Leaders of Tomorrow Orientation Night 2015

By Jennifer Wilnechenko

On October 7, 2015 almost 200 mentees and mentors gathered for the launch of the 2015-16 Vancouver Board of Trade’s Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Program .

Participants arrived at SFU Segal Graduate School , eager and ready to start a year of networking and professional development.

2015’s LOT orientation night began with some casual mingling and the opportunity for mentees and mentors to meet in person for the first time. Keen to make new acquaintances, attendees from a range of schools and industries were seen smiling and shaking hands as they made their introductions.

The evenings opening remarks by Iain Black, President and CEO of The Vancouver Board of Trade, provided a personal perspective into the benefits of mentorship.

Offering first hand insight and encouragement to the new mentees was was 2015’s Mentee of the Year, Jai Goyal. Among the many pieces of valuable advice Jai shared, one that resinated was that students should push their shyness aside and make real connections with their peers.

Brian Mathae, 2015’s Mentor of the Year, reminded fellow mentors about the importance of helping the mentee achieve his or her goals and live by the motto of, “no regrets”.

Austin Narin, Director of Programs at The Vancouver Board of Trade, introduced students to an exciting agenda planned for the year ahead. Natasha Jung, Chair of the LOT Advisory Council provided students with a plethora of inspirational quotes to prepare them for the events to come.

With name tags and business cards in hand, students are now well prepared for the 2015/2016 LOT year.