Events

LOT Executive Roundtable

by Austin Nairn

Another year of the Leaders of Tomorrow Mentorship Program has begun.

LOT Mentor, Doug Turner connects with his new mentee, BCIT student Kirstin Short at the LOT Orientation Evening. Photo: D.Roels

October 14 marked the beginning of this years’ Leaders of Tomorrow Mentorship Program. Students and mentors met and had an opportunity to learn more about the program while gathering at the SFU Segal Graduate School.

Pharid Jaffer represented the event sponsor, HSBC Bank Canada, and provided some helpful tips from his experience in the program as he is now mentoring for his 6th year. Pharid explained that he continues to keep in touch with many of his past protégés and still helps to support them where possible. Since most of his mentees have now entered the workforce, the questions they ask of Pharid have changed accordingly and rather than asking about how to prepare for an interview, they now inquire about how to manage a team or even how to handle office politics.

Ray Williams of Success IQ University followed Pharid and explained the importance of mentors in his life while outlining his inspiring journey which includes time spent as a teacher, writer, and executive coach. Ray explained that the value of learning from someone who has been there before can be invaluable in ones personal and professional success.

Following the presentations guests were split up into two groups, where mentors and mentees could learn more about the program specifics while hearing from past participants. LOT Program Committee chair Yvonne De Valone lead the mentors with the help of 2009 Mentor of the Year recipient Bruce Arthurs. Bruce explained that mentors don’t need to have all the answers as it’s their experiences that can often be of most benefit to the students. LOT Program executive member and Committee of the Year Award winner, Victoria Tang addressed the students and provided some advice about how to make the most of their experience this year by becoming the driving force behind this relationship and above all, getting involved! 

The Leaders of Tomorrow Mentorship Program is made possible with the support of our sponsors and the participation of over 150 mentors and students. More information about LOT is available online at www.leadersoftomorrow.com