A tremendous privilege and an indispensable experience

Become a CMA marketing mentor

Last week, as I was signing up for a new service, one of the security questions triggered a flood of warm memories: Who was your first manager? My first manager became an important mentor, providing wise counsel at pivotal moments throughout my career. His guidance still makes an impact today.

I have also been a mentor. What a tremendous privilege and an indispensable experience! Being told you’ve made a difference in someone’s life (even years later) is an incredible feeling, and mentoring is a two-way street: there is much to be learned and perspective to be gained from an individual in the earlier stages of their career.

At the CMA, we want to make a difference, particularly for individuals from BIPOC and newcomer communities who have historically faced barriers to career growth and have not always had equal opportunities for leadership roles.

In the spring, we will launch CMA Marketing Mentors, an eight-month program that we believe will embolden marketers from diverse backgrounds and lead to a more vibrant marketing profession in Canada. Developed with the assistance of our DEI Committee, and with inspiration and input from Hire BIPOC, Equal as Family and the Pinball Clemons Foundation, we believe this program will bring invaluable learnings for both mentors and mentees.

If you’re a director or above at a CMA member organization, I’d love for you to apply to be a mentor. It truly may be the most memorable action you take this year.

Thanks to our DEI partners for supporting this program: RBC, dentsu, BMO, Microsoft, Kaiser & Partners, Canadian Tire and Loblaw.