RBC has been a longstanding employer partner for IEC-BC. RBC mentors have been part of 149 matches in the last year and a half. Historically, 62% of mentees from RBC mentoring cohorts found employment within six months of program completion.
We interviewed Evan Young, branch manager at RBC in Vancouver, about his experience working with IEC-BC as an employer partner and a mentor.
Evan first became involved with IEC-BC’s programs through RBC’s Mosaic Employee Resource group. The group focuses on fostering an inclusive culture by enabling the success of visible minorities and newcomers to Canada within RBC. Mosaic partnered with IEC-BC’s MentorConnect program in 2018, and Evan became a mentor in that initial cohort.
Evan had an amazing first experience mentoring newcomers and helping them restart their careers in a new country. He is part of the 70% of returning mentors and has mentored three different newcomers.
To him, giving back means using your unique skills to enrich the lives of others. Evan has been the beneficiary of others giving up their time, and he wants to pay that forward.
Newcomers have a lot to offer Canadian employers looking for talent. However, many are not even considered for opportunities. Reducing these inequities is the motivation for Evan to continue his work with IEC-BC.
As Canada becomes more diverse, Evan believes our workplaces should reflect how our country looks. Relationship building is an important part of RBC’s business and having a diversity of thought and experiences can lead to new perspectives to better serve the financial institution’s clients.
When Evan looks at RBC’s mission and values of diversity and inclusion, he believes working with community partners such as IEC-BC can be how employers are able to reinforce values through action.