About the SOUL (Supporting Our University Leaders) Mentorship Program
Young Women in Business (YWiB) SFU launched the Supporting Our University Leaders
(SOUL) Mentorship Program in October 2009. The SOUL Mentorship Program matches female
university students with SFU alumni who are highly esteemed professionals in their designated
area for a comprehensive nine month mentorship program. Through the help and support of the SFU faculty members and our roster of outstanding professional mentors, we received the exposure we needed to create a mentorship program unlike any other. We placed the focus back on the participants of the program and developed workshops that would help our mentees build the tools they need to be successful in their respective professions.
SOUL mentors and mentees
The mentorship program provides an interactive learning environment for SFU’s female leaders
while focusing on facilitated growth and relationship building within SFU and the broader
professional community.
Our SOUL mentors last year included professionals from Deloitte, Kodak, Canada Revenue
Agency, DDB Canada, and other outstanding organizations. Mentors help to create an
environment for mentees to build personal and professional confidence, and also contribute
back to the SFU community by supporting inspiring female students. Student mentees
are hand-selected based on their exemplary performance in diverse areas, which include
their academic achievements, passion for leadership, engagement in leadership initiatives,
professionalism and dedication to their communities.
We are seeking SFU alumni/students from various industries/faculties, not only business, for mentorship opportunities with YWiB.
Objectives
- To build a network of dynamic female leaders by connecting program participants with
highly-accomplished professionals who are SFU alumni from diverse industries - To provide an opportunity for SFU alumni to give back to the SFU student community
through a direct means of offering dedicated support and guidance to a female student - To foster learning and engagement through community involvement, open dialogue and
insightful discussion - To offer supplemental learning to the mentorship relationship with panel sessions, speakers
series and workshops
Program Structure
The SOUL Mentorship Program is designed for the concentrated personal and professional
growth of future SFU female leaders. In our nine-month one-on-one mentorship program, we
want mentees to have the opportunity to meet and have conversations with respected and
knowledgeable professionals that inspire them to grow as a leader, and to listen to the stories
and experiences that will give them the drive to achieve success in their career and life.
The mentorship program launches in November 2011 and continues until July 2012. In late
September of 2011, we will be selecting passionate female students who are interested in
developing their personal and professional self.
In November, the program will teach mentees the value of motivated goal-setting and
relationship building by providing learning opportunities with specific skill-building objectives so
that they have the insight, support and capability to reach their fullest personal and professional
potential. The main objectives of these mandatory mentee workshops are to teach students
short-term and long-term intentional goal setting, effective ways to ask mentor’s questions and
how to track their growth over the entirety of the program.
Throughout the course of the mentorship program, mentees will build their network by creating
connections with dynamic, engaging leaders, and they will track their progress and objectives
through documenting their experiences in the mentee’s SOUL Mentorship booklet. Mentees
will also have access to YWiB SFU panel and special events that will build confidence, improve
their networking skills and provide the tools and resources for students to be successful in any
professional environment.
Mentors have the opportunity for active change and positive growth through developing a
relationship with a goal-driven and enthusiastic young SFU leader, supporting mentees in
gaining a greater understanding of their aspirations and their value in the larger community, and
establishing a one-on-one mentoring relationship that could last for a lifetime.
SOUL Events
YWiB SFU launch party | wednesday september 21
mentor application deadline | sunday september 25 – extended deadline
mentee application deadline | sunday october 2 (due at noon) – extended deadline
mentor-mentee match finalized | friday october 21
mentee workshop | wednesday october 26
SOUL orientation | friday november 4
mentee social | friday november 18
mentee social | friday january 27
SOUL wrap-up party | friday july 13
*Please note that the above dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances. YWiB SFU will provide
sufficient notice if an event is to be rescheduled.
Mentees
For more information about SOUL Mentorship for students, please see our
YWiB SOUL Mentee Information Package
SOUL | Student Membership Fees
SOUL membership fee – $25
YWiB one year membership fee – $30
Mentees must be a YWiB member to participate in SOUL program
Contact
VP Mentor Relations
SOUL Mentorship Program
Jennifer Ganapathy | jenniferg@ywib.ca
778.895.9054
Kristen Ryan | kristenryan@ywib.ca
604.809.8801
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