Posts Tagged ‘mentoring’

Three years ago, ISSofBC proposed the idea of a mentoring program that would connect skilled immigrants with Vancouver-area professionals, in career-focused mentorships. In June 2008, Mentoring Connections was born! Today, what is most exciting about our program is the number of high-profile corporate and community partners that are beginning to hop aboard. It is with great pleasure that we announce ISSofBC Mentoring Connections’ newest partner, Deloitte. [Continue]

One thing our program has observed over the past few years is that engineers are a busy group of people. Luckily for us, we have engaged a core group of local engineers as volunteer mentors, many of whom have taken on multiple mentorships at our program, and who spread the word about Mentoring Connections to their colleagues. Long-time mentor and Professional Advisory Committee member Carlos Perez did just that, and last Tuesday our program welcomed Carlos and members of his CH2M Hill team to our office for an Industry Insights event for our engineer mentees. [Continue]

Karim Makalai has been a career mentor with ISSofBC’s Mentoring Connections program since January 2010. Originally from Uganda, Karim and his family came to Vancouver as refugees in 1973. In honour of the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, Karim kindly shares his story with us... [Continue]

Vancouver City Hall’s council chamber was the setting for the official launch of a new pilot program that matches new immigrants with city employees in career-focused mentorships. ISSofBC’s Mentoring Connections has been working diligently with SUCCESS, MOSAIC, the Immigrant Employment Council of BC, and the City of Vancouver to launch this pilot program.One of the program’s mentees, Karla Claros, was among the speakers at the event. In the presence of the Mayor and a handful of city councilors, she shared her personal experience and what she hopes to gain through the program. [Continue]

"I think everyone who is coming to Canada needs to be given a chance to put their skills to use so the country can develop. I feel good now that I have my professional job. I feel now that I’m somebody; I can pursue my career...I am very thankful to this program, my mentor and the staff." [Continue]

Once in a while I will get the question, “What do you remember about the Philippines?” I remember the walk from my grandparents’ house to the beach where the sand would get so hot that it burned my feet. I remember the fiestas and the great feast with enough food to feed the entire neighborhood. I remember waking up to the smell of freshly cooked bread in my great grandparents’ house which was attached to their bakery. [Continue]

On November 9th, Mentoring Connections welcomed eight members of PricewaterhouseCoopers' HR team to co-host a Mentoring Day with our mentees. To start the morning off, PwC hosted panel discussions about Recruitment & Selection and Workplace Culture & Career Development. In the afternoon, the PwC team broke off into individual mentoring sessions with our mentees. Here are some highlights... [Continue]

Do you know about the psychology of colour? I’ve thought about it in passing before, but not until recently have I realized that the darker the colour, the more in-control you look...First impressions are crucial; think of them as an instant message that you are sending that indicates how you feel about yourself, your surroundings and the company. [Continue]

Each one of us has a childhood memory of a teacher who, in our young and precious minds, was our idol; our role model who we looked up to. Many of our actions were inspired by this person, and as we mature, we develop a greater respect and appreciation for our teachers. We see the benefits gained from their dedicated efforts in our lives, and that their encouragement has guided our steps as we move along the paths of our lives. [Continue]

Lokesh Chaudhry is an integral part of Ernst & Young's Tax Services practice, acting as both a partner in the Vancouver office and Western Canada's Fixed Asset Analysis Leader. Over the past two years, Lokesh has spent countless hours volunteering as a Mentoring Connections mentor. In Lokesh's own words... [Continue]