Mentor stories

Sam Samanta – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

Sam Samanta, Senior Financial Analyst, City of Toronto Having mentored eleven times since 2004, Sam Samanta, a senior financial analyst at Corporate Finance Division, City of Toronto, always finds it rewarding. Sam is a Professional Engineer and holds a Master's...

Vijay Chander – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

Vijay Chander, Senior Program Manager, Rogers Communications Vijay Chander came to Canada from the Philippines as a student, which afforded him both the opportunity to learn what Canadian employers were looking for and also understand the cultural dynamics necessary...

Kathy Wu – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

“When I do my research for mentees I always learn something new whether it’s about new technology or about the IT business field.  I definitely get something out of it.” Why I started mentoring? I like to help and meet different people.  Immigrants want to settle down...

Joe Ferreyro – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

“Mentoring provides real professional development. You learn about other cultures and get to interact with many types of people. I do a lot of mentoring on the job, so I can apply what I learn through The Mentoring Partnership to my daily activities of coaching new...

Alex So – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

“For me accounting is accounting no matter where you study and where you practice. We all follow the same accounting principles. I help my mentees market their relevant professional experience to local employers, build a new network here and explain the path to...

Rahim Virji – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

“Volunteering is contagious and is encouraged by my employer. I keep mentoring because I get so much out of it. You gain so much satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment by helping others.” Why I decided to mentor a skilled immigrant With over eight years of...

Nizar Hirji – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

"When I came here from Tanzania in 1982 there was a recession and I was jobless for nine months. There was no one to tell me where to find a job. I had to start at minimum wage and had a really tough time. I want to give newcomers support so they won’t have to suffer...

Iqbal Ali – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

“What I find most meaningful about mentoring is providing the encouragement, guidance, coaching and support that professional immigrants need when they are challenged getting into the job market. I love hearing from mentees when they’ve finally found a good job and...

Emad Bishara – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

“Most mentees are determined to find a better future for themselves and their families. They are very persistent in their job search, which I find inspiring. In turn, I try to keep my mentees motivated despite whatever challenges they might face in their job search.”...

Carlene Perkins – Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants

“I find it incredibly fascinating to meet and work with mentees from different countries. Many are from parts of the world that I will never get to visit, so it’s a way for me to experience those places, while also educating myself on some cultural differences.” Why I...