Women's MBA Mentoring Program Objectives:
- Create networking opportunities for students with successful and influential women in leadership roles;
- Provide an opportunity to gain valuable insight into a sector;
- Learn from successful and experienced women leaders; and
- Prepare MBA mentees for the successes and challenges of the Canadian corporate environment.
Experience the rewards of mentoring an MBA student or receiving cousel and insights from one of Canada's influential leaders as a mentee. Mentoring is all about connecting with people and helping them develop into the best versions of themselves.
Our mentors have valuable skills, knowledge and experiences that can help MBA students become successful in their careers and in the halls of corporate Canada. Our MBA student mentees are high potential women and are sure to take their place among the next generation of Canadian leaders. Enroll today!
Consider the following questions:
- Are you a woman who enjoys sharing your expertise and experience with passionate women interested in a similar professional or career path?
- Are you looking to give back to the Canadian corporate community by mentoring the next generation of young female leaders?
- Would you like an opportunity to assist next generation leaders prepare to enter the private or public sector?
What are the Characteristics of an Effective LAMP Mentor?
- Professional with 10+ years of experience and knowledge
- Prepared to make a commitment to nurturing and supporting another woman’s professional and career development
- Shares wisdom
- Skilled at listening and provides supportive guidance and constructive feedback
- Available; keeps in contact
- Confidential; treats all dealings and discussions in confidence
What sorts of activities might you do as a mentor?
Any of the following ideas can be helpful ways to structure your time with the LAMP mentee.
- Meet with your mentee informally for a meal or coffee;
- Meet with your mentee in your workplace for job shadowing;
- Discuss your career path with a LAMP mentee and/or audience in a workshop, panel or in a LAMP conference;
- Conduct a goal setting session to identify areas that you will work on together in a formal mentorship;
- Provide the mentee with advice, formally or informally, concerning career choices, job applications and the interview process;
- Review your mentee’s resume and give comments;
- Refer the mentee to professional colleagues for informational interviews;
- Arrange a meeting for the mentee to be introduced to an important contact in your field, making suggestions in advance regarding possible topics of conversation. A debriefing session is often helpful afterwards;
- Pass along topical articles and books; and/or
- Be available for support by email or by phone.
What are the Benefits of Joining the Ivey MBA Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program?
- The satisfaction of knowing you are helping another woman on her career journey
- Heighten your profile as an active supporter of the next generation of women leaders
- Valuable practice to help develop your coaching and leadership skills
- Provides you with an opportunity to reflect on your own career and take stock
- Heightened self-awareness
- The pleasure of giving back
- Access online resources to learn more about mentoring
- Build your network
- Learn from future generations
Time Commitment
As an MBA mentor, we would like you to commit to meeting with your mentee (in person or virtually), 3-4 times throughout the MBA academic year (which concludes in April) for approximately 1/2 - 1 hour per session. As mentoring relationships can take many forms, we encourage mentors and mentees to develop a communication and engagement strategy that best fits the relationship. This being said, we expect that students and mentors will be in touch every 8 weeks approximately via email, phone, Skype, WebEx, Zoom, Google Hangouts or meeting in-person. We encourage you to find what communication method is most appropriate for your situation and go with it! Selected mentees have been instructed to communicate professionally and in a timely manner.
What if personality or career interests do not match?
In rare cases where students and mentors are not compatible, meetings can cease at anytime either the mentor or mentee chooses. If you do not feel like your personalities are meshing well enough to create a mutually beneficial mentoring relationship (which can happen), please feel free to contact the Institute at leadership@ivey.ca
Mentee Responsibilities
Once accepted into the Institute for Leadership's MBA Women’s Mentoring Program you must observe to the following expectations and responsibilities. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal from the program.
- First and foremost, as a mentee, you are a representative of the Ivey Business School, yourself, and your peers in the MBA program. Please conduct yourself at all times in a professional and ethical manner.
- Remember that participation in the program is a networking activity, not a job placement exercise. You are not permitted to solicit mentors for internships or jobs – the purpose of the program is to explore career paths, expand interpersonal skills and build your network.
- You are to be active in your role as a mentee: arrange meetings with your mentor, ask questions, attend meetings, dress appropriately and respond to mentor communications quickly and professionally; it is the mentees’ responsibility to prepare for each meeting with relevant questions for discussion in order to ensure a productive and informative session.
- Mentees are required to meet either in person or virtually with their mentor no less than four times over a twelve-month period. Additional meetings may be arranged based on mutual interest.
- You commit to maintaining integrity and keep all sensitive information confidential.
- You must communicate potential problems in completing program commitments with the Ivey MBA Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program coordinator. You must also respond to coordinator inquiries in a timely manner.
- You should be open to experiencing industries and professions that differ from your career aspirations. Remember, every situation can be a great networking and learning opportunity!
- It is important for you to remember that this is not a job placement program and it is neither appropriate nor acceptable for you to solicit job opportunities from your mentor.
What if personality or career interests do not match?
In rare cases where students and mentors are not compatible, meetings can cease at anytime either the mentor or mentee chooses. If you do not feel like your personalities are meshing well enough to create a mutually beneficial mentoring relationship (which can happen), please feel free to contact the Institute at leadership@ivey.ca
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