Mentoring your way to success
In the Mentoring for Success program at Fanshawe College, a student is paired with an individual already in the workforce, already connected and established, distinguished even.
Although we fantasize about the idealized mentor - British “Mr. Monopoly”, dripping with sarcasm, and a bit of evil - one could still be very satisfied with my mentor: Kind, patient, brilliant, amazing (and humble about it), Christine Turner, of 3M's Marketing Department.
I be-bopped to our meeting last week at William's Coffee Pub, questions about starting a small business, wet, tucked under my armpit for later, and asked her what she could possibly get from our mentor/mentee relationship.
“It's through experiences and sharing experiences where I think people can grow; that's why I was interested,” she said. “It is unbelievable what a mentor can learn, because it brings a different perspective into my life.”
The bodacious benefits for the mentee include:
- An individual to whom you can ask limitless questions, including how life operates outside the “Fanshawe 1460 Oxford Dimension,” and in “the real world”
- Networking opportunities - get introduced to contacts within your field of interest
- An excellent sounding board for your thoughts
- Someone who motivates you, keeps you in mind about stuff; offers awesome insight and advice
“I don't know why every student isn't involved,” says Sandra Crawford, Interim Coordinator, and former mentee, of Mentoring for Success. “It's a great program for anybody making that transition from school to the working force, to get some advice from people who have some knowledge and work experience.”
Back at William's my page of small business questions is now whipped out and exposed.
Sylvia: “Number Three. ‘How should I approach retail locations if I want them to carry my product?'”
Christine: “I would call or email first, saying this is the opportunity and that you want to partner with them. …You always use partner; I find it's really a buzz word, and they don't feel like you're talking down to them. …And go with a good, solid - really quick and dirty plan. Like, ‘this is the research I've done; this is why I want to do it; this is what is in it for you.'”
I found this to be very insightful. Sometimes mentoring is like someone holding a flashlight and advising on the various groupings of sludge and warring tadpole colonies, in the underground tunnel, which is career development.
Crawford mentions first-year students would also have a lot to gain from the mentorship experience, especially in terms of career guidance, current job markets and program/course choices.
At a twice-annual celebration for the program - which includes a complimentary meal at Saffron's - Crawford mentioned the inspiring story of an English Cultural Exchange (ECE) student who blossomed in new cultural bearings with the positive influence of a Fanshawe Health and Fitness Graduate.
The next dinner will be this March, and the following menu describes of some sizzling mentorship steaks available to wet your appetite:
Raymond Darukhanawalla
- Financial Planning (Fanshawe College)
- Works in United Arab Emirates (would be email correspondence)
- Wilfred Laurier University, B.A.
- Completed Teacher's College (United States) - Caught in New York for three years
- Currently teaching Information Technologies (IT) at a women's college
- Especially great for students in IT, or interested in an international career
Jill Worthington
- Journalism (Fanshawe College)
- Works at the London Free Press
- Refers to self as “Human Guinea Pig” - reviews spas, different treatments, new water massage beds, et cetera.
Devon Robinson
- Corporate Communications and Public Relations Graduate (Fanshawe College)
- Works in Marketing Department at Fanshawe
- Convenience!
If you are interested in a rare experience, which is also well done, you can check out www.mentoringforsuccess.ca for more details, email Sandra Crawford at scrawford@fanshawec.ca, or drop by the Alumni Office, located at E1001.
Although we fantasize about the idealized mentor - British “Mr. Monopoly”, dripping with sarcasm, and a bit of evil - one could still be very satisfied with my mentor: Kind, patient, brilliant, amazing (and humble about it), Christine Turner, of 3M's Marketing Department.
I be-bopped to our meeting last week at William's Coffee Pub, questions about starting a small business, wet, tucked under my armpit for later, and asked her what she could possibly get from our mentor/mentee relationship.
“It's through experiences and sharing experiences where I think people can grow; that's why I was interested,” she said. “It is unbelievable what a mentor can learn, because it brings a different perspective into my life.”
The bodacious benefits for the mentee include:
- An individual to whom you can ask limitless questions, including how life operates outside the “Fanshawe 1460 Oxford Dimension,” and in “the real world”
- Networking opportunities - get introduced to contacts within your field of interest
- An excellent sounding board for your thoughts
- Someone who motivates you, keeps you in mind about stuff; offers awesome insight and advice
“I don't know why every student isn't involved,” says Sandra Crawford, Interim Coordinator, and former mentee, of Mentoring for Success. “It's a great program for anybody making that transition from school to the working force, to get some advice from people who have some knowledge and work experience.”
Back at William's my page of small business questions is now whipped out and exposed.
Sylvia: “Number Three. ‘How should I approach retail locations if I want them to carry my product?'”
Christine: “I would call or email first, saying this is the opportunity and that you want to partner with them. …You always use partner; I find it's really a buzz word, and they don't feel like you're talking down to them. …And go with a good, solid - really quick and dirty plan. Like, ‘this is the research I've done; this is why I want to do it; this is what is in it for you.'”
I found this to be very insightful. Sometimes mentoring is like someone holding a flashlight and advising on the various groupings of sludge and warring tadpole colonies, in the underground tunnel, which is career development.
Crawford mentions first-year students would also have a lot to gain from the mentorship experience, especially in terms of career guidance, current job markets and program/course choices.
At a twice-annual celebration for the program - which includes a complimentary meal at Saffron's - Crawford mentioned the inspiring story of an English Cultural Exchange (ECE) student who blossomed in new cultural bearings with the positive influence of a Fanshawe Health and Fitness Graduate.
The next dinner will be this March, and the following menu describes of some sizzling mentorship steaks available to wet your appetite:
Raymond Darukhanawalla
- Financial Planning (Fanshawe College)
- Works in United Arab Emirates (would be email correspondence)
- Wilfred Laurier University, B.A.
- Completed Teacher's College (United States) - Caught in New York for three years
- Currently teaching Information Technologies (IT) at a women's college
- Especially great for students in IT, or interested in an international career
Jill Worthington
- Journalism (Fanshawe College)
- Works at the London Free Press
- Refers to self as “Human Guinea Pig” - reviews spas, different treatments, new water massage beds, et cetera.
Devon Robinson
- Corporate Communications and Public Relations Graduate (Fanshawe College)
- Works in Marketing Department at Fanshawe
- Convenience!
If you are interested in a rare experience, which is also well done, you can check out www.mentoringforsuccess.ca for more details, email Sandra Crawford at scrawford@fanshawec.ca, or drop by the Alumni Office, located at E1001.
