Supporting Indigenous success Through Career Mentorship: The Indigenous Career Mentor Program

The Indigenous Career Mentor Program launched in the fall of 2022 as an extension of Career Services already established Carer Mentor Program. This year, the Indigenous Career Mentor Program will profile the story of one  mentor each month from September to April. Interviews from our mentors will provide insight into Indigenous success, as well as how students can best prepare for navigating the transition from university to employment.

The Indigenous Career Mentor Program is an informational interviewing program that supports Indigenous students in gathering industry information. Indigenous mentors that meet with Indigenous students provide advice on how to navigate career opportunities and challenges, mentors may also share their personal experiences navigating their own career journeys.

Indigenous students can choose their mentors from the following fields of practice: Business & Administration, Health Care, Social Services & Education, Government Services, Science & Technology, Arts & Culture, and Recreation & Sports. To learn more about the Indigenous Career Mentor Program and register, please follow this hyperlink to the program home page.

January’s mentor of the month is Noah Wilson.

What is your position title and where do you currently work?

Senior Business Development Manager for the Indigenous Entrepreneur Start-up Program (IESP) at Futurpreneur Canada covering Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Nunavut.

Briefly describe what you do in your current occupation:

I support Indigenous Young Entrepreneurs develop a viable business plan and financial projections to gain access to capital and a mentor for 2 years through Futurpreneur programs to help launch their Indigenous start-up or their Indigenous side hustle. I also work to build strong ecosystem partnerships to support clients in their navigation of resources for start-up entrepreneurs. Finally, I look for mentors who are typically experienced entrepreneurs or business professionals that are interested in giving back to the entrepreneurial community through the mentorship of one of the entrepreneurs going through our program.

What initially sparked your interest in the career you have chosen for yourself?

While in University, my undergrad was focused on studying Indigenous Governance, economic development, and business fundamentals. In my studies, I learned about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNRIP) and started to understand how socio-economic prosperity is a crucial step to achieving Indigenous self-determination and escape colonial systems of dependency that were designed to control our People. I started to want to learn the language of money and got an internship at RBC whilst in university. I soon became very interested in business as corporate Canada has an important role to play in economic reconciliation and I intend to be a leader in that space.

What are some lesser-known duties or work outcomes your role is responsible for that people may not be aware of?

In addition to supporting Indigenous start-up businesses, I also work to build strong ecosystem partnerships to support clients in their navigation of resources for start-up entrepreneurs. Finally, I look for mentors who are typically experienced entrepreneurs or business professionals that are interested in giving back to the entrepreneurial community through the mentorship of one of the entrepreneurs going through our program. Based on my regional role, I am able to travel quite a bit to facilitate entrepreneurial workshops across Turtle Island and have been able to meet many Indigenous Leaders coast-to-coast in my travels.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

It’s incredible to be a small part in the launch of an Indigenous business and to watch an Indigenous Entrepreneur take an idea or vision and make it reality. It’s so inspiring to hear the stories and idea’s of the Indigenous Entrepreneurs I work with across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Nunavut. Being able to support them with ideation, market validation, business planning, and the launch of their Indigenous business is such a privilege to have the trust and an insider’s look into a new Indigenous Business.

What are some changes you’ve experienced in your field, or changes you anticipate happening in the near future?

The biggest change I’ve experienced in Indigenous entrepreneurship and small business is the massive increase in interest in entrepreneurship in our Indigenous Communities which include First Nations, Metis, and Inuit entrepreneurs across Turtle Island. Not only is their more interest in becoming Indigenous Entrepreneurs, the resources for Indigenous Entrepreneurship is increasing across the entire ecosystem as well.

What are some strengths, specialties, and characteristics that are considered assets in your field?

It’s considered an asset to have a good grasp on fundamentals of business which you can acquire through courses at the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba. I took foundational courses in accounting, marketing, corporate finance, entrepreneurship, and commercial law amongst others that allowed me to have more confidence when I entered the workforce and my internship at a major bank. Nothing will beat the real-world experience and networks you can gather through internships that will also provide training for you to understand the industry. For example, I joined one of the major banks as an intern and started to learn the language, concepts, and best practices in banking which included day-to-day banking, lending, investments, estates, and more.

It’s important to get outside of your comfort zone and reach out to respected members of the organization to mentor, facilitate connections, and provide avenues for job shadowing opportunities in different areas of the organizations that you never knew you would be interested in. This skill will translate into building relationship management skills required to work with entrepreneurs as well as connecting them with industry supports who have expertise in their various areas of business start-up space.

The best way to understand entrepreneurship is to do it yourself or connect with someone who is an experienced entrepreneur. Many Entrepreneurs have grown businesses from side-hustles that gave them a better understanding of the nuanced challenges entrepreneurs face when scaling to a sustainable full-time business.

What is a piece of advice you would offer to Indigenous students interested entering your field?

My advice to Indigenous Students at the U of Manitoba interested in Entrepreneurship is to connect with the Stu Clark Center for Entrepreneurship as students get priority support there to work with their staff as well as attending any webinars or events focusing on business through the Asper School of Business. Interact with organizations such as Futurpreneur, First Peoples Economic Growth Fund, Louis Riel Capital Corporation, North Forge, the World Trade Center of Winnipeg, and Community Futures amongst others to access resources and become familiar with the entrepreneurial ecosystem. If you could intern at a financial institution, it will give you a great foundation of becoming familiar with the banking system and lending requirements that are important to understand for helping entrepreneurs access capital for their start-ups.

Are there any resources you feel could support Indigenous students interested in this career path?

Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship is the starting point for Students at the U of Manitoba interested in Entrepreneurship as they are familiar with and have connection to the entrepreneurial development ecosystem. Get involved in student leadership.

During your career journey what support(s), resource(s), and/or event(s) influenced your decision-making process?

The single most impactful thing I have done for my career is build relationships with more experienced people in the industry I’ve been interested in. It’s important to seek mentorship from experienced and respected members of an organization or institution. Ideally, you should have several mentors in different areas of the community who will help you keep informed about opportunities, resources, events, and connections that can help build your career. Be willing to volunteer your time to build relationships with key people in the community so that they can begin to champion you and your development. Many of the key connections I made in my career journey were made as a result in getting involved in student leadership such as my time being the co-president for the U of M Indigenous Students Association and running for the Indigenous Student Representative for the University of Manitoba Students Union (UMSU). You will also build connection with ambitious peers who you never know where they will end up in the workforce and opportunities for collaboration.

To meet with mentors like Noah Wilson, register for the Indigenous Career Mentor Program. Explore, connect and build confidence as you proceed in your career journey!

If you are an Indigenous professional interested in sharing your story and connecting with students, consider volunteering as a mentor in the Indigenous Career Mentor Program.

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