of events geared at networking, learning, and community service. It's definitely worth checking out!

For more information on joining inforum, visit www.inforummichigan.org/making-right-connections.

Do you know more resources and organizations specifically for women in Metro Detroit? Let me know in the comments and I'll add them to the list!