Accelerate Your Growth with Mentorship
/Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have met great mentors who were willing to take a chance on me, train me and provide me with meaningful insights and advice. I couldn’t have done it without their support and goodwill. My last mentorship experience with YWiB Vancouver allowed me to discover myself, maximize my potential and envision my future.
Discover Yourself
Last Spring, I took part in the YWiB’s Blueprint Mentorship Program. Based on mentee’s applications, YWiB seeks out those who align most with the mentees’ career aspirations and will help to inspire and guide them in achieving their goals.
My goal was pretty simple, I wanted to boost my self-confidence and kick-start my public speaking journey. However, I didn't know how to do it and where to start. I was lucky enough to be paired with my wonderful mentor, Sarah Gooding, Communications and PR Manager at Unbounce.
Maximize Your Potential
Over the last 6 months, Sarah and I meet often to discuss my goals and actionable steps. She shared with me her own experience, oriented me to specific Toastmasters Clubs so I can keep improving my communication and self-confidence skills. She also encouraged me in applying to the Shine Bootcamp, a public speaking program developed for women and Speak For Success, a three-part public speaking workshop, so I can gain more practice and exposure. Sarah provided me unbiased advice and guidance that helped me reach goals that seemed impossible back then. She also introduced me to her valuable network. Sarah saw in me potential which I might not have seen (or didn't want to see) yet. Meeting Sarah has been a rewarding experience, and I’m so grateful it happened!
Envision Your Future
Without a doubt, the YWiB mentorship program has helped me envision what I wanted to do in the future and gave me the right tools and resources to do so. Having a mentor helped me develop my public speaking skills and boost my self-confidence. I do feel more secure in my abilities to speak in front of people and I’m still developing my public speaking skills through workshops, events and networking sessions. It’s still a work in progress but I know it’s worth it!
Stop Thinking & Start Doing!
As a mentee, mentorship is an excellent opportunity to kick-start your career and gain insight into topics that really matter to you. As a mentor, you will be able to develop your leadership skills and you will feel rewarded to make a difference to the career development of another person.
Don’t be afraid to seek out mentorship, just do it! I promise you won't regret it!
About Valentine:
Favorite quote:
“We don't have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.” by Brené Brown, ‘Rising Strong’
Favorite activity:
Rock-climbing in Squamish!
Favorite book:
‘If This Is a Man’ by Primo Levi
Guilty pleasure:
Paris–Brest! It's a French dessert, made of choux pastry and a praline flavored cream! So yummy!
Dream travel destination:
Egypt! I would love to visit the Valley of the Kings, cruise the Nile River, and discover the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo!