Thank you to the Best Buy Canada team for partnering with IEC-BC to host an evening of connection, learning and mentorship at our MentorConnect event on November 13. Bringing mentors, mentees and employers together in the same room to share stories and practical strategies felt especially meaningful and reminded everyone why workplace mentorship matters for people and for business.
The evening featured powerful storytelling and tangible examples of impact for the Best Buy team to hear and reflect on. One mentee described how a mentor’s guidance gave them the confidence to take on a new project at work — a project that ultimately redirected their career trajectory. Equally moving was a mentor’s account of watching a mentee reach a goal they once thought was out of reach. Those moments of growth and success are the core outcomes MentorConnect seeks to foster.
Our MentorConnect program highlights and discussion points underscored how mentorship strengthens leadership skills, improves employee retention and helps employers develop a future-ready workforce. The Storytelling Panel, where mentors and mentees shared their mentorship experiences, sparked from-the-heart conversations among attendees about overcoming barriers, translating international experience into Canadian workplaces, and practical steps managers can take to make mentorship work for their teams.
We’re grateful to our speakers and panelists for sharing their journeys and insights: Kaustav Ghosh, Edmundo (Ed) Cardenas, Dr. Saba A., Siamak Riazi, Ashmitha Jagadish, Jyothi Kiran Gowdar, and Shimna Thomas. Their contributions helped make the event both reflective and action-oriented, spurring new mentors and mentees to register and begin their journey.
Bringing people together to exchange best practices and build relationships is how we strengthen workplaces across British Columbia, resulting in more productive, innovative, and welcoming companies that build our economy and our communities. Thank you to everyone who participated; your time, stories and commitment are helping to shape careers and support the region’s economic resilience.
If your organisation is interested in hosting a MentorConnect or partnering with IEC-BC on mentorship and talent initiatives, visit our MentorConnect page to learn more. Together we can scale mentorship as a practical tool for building inclusion and future skills in BC workplaces.