Since 2002, The Forum’s Mentor Program has been
connecting entrepreneurs with the insights, knowledge, and community they need to thrive in business
Mentees paired per year all across Canada, on average
pairings and counting since the program’s inception
Looking to join the program?
The Forum has paired an average of 100+ women entrepreneurs per year with mentors all across Canada. You could be next!
What could your business accomplish if you had personalized insights from someone who’s been “through it all” before?
Mentors move the needle for you & your business in very tangible ways
You need personalized 1:1 advice
From someone with a proven track record because you need first hand insights & tailored support.
You need someone to be accountable to
Because it’s hard to be your own motivator all the time. Feeling responsible to someone helps.
You need more connections & community
Because success is directly correlated to the relationships you earn & keep and you know that.
You need a champion & fierce supporter
So you can feel confident and empowered taking your next steps in business.
You need first hand, real-world insights
So you can learn from other people’s mistakes & avoid wasting important resources -- like time & money.
You need someone to bounce ideas off of
Because it’s hard to be objective about your own business & you could use an outside perspective
The Forum Mentor program has been funded in part through the Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
Who is eligible to be a Mentee in
The Forum Mentor Program?
The program is designed for entrepreneurs who are beyond the idea stage of their business and are dedicating their time towards launching, growthing, scaling, or exiting their business. You are eligible to register if you are a self-identifying women, non-binary, or trans-femme majority or equal stakeholder, (co)-founder, or (co)-owner actively leading a business operating in Canada; or an employee in line to lead the business who is currently a key decision maker.
This includes a woman manager or staff member who is a key decision maker in an Indigenous band- or community-owner business.
This includes a woman who is in the planning stages for launching a business.
You must also be a legal resident of Canada.
Have questions about your eligibility? Email mentor@theforum.ca for support.
Have an early idea for a business and looking for a space to connect with other entrepreneurs? While those still in ideation stage are not eligible for The Forum Mentor Program, we recommend our Weekly Connects as a great starting point for formulating your ideas and plug into community.
Who is eligible to be a Mentee in The Forum Mentor Program?
The program is designed for entrepreneurs who are beyond the idea stage of their business and are dedicating their time towards launching, growthing, scaling, or exiting their business. You are eligible to register if you are a self-identifying women, non-binary, or trans-femme majority or equal stakeholder, (co)-founder, or (co)-owner actively leading a business operating in Canada; or an employee in line to lead the business who is currently a key decision maker.
This includes a woman manager or staff member who is a key decision maker in an Indigenous band- or community-owner business.
This includes a woman who is in the planning stages for launching a business.
You must also be a legal resident of Canada.
Have questions about your eligibility? Email mentor@theforum.ca for support.
Have an early idea for a business and looking for a space to connect with other entrepreneurs? While those still in ideation stage are not eligible for The Forum Mentor Program, we recommend our Weekly Connects as a great starting point for formulating your ideas and plug into community.
About the Mentor Program
Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative®
$300 for 12-months of Mentorship
The Forum’s Mentor Program was started in 2002 with a desire to connect women entrepreneurs with the guidance, knowledge, and community they’ll need to thrive in business. Since the program’s inception, we’ve paired an average of 100+ Mentees per year all across Canada. That’s 2,700+ pairings and counting.
“The Mentor Program has allowed me to get a trusted person's point of view from someone who also understands, first hand, what it takes to run and grow a business.” - Laura Burget, Three Ships Natural Skincare
THE PROCESS
Step 1: Sign up
Using our online mentorship platform, you can create a profile and share your business details, goals and challenges so we can thoughtfully pair you with an ideal mentor to support you and your business. To cover the cost of administering the program, we do charge a fee to Mentees. The cost of the Mentor Program is $300.
Step 2: Matches offered
With the information you provide, we’ll be able to narrow down the field of potential matches -- based on your goals, values, personality, and individual preferences -- and will present you with 3 Mentors who are well suited to helping you take your business to the next level.
Step 3: Review matches
You can then review your options -- learning more about who each Mentor is & what they have to offer -- and rank your choices through the online platform. Your Mentor selections will be notified in order of choice so they can review your profile & accept the pairing if they feel it’s a good fit.
Step 4: Meet your Mentor!
Once paired, you can start scheduling your meetings with your mentor from directly within the platform. As the program is mentee-lead and this is a great way to stay organized and keep you moving forward. In the platform there are many resources and supports to guide you through the process, step-by-step.
Step 5: Mentorship begins
Over the course of the next 12 months, you’ll meet with your mentor for 1 hour per month - at a mutually agreeable time - providing an agenda for the conversation, offering progress updates, and leading the relationship by setting out clear goals and desired outcomes.
Step 6: Option to renew
At the end of the 12 months, you have the option, should you need it, to ask your mentor to extend your working relationship for a further 12 months at a discounted cost.
Step 7: Congrats! You're done!
Congratulate yourself! Reaching out and asking for help to take your business to the next level is smart, but also takes courage.
The Scotiabank Women Initiative® believes in the power of mentorship
The Scotiabank Women Initiative® understands the potential and power of women entrepreneurs, and has worked to increase opportunities for them through access to capital, specialized education, and of course, mentorship. Since launching in 2018, The Scotiabank Women Initiative® has already deployed more than $3 billion in capital to Canadian business owners, and engaged 6,000+ entrepreneurs through its educational boot camps and mentorship sessions.
Learn more about the mission and how The Scotiabank Women Initiative® is working to increase opportunities for women all across Canada.
The Power of Mentorship
Our mentorship programs thrive on the passion and dedication of our Mentors and Mentees. Meet some of the inspiring entrepreneurs in our community who understand the transformative impact of mentorship.
Have you participated in this program? We’d love to hear from you! Share your experience below for a chance to win a $500 USD Visa Gift Card through StoryTap! T&Cs apply.
“The Forum Mentor Program presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative® is an extremely valuable resource and one I have enjoyed immensely. My Mentor has been so willing to tailor her knowledge to my needs and has helped me, and my team, learn and grow in so many areas. Stepping outside of your box is never easy but with support and encouragement, it becomes empowering. Thank you to The Forum and my Mentor for your guidance and support!”
Meet the Digital Hub
The Scotiabank Women Initiative® Digital Hub has the resources you need to navigate these times and accelerate your business digitally.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Mentor Program for?
It’s open to every self-identifying Canadian woman entrepreneur who is beyond the idea stage of their business, and would benefit from the guidance or support of someone who has been ‘through it all’ before. Whether you’re just starting to organize your ideas or are decades into running a business, you will benefit from mentorship. For all details on the experience, our mentorship philosophy and how the pairing process works, please check out our Mentor Program Welcome Guide here.
The program is also for professionals and entrepreneurs from any industry and at any level who want to give back and support women entrepreneurs on their journey by offering mentorship and support. Find out about becoming a mentor here.
How do I become a Mentor?
We’re always looking for new mentors! Learn more about becoming a Mentor now.
What is the time commitment?
Both mentors and mentees must commit to meeting virtually or in person for 1 hour a month, over the course of 12 months. The 12 months starts once you are paired.
Additionally, mentees are expected to take charge of organizing and leading the relationship – booking meetings up to 2-3 months ahead of time, providing agendas, progress updates, and items necessary for review, and creating clear objectives for your time together.
Outside of meetings, mentors are expected to allow time to facilitate organization of meetings and review any relevant materials to show up prepared to support their mentee.
How is this Mentor Program different from others?
We thoughtfully curate every pairing based on needs, goals, values & personality. Because when you’re able to gain insights from someone who has direct experience & who understands exactly where you’re coming from because they’ve actually been there before – the payoff is significant and long lasting.
How long does the pairing process take?
For Mentees, your top 5 Mentor pairings will be available to you immediately after completing your registration & provided us with details about what kind of support you’re looking for. You can then submit your top Mentor choices, and we’ll contact them in the order you specified until a match is made.
For Mentors, once you register you will remain in our pool of available Mentors until a suitable match comes along. This could be as early as a few weeks or as long as a year. If, at any time, your availability changes, please just let us know.
How much does the Mentor Program cost?
To cover the cost of administering the program, we do charge a fee to Mentees.
The cost of the Mentor Program is $300.
When can I sign up?
Anytime! Program registration is open year round and we’re always accepting applications from new mentors and mentees.
If you want to sign up as a mentee, please sign up here.
If you want to be a mentor, please sign up here.
How do I sign up?
If you want to sign up as a mentee, please sign up here.
If you want to be a mentor, please sign up here.
Once paired, what do I do?
Our online mentorship platform has tons of great resources you can use to guide you through the process. The in-depth guides, videos, and suggested session agendas are all designed to help you feel comfortable and prepared & the digital tools like the booking calendar and feedback forms are there to make scheduling your meetings & getting feedback infinitely easier.
What if my pairing isn’t a good fit?
Our online mentorship platform helps select pairings based on needs, goals, values & personality, but it’s still possible that after your first meeting it won’t feel like a perfect match. If you find this is the case, please contact a Program Manager, by email at mentor@theforum.ca or phone at 604-682-8115 right away. We can discuss what you feel isn’t working and potentially re-pair you within the first 2 months of the program
What is the cancellation policy?
If you’ve signed up for the Mentor Program and a suitable mentor isn’t found within 2 months (or a special arrangement hasn’t been already made with The Forum) all program fees will be refunded upon request.
If you find you are suddenly unable to continue your relationship with your Mentor, we do offer a 50% refund on program fees if you notify us in the first 2 months. After 2 months, no refunds will be processed.
What are the Terms & Conditions?
Please read the Terms & Conditions here. For additional questions or concerns, email a Program Manager at mentor@theforum.ca.
CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS:
The Forum E-Series Program
An intensive program for self-identifying women entrepreneurs who want an all encompassing education in business & entrepreneurship.
The Forum Founder’s Circle
This program seeks to support high-growth women entrepreneurs across Canada who need specialized advice and connect them with a community of women entrepreneurs at a similar stage of growth.