Women helping women in business
“Pay it forward,” urges Mirella Mokbel, a John Molson School of Business (JMSB) 2010 MBA graduate and former president of JMSB’s Women in Business Club (WIBC).
Mokbel’s advice is for the participants in the WIBC’s 2011-2012 Mentorship Program launched November 14. Founded in 2007, the student- and volunteer-run initiative pairs keen female JMSB graduate students with successful local female executives in a mentee-mentor relationship. Each pair sets clear goals and expectations for the coming year, and meets monthly to share knowledge, ideas and experiences.
At this year’s launch, 25 recent female graduates each met for the first time with their new mentor to embark on a year-long partnership.
“It isn’t theoretical – it works,” says Mokbel. “You start by finding common ground, and then you talk.”
In 2010, Mokbel was matched up with France Villemaire, vice-president of merchandising for Stokes, as her mentor. Now Mokbel mentors Amina Tariq, who received her Bachelor of Commerce from JMSB in 2010.
“As a student, I sought guidance and support, and France worked with me to help me achieve my goals,” Mokbel says. “Now as a mentor, I want to help Amina to find her place in the business world, and to succeed in whatever she chooses to do.”
Mokbel and Tariq have formed a strong connection.
“Mirella offered invaluable advice to me during the contract negotiation process of my current employment,” says Tariq. “She's helped me navigate through some of the trickier aspects of office dynamics since then.
“Over the past year, my relationship with Mirella evolved into a very warm, comfortable bond between two very open and honest friends,” she adds.
Herself a mentor, Louise Perrier has also volunteered for the past three years as the director of the WIBC Mentorship Program. Perrier carefully recruits and screens new mentors each year in a process that considers personality types, backgrounds and aspirations to make suitable matches. Then Perrier assists the WIBC in offering training and resources to help each pair to be as successful as possible.
“I was initially asked to be a mentor and, after my experience, I saw the real benefits of what a program like this can bring to young women and wanted to become more involved,” Perrier says.
In order to ensure that all mentees have a rewarding experience, the WBIC appoints a dedicated executive team member to interview each candidate for mentorship. That volunteer executive member then works closely with Perrier to determine the best possible match for each mentee.
“The WIBC provides a vast array of opportunities for female graduate students at JMSB to connect with each other and the Montreal business community each year,” says Sarah Cundiff, the WIBC’s president and a current MBA student. “Coordinating our mentorship program each year is a team effort, and would not be possible without the commitment from Louise Perrier, our network of mentors, the WIBC executive team of student volunteers, plus support from JMSB, Career Services Management, the John Molson Graduate Student Association, and the MBA Program office.”
Perrier’s ultimate goal as an WIBC volunteer is to have every female JMSB graduate student ask for a mentor. “The resources are there,” she emphasizes. “All you need to do is ask.”
Related links:
• Women in Business Club
• WIBC on Facebook
• John Molson School of Business