Mentorship program connects students with industry pros

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: ANGAD KHALSA
Merilee Ollsen (left) and Susie Mah were matched up in the Larry Myny Mentorship Program. The mentorship led to real-world experience for Mah and a lasting friendship between the two.

A mentorship program on campus is getting students out of the classroom and into the real world, connecting them with professionals in their industry for some oneon- one conversation and possibly some on-the-job experience.

The Larry Myny Mentorship Program matches Fanshawe students with mentors in their industry — who are often Fanshawe grads themselves. The program is currently looking for students who are at least in their second year, as well as industry professionals, to sign up for the program at mentoringfanshawe. com. Over 400 matches have been made between students and professionals in the six years the program has been running.

Susie Mah, who is in her final semester of Fanshawe's Law Clerk program, was a mentee in the program last year. She said she had a "wonderful" experience. "Being a mature student, I knew I didn't have the time to do co-op. My plan of attack always was to get good marks, win an award, get involved in the school and create a mini resume. I knew I wouldn't have the benefit of having co-op experience before I started looking for work … This mentorship program was really important because it was another way to get ahead and put something on my resume. I showed that I was really serious about starting my second career and that I knew something about it."

Mah was matched up with Merilee Ollsen, a law clerk at the Bruce H Blake Law Office in St. Thomas. The pair met monthly from September 2011 to April 2012. During the mentorship, Mah got some real-world experience through a mock interview with Ollsen's boss and by job-shadowing Ollsen a number of times.

After a student signs up for the program, Derek Collins-Newman, the program's coordinator, meets separately with the mentor and the mentee to discuss what they're looking to get out of the program. Next, he meets with them together to create a list of goals and objectives for their time in the program. This document outlines what the student wants to learn and what the mentor wants the student to learn, and will guide the pair's discussions as they meet.

The document is very important, said Collins-Newman. "There are two kinds of mentorships: ones that don't go so well, and ones that go well. The ones that don't go so well, people sit down at the table and say, 'What do you want to talk about?' And then, of course, they don't learn anything. On the other hand, the way we do it measurably is we sit down and say, 'Here's the next meeting, here's the topic, come ready with questions for that specific topic.'"

The mentors and mentees meet twice a month for one-hour sessions (or set up a schedule that works for them). Collins-Newman checks in with them every so often to ensure they're staying on track. At the end of the program, he meets with them a final time to close the relationship, going through the document to ensure all objectives were met.

Though their mentor/mentee relationship has been officially "closed," Mah and Ollsen found they had so much in common they've become friends outside the program. "The chemistry between Susie and I was just awesome — she's a friend of mine now," said Ollsen. "I'm looking forward to nurturing our relationship."

Ollsen added that she saw lots of benefits in the program for a mentee. "I think it helps them develop some kind of confidence that they've chosen the correct career path for them. I find some young students go from program to program to program, kind of searching out what they want to be when they grow up. Maybe having a mentor on their side, helping them gain confidence and selfesteem that they've chosen the right career path for themselves (can help), and because that person maybe has worked a little bit in the industry to give them some really good insight as to what to expect in the outside world, and not be so scared."

Another benefit is that students who sign up for the program get free tickets to a number of events throughout the year - see the sidebar for details.

To any student that may be considering joining the program, Mah says, "Go ahead! Do it! It shows that you're really committed to your program, that you ... want to get ahead, that you want to turn over every rock to get every advantage."

"People who care will take advantage of it; people who are smart will take advantage of it," she added.

The Larry Myny Mentorship Program debuted as a pilot project called the Fanshawe College Alumni Association Mentoring Edge in September 2004, officially launching under the Mentoring For Success name in September 2005. In 2011, the program gained the sponsorship of Larry Myny, Vice President and senior investment advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy.

Though mentorships are not guaranteed for all students, Collins-Newman strives to make as many matches as possible. For more information about the program and to sign up, check out mentoringfanshawe.com.

LARRY MYNY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM EVENTS

Speaking engagement with Joe Bowen, voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs
September 26
12 to 1 p.m. - D1060

Official program launch
November 5
7 to 9 p.m. - Alumni Lounge

Mentor networking event
January 16
6 to 8 p.m. - Alumni Lounge

Interviewing for success workshop
February 6
6 to 8 p.m. - Saffron's restaurant

Student2Business Networking Conference
March 6
London Convention Centre

Dining for success workshop
April 3
5:30 to 8 p.m. - Saffron's restaurant