MentorU MentorME
MentorU MentorMe
Pair with an experienced leader to share your experiences with one another.
As a young person just starting out, what if you could talk to a senior leader at a company you’re interested in? Ask them questions. Get advice.
Or as an experienced leader, what if you could ask someone just beginning their career about their goals. Their values. Their dreams for the future?
In collaboration with CILAR, we’re able to create this dialogue. Matching young people and employers one on one. Inviting them to speak freely and frankly so they can compare points of view — and learn from each other. We call it MentorU MentorMe.
The idea behind MentorU MentorME is what’s known as reverse mentoring. We pair a young person with a business leader and encourage them to share perspectives on life, career and the world of business. It leads to some great conversations — and a rich, mutually rewarding experience.
Join the conversation with
The idea behind MentorU MentorME is what’s known as reverse mentoring. We pair a young person with a business decision maker and encourage them to explore their differences — in age, experience and worldview — along with interests and beliefs they hold in common (often to their surprise).
Past mentoring partners
Faizal Kazi
President & CEO, Siemens Canada
Jeanne Lam
Chief Business Officer, Wattpad
Armughan Ahmad
President and Canadian Managing, Digital at KPMG
Serena Nguyen
Director, People Experience and Strategy at MaRS Discovery District
Key employer partners
How it works
Tell us about yourself
Just fill in and submit our simple application form.
We find a good match
A mentoring partner whose interests fit well with yours.
You two get connected
Exchanging stories, experiences and points of view.
We provide support
Creating opportunities for learning and reflection.
And you both win
Gaining valuable insights and a lasting connection.
Two ways to participate:
Direct Match
You and your matched partner go through an onboarding and training session as a pair, then get together for five conversations, plus time for reflection. (15-hour commitment)
Executive Fireside Chats
A senior leader speaks directly with several matched young people about their career journeys. (2-hour commitment)
Here’s what young people say about MentorU MentorME:
“I learned a lot from our calls, and it actually helped me understand
that physicians can take non-traditional roles outside of their
clinical roles. In his case, his entrepreneurial pursuits. It
reinforced my journey to medicine and my desire to become a physician
leader.”
Habon Ali placed with Kamran Khan
(Founder and CEO of Blue Dot Global)
“At the beginning entering this reverse mentorship, I had many lofty goals as I envisioned a supportive mentor that could support my personal and professional growth. My goals persisted but my mentor Raj shifted my perspective on life. I gained many valuable lessons from my mentor as he inspired me to look into industries that I never would’ve considered without the encouragement from him.”
Kelly Xu placed with Rajesh Uttamchandani
(Chief People Officer, MaRS Discovery District Advisor, CILAR)
Indspire Partnership Training
To help create more welcoming, supportive and culturally safe environments for Indigenous youth, MyStartr has partnered with Indspire to develop Indigenous knowledge and reconciliation training modules.
Training For Mentors
An educational program for non-Indigenous employers/mentors to foster a better understanding and compassionate work environment.
Our last MentorU MentorME cycle kicked off in July 2023!
Sign up now and we’ll alert you as soon as the next registration opens.
