Page 36 - CCCA 278683 Magazine_Spring 2018

{ SPOTLIgHT ON… }

spotlight on the

CCCA mentoring progrAm

At the 2018 CCCA national Conference and in-House Counsel CCCA: Do you need to go into the program
World Summit, we’ll be honouring Barry Fisher, the founder of the already knowing what you want to get out
of it and where you need to improve?
CCCA Mentoring Program, with the Special Contribution Award.
EA: It helps to know your likes and dis-
now in its 10 year, the CCCA Mentoring Program has matched likes, and to give some thought to your
th
hundreds of members, resulting in a cornucopia of shared strengths and weaknesses. I knew I want-
ed to stay in law and I knew the kind of
expertise, deep connections, self-discoveries, career progressions work I liked. I went into the program hop-
and fresh insights into the in-house counsel role. ing to exchange ideas with someone more
experienced and with a broader view of
the profession to better understand how
I might progress in my career.
the mentees o mark this occasion, we interviewed
members who were recently paired OY: As a mentee, you should have a clear
tup as part of the program, some as vision of what you want to gain from the
Edward Anido, Associate, mentors and some as mentees, to ask program because that allows you to direct
norton Rose Fulbright Canada
them about their thoughts on the men- conversations and ask the right questions.
toring experience. As for strengths and weaknesses, some-
Cindy Kieu, Barrister & times we make the mistake of assuming
Solicitor, City of edmonton the mentees that we are good at something or have
CCCA: What made you decide to become a specifc skill when, in reality, there are
Olga young, legal Counsel, a mentee? many other ways of approaching a situa-
jazz Aviation tion. I found it was important to keep an
CK: I was transitioning into an in-house open mind and listen to the way an expe-
position and was looking for a senior prac- rienced lawyer handles certain situations.
titioner with experience and insight to help
the mentors me successfully navigate the new work cul-
ture. More broadly, I’d recently moved to the mentors
Daniel Bourque, Senior Alberta from Nunavut and recognized the CCCA: You all beneftted immensely from
Corporate Counsel and Chief
Privacy Offcer, Xerox Canada distinct disadvantage of practicing in a your experience. What advice do you have
completely new province without a broad for members considering volunteering as a
network of professional friends. mentor?
Jim rossiter, legal Counsel,
justice Canada EA: I entered the program while working DB: I highly encourage you to do this. The
in-house. I loved the people I worked with relationship can be as enriching for the
and many aspects of my job, but I was mentor as it is for the mentee. It’s also a
valerie Seager, Vice-President,
legal & Regulatory Affairs, unsure where my career was headed and good way to discover a new industry or
Halifax international Airport what options would be available to me. new business if your mentee is working in
Authority Participating was an effort to gain control a different feld.
and direction.
MS: The program is very well-run and
marie Strauss, executive OY: I had recently transferred to the Nova organized, and the CCCA provides the
Director, Alberta Ministry of Scotia bar and saw the program as an op- right balance of materials to assist the
justice and Solicitor General portunity to meet an experienced lawyer mentoring conversation without being
and learn about the local bar. too prescriptive or administrative. It’s a

36 CCCA MAGAzine | SPRinG 2018 PRinTeMPS