DATES
Open for Mentee Applications NOW!
Deadline for Mentee Applications: Monday, January 23, 2023 @ 11:59pm.
ABOUT
Members lifting Members: Get matched 1-1 with a WIFT Toronto member through this exclusive mentoring program.
- Build your community and your confidence
- Get more insight on a specific sector or role in the industry
- Set career and personal development goals
- Learn from your peers
- Experience what 193 WIFT Connect Alumni have experienced!
Nobody who has built and sustained a long and thriving career ever claims to have done it alone. They often speak of someone (a teacher, a boss, a peer) who not only saw their potential but also provided guidance and motivation. A village of supportive, tenacious, bold individuals—mentors—is a key asset to our growth as professionals. They bolster our confidence and resilience, and open us to new adventures.
Through WIFT Connect, members of different experience levels will learn from, guide, and support each other through a series of focused one-on-one and group meet-ups over a six-month period starting in February 2023.
YOUR LIST OF MENTORS
Mentee applicants must choose their Top 3 requested Mentors. In their Letter of Intent (part of the application), they must clearly express their reasons for selecting each possible Mentee (their Top 3), and what goals they hope to achieve while in this program.
Here is our list of 2023 Mentors.
*Please check back here as we may add names as people request to be Mentors.
Mentee applicants must research each of their Top 3 choices so that they can be assured that their selection is a good match for their goals.
It is up to the applicant to make informed choices.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor please contact Director of Programming, Laurie Januska by emailing ljanuska@wift.com.
ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION PROCESS FOR MENTEES
Just one: you must be a WIFT Toronto member in good standing. Priority will be given to first-time applicants.
It's FREE to apply to this program!
WIFT Toronto is proud to commit to assigning 50% of our mentee positions to successful applicants who are members of the Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Colour communities.
Application Process
Complete the online application (which includes submitting the following supporting documents):
- Professional bio (150 words max.)
- CV/resume (2 pages max.)
- Letter of Intent (see the Registration page for information on what this letter must contain)
PLEASE NOTE: The number of mentee applicants we accept into the program will be based on the number of mentors we can provide. All mentor/mentee partnerships will be 1:1. If accepted, we cannot guarantee that you will be matched with one of your top three selections, though we will make every effort to do so. Priority will be given to first-time applicants. Only successful applicants will be contacted with next steps to advance in the program.
FOR MENTORS
If you are interested in becoming a mentor please contact Director of Programming, Laurie Januska by emailing ljanuska@wift.com.
“My experience as a mentor in the 2017 WIFT Connect program was extremely rewarding. I had the pleasure of working with a bright young woman and helping her think through the next steps in her career path. Most enjoyable was her absolute commitment to think about our conversations, work on feedback, and evolve her approach. Her passion for the industry was infectious. Her drive to create her own path was inspiring. And her perspective on challenges and opportunities challenged my own thinking.” ~Cheryl Fullerton, 4x WIFT Connect Mentor and EVP, People & Communications, Corus Entertainment
Mentoring is a rewarding experience and an excellent way to shape the future of our industry. Here are some of the amazing benefits for you as a WIFT Connect mentor:
- Give back to your community of women in the industry
- Network and make new connections
- Contribute to someone's personal growth and development
- Guide someone as they set career/personal development goals
- Be a part of knowledge transfer (not only top/down, but reciprocal and peer-to-peer learning)
- Help to cultivate an ongoing mentorship mentality and environment