How do leaders learn to make the necessary shift? Black Mentorship Inc. Mentoring Conference

BY PAUL JUNOR

There is no doubt that opportunity for mentorship makes a big difference in the lives of mentors and mentees. A conference will be hosted by Black Mentorship Inc. (BMI), which is a non-profit organization that “Strives to build Black leadership communities and help more professionals achieve their goals,” according to their website blackmentorship.ca.

The mission of BMI is  “Strengthens leadership opportunities for ALL people by connecting Black youths, professionals and entrepreneurs at different stages of personal and professional growth with experienced mentors through unique mentoring programs.”

BMI offers its services to youth, professionals, entrepreneurs or newcomers to Canada. For anyone who is interested it, “Offers you the opportunity to work with mentors who are versed in their professions and wish to contribute to making the leadership community a more inclusive and diversified terrain.”

On Day One, Thursday, July 22^nd, BMI presented its Second Annual Mentoring

Conference, which enabled its participants to engage in conversations in three specific areas: mentoring, career advancement and leadership. It focused on “Mentoring as a tool for success while building on the Propel Black Success movement and how mentoring can lead to career advancement.”

The theme for this second annual conference will be “Mentoring for Success,” and will feature: executives, professionals, as well as practitioners, researchers, C-suite executives, government and parents. The goal of the conference is to “Advance the mentoring agenda, strengthen programs and services to support career advancement through mentoring.” The first day will take “A critical look at the intersection of mentoring, personal and professional life.”

The presenters include:

• Evangeline Chima (BMI Founder and Executive Director)
• Ingrid Wilson (Senior HR Executive and Diversity Inclusion and Equity Strategist)
• Pam Damofff (BMI Director)
• Chinasokwu Nworu (MP Oakville, North-Burlington)
• Nnenna Uboma (Co-founder PVO Global)
• Akiko Cambell (Director Risk Analytics Scotiabank)
• Elwy Odozor (BMI Mentor, Teacher, Information specialist and community leader)
• Sue Hollis (writer, coach and adventurepreneur, BMI advisor)

Day Two will be held on Thursday, August 5^th and will focus on Resilience and Empathy. BMI notes, “The fight for racial equality and fairness, resilience,empathy, cultural communication, and cultural intelligence have become more important for leaders and professionals alike to adopt.”

The keynote speakers will be:

• Sandeep Soni (Fractional COO who is BMI advisor)
• Wendy Rinella (CEO, Oakville Community Foundation)
• Sharon Barnes-Simmonds (Chief Financial Officer at Action Against Hunger, Kadeem McLean (World Financial Group Insurance Canada Inc)
• Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta (Change Management Strategist & amp, Advisor and Founder of The Change Leadership)

Day Three will be held on Monday, August 19^th and will focus on Acquiring New Skills. Participants will “Discover the most desirable skill sets and learn how you can progress in your career.”

It will feature keynote speakers:

• Michael Carter (Chief Agent/Headhunter/ Corporate and Talent)
• Marrick McDonals (Founder and President of Mission Control at C.O.O Consulting) Dennett Edwards (Career Strategist, Training Facilitator, Public speaker)
• Kyle Elliot (Manager of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach Initiatives at Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP(Blakes)
• Lalaa Comrie (Copywriter, Brand Strategist and Literacy Advocate)